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2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

27 Ranked Colleges
707 Degrees Awarded
$30,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Civil Engineering is the 45th most popular major in the country with 21,561 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, civil engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $60,122 and had an average of $23,807 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,726 civil engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,345 and $24,513 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 707 civil engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 27 colleges that offered a degree in civil engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great civil engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the civil engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Civil Engineering Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Civil Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 45 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Northwestern

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 35 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #3 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at U-M

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 151 masters’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at UIUC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified masters’s civil eng students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Civil Engineering Report

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 68 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Purdue

Michigan Technological University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Houghton, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Technological University are $21,996.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Michigan Tech

#7

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana

With a ranking of #7, University of Notre Dame did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 1 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, Notre Dame has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Notre Dame

#8

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Michigan State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056.

Full Michigan State University Civil Engineering Report

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio State Civil Engineering Report

#23 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 16 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also made our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

UIC also took the #13 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago

#12

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wayne State has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Wayne State University

Case Western Reserve University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Case Western Reserve University is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 5 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree civil eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, Case Western has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Case Western

#22 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC also took the #22 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at SIUC

#15

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

Western Michigan University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 14 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WMU are $31,355, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Western Michigan University Civil Engineering Report

#16

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#19 in overall quality

University of Toledo landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

University of Toledo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Toledo

#17

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 9 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bradley are $17,040, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Bradley University

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#19

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

Marquette University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 8 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Marquette did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Marquette are $21,690.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Marquette

With a ranking of #20, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 38 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech also made our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Tech are $30,695.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Illinois Tech

#21

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #21, Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a small school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 14 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

MSOE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MSOE are $24,188.

Full Milwaukee School of Engineering Civil Engineering Report

With a ranking of #21, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school handed out 40 diplomas to qualified masters’s civil eng students in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Civil Engineering Report

#20 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s civil eng degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Akron Main Campus, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Akron Main Campus

#24

University of Dayton

Dayton, Ohio
#10 in overall quality

University of Dayton came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Dayton is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 21 masters’s civil eng degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UDayton, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UDayton are $17,780.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Dayton

#25

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#24 in overall quality

Cleveland State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Civil Eng Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cleveland State University is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cleveland State University also made our “Best Civil Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Cleveland State University

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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