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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

14 Ranked Colleges
555 Degrees Awarded
$13,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 11,925 people earned their degree in general engineering, making the major the 78th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,152 and had an average of $20,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,754 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,330 and $24,526 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 555 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in general engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

More Ways to Rank General Engineering Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General 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 Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 5 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $1,866 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Engineering at Northwestern

#2

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 125 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,686 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at Michigan State

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan Technological University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan Tech, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,295 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan Technological University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at Michigan Technological University

#4

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern Indiana. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. USI is located in Evansville, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

USI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,244 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Southern Indiana.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Southern Indiana General Engineering Report

#5

Hope College

Holland, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hope College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Holland, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 57 degrees to qualified bachelors’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Hope also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hope is $16,113 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Engineering at Hope College

#6 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s engineering degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $18,708 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Case Western Reserve University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Case Western Reserve University General Engineering Report

#10 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,759 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Miami University - Oxford General Engineering Report

#8

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 10 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $13,942 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Engineering at WIU

#9

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

With a ranking of #9, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s engineering degrees to 79 students in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene also made our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $15,806 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Olivet Nazarene University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at Olivet Nazarene University

#10

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a small school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 3 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

MSOE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Milwaukee School of Engineering is $17,186 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Milwaukee School of Engineering General Engineering Report

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 bachelors’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

OHIO Athens also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $17,584 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Engineering at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’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 bachelors’s engineering degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $14,816 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Akron Main Campus General Engineering Report

#13

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Calvin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Calvin University is a small school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that handed out 83 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Calvin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Calvin is $21,344 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Calvin University General Engineering Report

#14

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan

Andrews University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Berrien Springs, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s engineering degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Andrews, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Andrews University is $16,868 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on General Engineering at Andrews 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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Rémi Kaupp.

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