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

16 Ranked Colleges
416 Degrees Awarded
$23,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Master’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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 416 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general engineering programs that also have a lower cost than 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Master’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.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Engineering 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 engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Engineering 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 Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 72 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Engineering at UIUC

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Purdue has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General 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 you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Engineering at Purdue University - Main Campus

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus General Engineering Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan Technological University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This medium-sized school is located in Houghton, Michigan, and it awarded 1 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Tech are $21,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan Technological University General Engineering Report

#6

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 59 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Platteville are $18,226, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Engineering at UW - Platteville

#7

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#14 in overall quality

Purdue University Northwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Hammond, Indiana. It awarded 8 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue Northwest also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue Northwest are $11,633, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Purdue Northwest General Engineering Report

#8

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 34 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, GVSU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Engineering at GVSU

#9

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It awarded 18 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

PFW also made our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Fort Wayne are $14,618, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Engineering at PFW

#10

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Central Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 7 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General 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 Central Michigan University are $19,359.

Read full report on General Engineering at Central Michigan

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 8 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Engineering at UIC

#12

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 59 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee General Engineering Report

#3 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Case Western has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western Reserve University are $47,958, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Case Western General Engineering Report

#14

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Youngstown State University, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best General 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 Youngstown State University are $9,495.

Read more about General Engineering at Youngstown State University

#15

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 12 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

MSOE did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best General 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering are $24,188.

Read full report on General Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering

#10 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Engineering at University of Akron Main Campus

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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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