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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

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 Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in general engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general engineering program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 72 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#2

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 46 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Engineering at Purdue

#2 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 20 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #2 spot 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#4

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is located in Platteville, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 59 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UW - Platteville also took the #6 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 University of Wisconsin - Platteville are $18,226.

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

#5

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#14 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University Northwest landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Hammond, Indiana, and 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Engineering at Purdue Northwest

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Engineering at UIC

#7

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 34 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU also made our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. 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 full report on General Engineering at Grand Valley State University

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 59 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree engineering students with aid list, UWM has also earned the #9 rank 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 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Read more about General Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#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 Getting Aid ranking. PFW is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It awarded 18 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

PFW also took the #12 spot in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. 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

#8 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus 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 Getting Aid ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #8 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 Ohio State are $37,141.

Read full report on General Engineering at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#11

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree engineering students with aid list, Central Michigan has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Engineering at Central Michigan University

Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Michigan Tech is a public institution located in Houghton, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 masters’s 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 Technological University are $21,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan Tech General Engineering Report

#13

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

With a ranking of #13, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Youngstown State University also took the #0 spot in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Youngstown State University General Engineering Report

#10 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus also took the #10 spot in our “Best General 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.

Full University of Akron Main Campus General Engineering Report

#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 Getting Aid list. Milwaukee School of Engineering is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree engineering students with aid list, MSOE has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Milwaukee School of Engineering are $24,188, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full MSOE General Engineering Report

#3 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Case Western also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Engineering at Case Western

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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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