2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
60
Ranked Colleges
32,891
Degrees Awarded
$8,400
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Engineering is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 7th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 198,468 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $68,653 and had an average of $23,855 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 32,891 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $69,005 and $24,728 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 60 colleges that offered a degree in engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great engineering programs and 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 engineering program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Engineering Schools
The engineering school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 813 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $245 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Engineering at Northwestern University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 2,789 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Engineering at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #3 spot on the list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,573 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 3,177 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #5 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,995 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Engineering at Purdue University - Main Campus
Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools 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 #5 spot on the list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 2,695 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $4,858 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIUC.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on Engineering at UIUC
Michigan State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 965 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Michigan State University Engineering Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 2,359 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Engineering at Ohio State
With a ranking of #8, Michigan Technological University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan Tech is a public institution located in Houghton, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,047 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan Tech also took the #10 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan Technological University is $5,520 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Engineering at Michigan Tech
University of Notre Dame came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 492 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,872 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Notre Dame.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Notre Dame Engineering Report
With a ranking of #10, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 651 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UM Dearborn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,113 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.
Read more about Engineering at UM Dearborn
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 454 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full IUPUI Engineering Report
Oakland University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oakland is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 535 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
Oakland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $8,949 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad 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 Engineering at Oakland University
With a ranking of #13, Ferris State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ferris not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $6,577 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Ferris Engineering Report
With a ranking of #14, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 877 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC also took the #22 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $10,549 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago
With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 145 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $10,074 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
Read more about Engineering at UW - Stout
With a ranking of #16, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 299 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,047 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Read more about Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Purdue University Northwest landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Hammond, Indiana, and it awarded 169 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $6,775 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Engineering at Purdue University Northwest
Case Western Reserve University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools 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 615 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Case Western also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $16,063 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Case Western Reserve University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Full Case Western Engineering Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,148 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,061 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 UC Engineering Report
Miami University - Oxford landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 285 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read more about Engineering at Miami University - Oxford
University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Platteville, Wisconsin, and it awarded 540 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,887 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Platteville.
Full University of Wisconsin - Platteville Engineering Report
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 174 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full GVSU Engineering Report
Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school handed out 532 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Wayne State is $11,060 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Engineering at Wayne State
Western Michigan University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 382 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $13,112 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WMU.
Read more about Engineering at WMU
Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. PFW is a public institution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Fort Wayne is $7,414 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Engineering at PFW
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