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2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

60 Ranked Colleges
32,891 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 60 colleges that offer 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 813 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $5,849 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Engineering at Northwestern University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,789 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $10,481 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

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 U-M

3
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 3,177 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $8,450 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Full Purdue Engineering Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 1,573 students in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also took the #4 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $10,364 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Engineering at UW - Madison

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 2,695 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $11,505 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Engineering Report

6

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,359 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,273 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ohio State.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full Ohio State Engineering Report

7

Michigan Technological University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 1,047 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

Michigan Tech also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Michigan Technological University is $11,794 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Michigan Tech Engineering Report

8
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 492 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Notre Dame also took the #3 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Notre Dame is $14,020 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. 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.

Read more about Engineering at Notre Dame

9
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Oakland University 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $12,008 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Oakland.

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%.

Read more about Engineering at Oakland

10

University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 651 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UM Dearborn also took the #20 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn is $12,398 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Engineering at UM Dearborn

11

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 877 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,105 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UIC.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Engineering at UIC

12

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 454 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $13,306 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

13
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ferris is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 37 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Ferris did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $13,230 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Engineering at Ferris

14
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 532 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State University is $13,612 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Wayne State University Engineering Report

15

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 $48-$75k list. UW - Stout is a public institution located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 145 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout is $15,247 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Stout

16

Case Western Reserve University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Case Western 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. The estimated yearly cost for Case Western is $19,864 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 Case Western Reserve University

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Platteville, Wisconsin, and it awarded 540 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Platteville is $13,699 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full UW - Platteville Engineering Report

18
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 965 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $20,557 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Engineering Report

19

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 299 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $12,950 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Engineering Report

20

Grand Valley State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 174 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $15,277 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Grand Valley State University

21

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 192 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,499 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Full SIUC Engineering Report

22

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 1,148 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC is $20,867 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UC Engineering Report

23

Purdue University Northwest came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Purdue University Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 169 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,829 for great lakes region engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.

Read full report on Engineering at Purdue Northwest

24
PFW crest
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it awarded 72 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend PFW is $13,015 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Engineering at Purdue University Fort Wayne

25

University of Toledo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 644 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Toledo is $17,555 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Toledo Engineering Report

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