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2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

60 Ranked Colleges
32,891 Degrees Awarded
$15,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

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 Getting Aid” 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the 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.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Engineering in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1
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 #1 on our 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 3,177 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $13,377 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Purdue Engineering Report

2

Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $14,878 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full U-M Engineering Report

3

Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools 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. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 2,695 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

UIUC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 full report on Engineering at UIUC

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read more about Engineering at UW - Madison

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Dearborn. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 651 students in 2020-2021.

UM Dearborn also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for UM Dearborn is $12,855 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

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

6

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering degrees to 454 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Engineering at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

7
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 965 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region engineering students with aid list, Michigan State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Engineering at Michigan State University

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid 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 made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full UIC Engineering Report

9
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 535 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

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 $13,449 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid per year to attend Oakland.

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 Oakland Engineering Report

10

Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,047 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Michigan Tech also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan Tech is $15,384 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Michigan Tech Engineering Report

11
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. 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 also made our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $12,213 for great lakes region engineering students with aid per year to attend Ferris State University.

Read more about Engineering at Ferris State University

12

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 2,359 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students 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. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full Ohio State Engineering Report

13
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 813 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $23,279 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid per year to attend Northwestern.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 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

14

University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. This medium-sized school is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and it awarded 145 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid per year to attend UW - Stout.

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%.

Full UW - Stout Engineering Report

15

University of Wisconsin - Platteville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Platteville is a medium-sized public school situated in Platteville, Wisconsin. It awarded 540 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $14,565 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

Read more about Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

16

Purdue University Northwest ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 169 ’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Northwest is $11,384 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

Read more about Engineering at Purdue University Northwest

17

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. UC is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 1,148 ’s engineering degrees 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 estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $22,415 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UC Engineering Report

18
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wayne State is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 532 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State University is $13,962 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

Read more about Engineering at Wayne State

19
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Western Michigan University is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 382 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

Read full report on Engineering at WMU

20

Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 248 degrees to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $12,225 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

Full Youngstown State University Engineering Report

21

With a ranking of #21, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 575 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

Read more about Engineering at University of Akron Main Campus

22

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. 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.

It costs about $14,462 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid per year to attend SIUE.

Full SIUE Engineering Report

23

Grand Valley State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. GVSU is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 174 ’s engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid.

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%.

Read more about Engineering at Grand Valley State University

24
PFW crest
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana

Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Purdue University Fort Wayne 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 yearly cost to attend Purdue University Fort Wayne is $11,629 for great lakes region engineering students with aid.

Read more about Engineering at PFW

25

University of Michigan - Flint did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Flint, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 33 diplomas to qualified ’s engineering students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,689 for Great Lakes Region Engineering students with aid per year to attend UM Flint.

Full University of Michigan - Flint Engineering Report

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Notes and References

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