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2023 Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region

10 Ranked Colleges
808 Degrees Awarded
$30,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 6,966 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 115th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $33,127 and had an average of $20,927 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 808 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,342 and $21,486 respectively.

This year’s “Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking analyzed 10 colleges that offered a degree in area studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent area studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The area studies 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 Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k”.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region area studies students whose families make more than $110k.

Top 10 Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 68 degrees to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,878 for Great Lakes Region Area Studies students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

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

Full U-M Area Studies Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 157 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Area Studies students whose families make more than $110k.

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 Area Studies at UW - Madison

3

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 44 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,619 for great lakes region area studies students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend IU Bloomington.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Area Studies at IU Bloomington

4

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Miami University - Oxford landed the #4 spot on the list. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 56 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Miami University - Oxford also took the #2 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $24,756 for Great Lakes Region Area Studies students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 full report on Area Studies at Miami University - Oxford

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Area Studies students whose families make more than $110k.

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

Read more about Area Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

6

With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 17 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,214 for great lakes region area studies students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend UIC.

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%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago

7
Siena Heights University crest
Siena Heights University
Adrian, Michigan

With a ranking of #7, Siena Heights University did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Siena Heights University is located in Adrian, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Siena Heights University also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Siena Heights University is $21,434 for great lakes region area studies students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Area Studies at Siena Heights University

8
Oberlin crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

Oberlin also took the #5 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oberlin College is $34,777 for great lakes region area studies students whose families make more than $110k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Area Studies at Oberlin

9
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. DePaul University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

DePaul also took the #9 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $31,174 for great lakes region area studies students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend DePaul University.

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%.

Full DePaul University Area Studies Report

10
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, University of Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 45 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $28,517 for Great Lakes Region Area Studies students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Chicago.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 100%.

Full UChicago Area Studies Report

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