2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
10
Ranked Colleges
808
Degrees Awarded
$21,500
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in area studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great area studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region area studies students with aid.
Top 10 Best Value Colleges for Area Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 68 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,878 for great lakes region area studies students with aid per year to attend U-M.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read full report on Area Studies at U-M
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 Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 157 students in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for great lakes region area studies students with aid.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Area Studies Report
Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Area Studies 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. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 32 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $14,321 for great lakes region area studies students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Area Studies at UIUC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
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 with aid per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, 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 91%.
Read more about Area Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington
Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 17 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region area studies students with aid.
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%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Area Studies Report
With a ranking of #6, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s area studies degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $24,756 for Great Lakes Region Area Studies students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Area Studies at Miami University - Oxford
Siena Heights University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Siena Heights University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Adrian, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region area studies students with aid list, Siena Heights University has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,434 for Great Lakes Region Area Studies students with aid per year to attend Siena Heights University.
Full Siena Heights University Area Studies Report
With a ranking of #8, University of Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 45 diplomas to qualified ’s area studies students in 2020-2021.
UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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 with aid per year to attend UChicago.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%.
Read more about Area Studies at UChicago
With a ranking of #9, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. DePaul is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 11 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
DePaul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul University is $31,174 for great lakes region area studies 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 Area Studies at DePaul University
Oberlin College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Oberlin College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oberlin, Ohio. It awarded 41 ’s area studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oberlin, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $34,777 for great lakes region area studies students with aid per year to attend Oberlin.
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 impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Oberlin College Area Studies Report
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