2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in the Great Lakes Region
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Area Studies is the 106th most popular major in the country with 6,820 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 850 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,363 and $22,838 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 491 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in area studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality area studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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 area studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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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 Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.
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 Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students.
Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the #1 spot on the list. GVSU is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 1 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,646 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The low 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 8 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,986 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.
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 low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $18,394 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students.
Read full report on Area Studies at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #4 spot on the list. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 5 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,876 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
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 Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UM Dearborn, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $11,473 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students.
The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.
Siena Heights University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Siena Heights University is located in Adrian, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
Siena Heights University also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $21,249 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students per year to attend Siena Heights University.
With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 16 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students list, UIC has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIC is $13,312 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 4 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students list, OHIO Athens has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend OHIO Athens is $22,906 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,880 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Area Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s area studies degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison also took the #5 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $17,708 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%.
Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
Miami University - Oxford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Miami University - Oxford is $24,323 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 15 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,253 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students per year to attend IU Bloomington.
The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Ohio State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $17,616 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students.
The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 full report on Area Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus
DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
DePaul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend DePaul University is $30,090 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 bachelors’s area studies degrees to qualified students.
U-M also took the #4 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $15,336 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Denison University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Denison University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Granville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students list, Denison has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Denison University is $28,614 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive 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. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
University of Notre Dame landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 24 degrees to qualified bachelors’s area studies students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Notre Dame is $33,025 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Northwestern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also took the #2 spot in our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $24,664 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Area Studies students per year to attend Northwestern.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UChicago also made our “Best Area Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $27,315 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree area studies students per year to attend University of Chicago.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
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Best Area Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Area Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
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Area Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Online Area Studies Schools
Area Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Area Studies students with family income less than $30k in the Great Lakes Region
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Area Studies students with family income $48-$75k in the Great Lakes Region
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Area Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
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Area Studies students getting aid in the Great Lakes Region
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Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
Area Studies students with family income $75-$110k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Area Studies in the Great Lakes Region
Area Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.
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