2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
23
Ranked Colleges
5,062
Degrees Awarded
$12,600
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Law is the 28th most popular major in the country with 36,216 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, law graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $64,466 and had an average of $19,500 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,062 law graduates with average earnings and debt of $65,903 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer a degree in law. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent law 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 law program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Law Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Law (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 296 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $245 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. 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.
Read full report on Law at Northwestern University
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 212 ’s law degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k list, UChicago has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,500 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Chicago.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Chicago Law Report
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 363 diplomas to qualified ’s law students in 2020-2021.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Law at U-M
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 268 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $3,981 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Madison.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Law at University of Wisconsin - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 161 ’s law degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Law at Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Notre Dame ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 183 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k list, Notre Dame has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Notre Dame is $9,872 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad 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 undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read more about Law at University of Notre Dame
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 235 ’s law degrees to qualified students.
IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Law at IUPUI
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 179 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also made our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Law at Ohio State
Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 226 diplomas to qualified ’s law students in 2020-2021.
Illinois Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Institute of Technology is $18,515 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.
Full Illinois Tech Law Report
Wayne State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 119 ’s law degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k list, Wayne State has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $11,060 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Law at Wayne State University
Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 154 degrees to qualified ’s law students in 2020-2021.
Case Western also made our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $16,063 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Case Western.
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 Law at Case Western Reserve University
University of Detroit Mercy came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 176 diplomas to qualified ’s law students in 2020-2021.
Detroit Mercy not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Detroit Mercy is $13,056 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Law at Detroit Mercy
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 127 diplomas to qualified ’s law students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,061 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Law at UC
Marquette University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s law degrees to 195 students in 2020-2021.
Marquette did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Marquette University is $18,589 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Law at Marquette University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 61 ’s law degrees in 2020-2021.
SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $11,665 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Law at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
University of Toledo came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Toledo is a public institution located in Toledo, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Toledo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Toledo is $13,803 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full University of Toledo Law Report
Cleveland State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cleveland State University is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 125 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cleveland State University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $13,272 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Law at Cleveland State University
University of Akron Main Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 131 ’s law degrees to qualified students.
University of Akron Main Campus also made our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $14,420 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Law Report
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 73 diplomas to qualified ’s law students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,395 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NIU.
Full NIU Law Report
With a ranking of #20, Ohio Northern University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. ONU is located in Ada, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s law degrees to qualified students.
ONU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ONU is $19,399 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Law at Ohio Northern University
Capital University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Capital is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 121 ’s law degrees to qualified students.
Capital also took the #18 spot in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Capital is $19,970 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Law at Capital University
DePaul University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s law degrees to 192 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k list, DePaul has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $27,123 for Great Lakes Region Law students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DePaul.
The low undergrad 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%.
Read more about Law at DePaul University
Loyola University Chicago landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s law degrees to 233 students in 2020-2021.
Loyola Chicago also made our “Best Law Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Loyola University Chicago is $29,263 for great lakes region law students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Loyola Chicago Law Report
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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
- *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.
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