2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 133,583 degrees were awarded to students with this major.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 14,268 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 989 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 21 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general studies programs, but they also cost less that 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 general studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Featured schools near , edit
More Ways to Rank General Studies Schools
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 General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.
Top 21 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid 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 67 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
U-M also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $15,336 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, 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 96%.
Read full report on General Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Dearborn. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 19 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, UM Dearborn has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UM Dearborn is $11,473 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Studies at University of Michigan - Dearborn
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ferris, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,889 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Ferris.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Youngstown State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 115 students in 2019-2020.
Youngstown State University also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,947 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend Youngstown State University.
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Chicago State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Chicago State University is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 15 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
CSU also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for Chicago State University is $11,733 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Baker College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Baker College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Owosso, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Baker College also took the #15 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baker College is $15,049 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
With a ranking of #7, Shawnee State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Shawnee State University is located in Portsmouth, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, Shawnee State University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Shawnee State University is $16,320 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.
With a ranking of #8, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern Illinois University, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $15,843 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.
Read more about General Studies at Northeastern Illinois University
Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Illinois State also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $20,895 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Kent State University at Kent came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 139 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Kent State also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $18,885 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
IWU also made our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for IWU is $22,207 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.
Siena Heights University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Siena Heights University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Adrian, Michigan. It awarded 25 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
Siena Heights University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $21,249 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend Siena Heights University.
Read full report on General Studies at Siena Heights University
Lincoln College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Lincoln College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lincoln, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Lincoln College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln College is $21,797 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid.
Indiana Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. This small school is located in Marion, Indiana, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IWU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,946 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend IWU.
Read more about General Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University
With a ranking of #15, Alverno College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general studies students in 2019-2020.
Alverno did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,491 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend Alverno College.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Spring Arbor University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid list, Spring Arbor has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,183 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Spring Arbor.
Cornerstone University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
Cornerstone not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $20,740 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Cornerstone.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Studies at Cornerstone University
DePaul University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 141 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $30,090 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend DePaul.
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%.
Tiffin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. This small school is located in Tiffin, Ohio, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s general studies degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tiffin University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,746 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general studies students with aid per year to attend Tiffin University.
University of Dayton ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UDayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s general studies degrees to qualified students.
UDayton also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $31,003 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid per year to attend UDayton.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Ohio Christian University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Circleville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general studies degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.
OCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio Christian University is $24,500 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Studies students with aid.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Southeast Region (With Aid)
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Rocky Mountains Region (With Aid)
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Middle Atlantic Region (With Aid)
Southwest
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Southwest Region (With Aid)
New England
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the New England Region (With Aid)
Plains States
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Far Western US
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)
Great Lakes
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best General Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Focused Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Online General Studies Schools
General Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students with family income less than $30k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students with family income $48-$75k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in the Great Lakes Region
Highest Paid Bachelor's Degree General Studies Graduates in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
General Studies students getting aid in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students with family income $30-$48k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
General Studies students with family income $75-$110k 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.
Featured Liberal Arts Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
