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2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

81 Ranked Colleges
11,380 Degrees Awarded
$6,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 129,869 general studies students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 11,380 general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 81 colleges that offer a degree 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 General Studies Schools 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Studies in the Great Lakes Region

1
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macomb Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Macomb Community College is a public institution located in Warren, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,053 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Macomb Community College also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,982 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students per year to attend Macomb Community College.

Read full report on General Studies at Macomb Community College

2
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Out of the 81 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 309 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Oakland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $3,665 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students per year to attend Oakland Community College.

Read more about General Studies at Oakland Community College

3

Out of the 81 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this medium-sized public school awarded 65 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

Cincinnati State also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State is $5,532 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Cincinnati State

4

Out of the 81 schools in the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #4 spot on the list. Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 151 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Harold Washington College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $2,726 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students per year to attend Harold Washington College.

Read more about General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College

5
LLCC crest
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lincoln Land Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region. LLCC is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 47 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

LLCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln Land Community College is $6,027 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at LLCC

6
Waubonsee crest
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, Illinois

Waubonsee Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Sugar Grove, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

Waubonsee did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Waubonsee Community College is $5,104 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read full report on General Studies at Waubonsee

7

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Marion, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 138 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IWU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,904 for great lakes region general studies students per year to attend Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 General Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global

8
Delta College crest
Delta College
University Center, Michigan

Delta College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. This medium-sized school is located in University Center, Michigan, and it awarded 200 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Delta College is $4,268 for great lakes region general studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Delta College

9

Danville Area Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Danville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,537 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students per year to attend DACC.

Read full report on General Studies at Danville Area Community College

10

Moraine Valley Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Moraine Valley Community College is a fairly large school located in Palos Hills, Illinois that handed out 430 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Moraine Valley Community College is $1,901 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Moraine Valley Community College

11
College of Lake County crest
College of Lake County
Grayslake, Illinois

College of Lake County did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. College of Lake County is a public institution located in Grayslake, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

College of Lake County also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $4,989 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read full report on General Studies at College of Lake County

12
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, Illinois

Oakton Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakton Community College is a public institution located in Des Plaines, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakton Community College, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oakton Community College is $6,423 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.

Full Oakton Community College General Studies Report

13

Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Youngstown State University also made our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $12,225 for great lakes region general studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Youngstown State University

14
Prairie State College crest
Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Prairie State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Prairie State College is located in Chicago Heights, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s general studies degrees to qualified students.

Prairie State College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Prairie State College is $8,981 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on General Studies at Prairie State College

15
MCC crest
Mott Community College
Flint, Michigan

Mott Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Flint, Michigan, and it awarded 479 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,813 for great lakes region general studies students per year to attend MCC.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Studies at Mott Community College

16

Shawnee Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Shawnee Community College is a small public school situated in Ullin, Illinois. It awarded 33 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,416 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students per year to attend Shawnee Community College.

Full Shawnee Community College General Studies Report

17
Schoolcraft College crest
Schoolcraft College
Livonia, Michigan

Schoolcraft College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Schoolcraft College is a medium-sized public school situated in Livonia, Michigan. It awarded 385 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Schoolcraft College is $6,872 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Full Schoolcraft College General Studies Report

18
SSC crest
South Suburban College
South Holland, Illinois

South Suburban College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. South Holland, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,204 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students per year to attend SSC.

Read full report on General Studies at SSC

18
GOCC crest
Glen Oaks Community College
Centreville, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Glen Oaks Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Centreville, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general studies degrees to 131 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Glen Oaks Community College is $6,907 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at GOCC

20

William Rainey Harper College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Palatine, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 99 degrees to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

Harper College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harper College is $7,184 for great lakes region general studies students.

Read more about General Studies at William Rainey Harper College

21
NMC crest
Northwestern Michigan College
Traverse City, Michigan

Northwestern Michigan College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. NMC is a small school located in Traverse City, Michigan that handed out 211 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern Michigan College is $6,874 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at Northwestern Michigan College

22

City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wilbur Wright College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 175 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wilbur Wright College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wilbur Wright College is $2,482 for great lakes region general studies students.

Read full report on General Studies at Wilbur Wright College

23
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, Ohio

With a ranking of #23, Stark State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Stark State College is a fairly large school located in North Canton, Ohio that handed out 160 ’s general studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Stark State College is $5,963 for great lakes region general studies students.

Full Stark State College General Studies Report

24
MCC crest
McHenry County College
Crystal Lake, Illinois

McHenry County College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified ’s general studies students in 2020-2021.

MCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend McHenry County College is $7,706 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read more about General Studies at McHenry County College

25
Joliet Junior College crest
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, Illinois

With a ranking of #25, Joliet Junior College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 134 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Joliet Junior College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $5,609 for Great Lakes Region General Studies students.

Read full report on General Studies at Joliet Junior College

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Notes and References

References

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