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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

75 Ranked Colleges
4,620 Degrees Awarded
$9,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 559,661 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies is the 1st most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 65,409 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,947 and $17,710 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,620 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 75 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts general studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies 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 Liberal Arts General Studies Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $2,800 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The 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 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Chicago Liberal Arts General Studies Report

Out of the 75 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 68 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,887 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

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%. 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 more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#3

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana

Out of the 75 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 47 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Notre Dame is $15,609 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

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. The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Notre Dame Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 238 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,192 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend IU Bloomington.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full IU Bloomington Liberal Arts General Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Northwest. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Gary, Indiana, this small public school handed out 55 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Northwest is $4,960 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at IU Northwest

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 264 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $6,315 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at IUPUI

With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 103 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Green Bay is $11,641 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at UW - Green Bay

#8

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 139 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Oakland has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,751 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oakland University.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Oakland University

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ohio State has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $10,037 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its 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%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Ohio State

#10

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 84 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,057 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.

Full Indiana University - South Bend Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#11

Indiana University - Kokomo

Kokomo, Indiana

Indiana University - Kokomo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Indiana University - Kokomo is located in Kokomo, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 68 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $6,049 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend IU Kokomo.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Indiana University - Kokomo

#12

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,323 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UIS.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at UIS

#12

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Platteville is a medium-sized public school situated in Platteville, Wisconsin. It awarded 3 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $12,930 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

#14

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 80 students in 2019-2020.

GVSU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $12,459 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full GVSU Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#15

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 123 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU also took the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,316 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.

Full Eastern Illinois University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 37 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Oshkosh also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. It costs about $13,114 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#17

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Richmond, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend IU East is $5,002 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full IU East Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#18

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ball State is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 249 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,487 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ball State.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Ball State

#19

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $11,828 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

#20

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

UW - Whitewater also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $12,156 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at UW - Whitewater

#21

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $8,401 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Purdue Northwest

#22

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana

With a ranking of #22, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 85 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for PFW is $7,686 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Purdue University Fort Wayne

#23

Indiana University - Southeast

New Albany, Indiana

Indiana University - Southeast came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - Southeast is a small school located in New Albany, Indiana that handed out 96 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Southeast is $8,675 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Indiana University - Southeast Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#24

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. GSU is a small public school situated in University Park, Illinois. It awarded 108 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Governors State University is $12,046 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Governors State University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#25

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $11,433 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UW - Stevens Point Liberal Arts General Studies 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

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.

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