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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

13 Ranked Colleges
305 Degrees Awarded
$23,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master'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. 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 Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 559,661 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 305 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts general studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts general studies 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 liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies 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 Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 13 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 147 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Chicago

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Northwest. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Gary, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Northwest, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Northwest are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 2 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ohio State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ohio State Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#4

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland University landed the #4 spot on the list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s liberal arts degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Oakland has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland are $24,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Oakland Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#5

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - South Bend landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this small public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

Indiana University - South Bend also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Indiana University - South Bend Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at UIS

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UM Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Dearborn are $25,072, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#8

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 2 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, USI has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern Indiana are $20,039.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at USI

#9

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #9, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 1 masters’s liberal arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also took the #0 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204.

Full Ball State Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#10

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree liberal arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, WIU has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full WIU Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#11

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois

North Central College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 30 degrees to qualified masters’s liberal arts students in 2019-2020.

North Central not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at North Central College are $15,822.

Full North Central College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#12

Tiffin University

Tiffin, Ohio

Tiffin University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Tiffin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tiffin, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Tiffin University also took the #5 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tiffin University are $13,000, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Tiffin University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. DePaul is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 19 masters’s liberal arts 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 Liberal Arts General Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at DePaul University

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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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