2023 Best Value Colleges for International Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
18
Ranked Colleges
868
Degrees Awarded
$11,200
Avg Net Price*
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 International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 7,368 people earned their degree in international studies, making the major the 100th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, international studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,198 and had an average of $21,594 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 868 international studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,564 and $24,274 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in international studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great international studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the international 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique 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 International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for International Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 209 students in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor International Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 95 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison International Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 54 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $4,858 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about International Studies at UIUC
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #4 spot on the list. Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 61 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Notre Dame is $9,872 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
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. The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about International Studies at University of Notre Dame
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 46 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,927 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on International Studies at Michigan State University
Miami University - Oxford came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
Miami University - Oxford also took the #4 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,956 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, 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 88%.
Full Miami University - Oxford International Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 16 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUE has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,047 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about International Studies at SIUE
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.
UW - Stevens Point not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $7,903 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.
Read more about International Studies at UW - Stevens Point
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 12 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, GVSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $10,259 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Studies at Grand Valley State University
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,973 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
Read full report on International Studies at UWM
Western Michigan University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 23 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
WMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,112 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WMU.
Read full report on International Studies at WMU
Illinois College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Illinois College is a small school located in Jacksonville, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois College also took the #18 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois College is $12,437 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on International Studies at Illinois College
Hope College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hope College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Holland, Michigan. It awarded 13 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Hope also took the #8 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,553 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hope.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read full report on International Studies at Hope
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 2 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $15,061 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read full report on International Studies at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Wright State University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 13 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wright State University - Main Campus, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wright State University - Main Campus is $11,980 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about International Studies at Wright State University - Main Campus
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. BGSU is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Ohio that handed out 10 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $14,079 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on International Studies at BGSU
Baldwin Wallace University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Baldwin Wallace University is located in Berea, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
Baldwin Wallace College also made our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Baldwin Wallace University is $18,190 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on International Studies at Baldwin Wallace University
University of Dayton did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. UDayton is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 21 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UDayton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Dayton is $19,334 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Studies at UDayton
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Yerpo.
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