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2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

18 Ranked Colleges
868 Degrees Awarded
$20,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in international studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent international 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 international studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The international studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 18 Best Value Colleges for International Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 209 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students with aid list, U-M has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,878 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students with aid per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about International Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

2

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 95 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students with aid list, UW - Madison has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on International Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

3

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 54 degrees to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,321 for great lakes region international studies students with aid 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on International Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.

UW - Stevens Point also made our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students with aid.

Read more about International Studies at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

5
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 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 estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $19,058 for great lakes region international studies students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full Michigan State International Studies Report

6

With a ranking of #6, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 35 ’s international studies 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. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,486 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students with aid.

Full UWM International Studies Report

7

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 21 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $24,756 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.

Full Miami University - Oxford International Studies Report

8
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Western Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 23 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

WMU also took the #12 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Michigan University is $20,371 for great lakes region international studies students with aid.

Full Western Michigan University International Studies Report

9
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Notre Dame is $31,101 for great lakes region international studies students with aid.

The undergraduate 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Notre Dame International Studies Report

10

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,356 for great lakes region international studies students with aid per year to attend GVSU.

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%.

Full GVSU International Studies Report

11

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUE, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students with aid.

Full SIUE International Studies Report

12

With a ranking of #12, Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 13 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Wright State University - Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,962 for great lakes region international studies students with aid per year to attend Wright State University - Main Campus.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus International Studies Report

13

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 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 $18,558 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students with aid.

Read full report on International Studies at BGSU

14

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $22,415 for great lakes region international studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on International Studies at UC

15
Illinois College crest
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.

Illinois College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois College is $18,271 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students with aid.

Read more about International Studies at Illinois College

16

Baldwin Wallace University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students with aid list, Baldwin Wallace College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Baldwin Wallace University is $25,361 for great lakes region international studies students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on International Studies at Baldwin Wallace College

17
Hope crest
Hope College
Holland, Michigan

With a ranking of #17, Hope College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Hope is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Holland, Michigan. It awarded 13 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hope, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Hope is $26,944 for great lakes region international studies students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Hope College International Studies Report

18

University of Dayton came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UDayton is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 21 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UDayton, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $29,928 for great lakes region international studies students with aid per year to attend UDayton.

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%.

Full University of Dayton International Studies Report

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