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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

14 Ranked Colleges
377 Degrees Awarded
$10,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Religious Studies is the 115th most popular major in the country with 9,704 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, religious studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,163 and had an average of $28,712 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 545 religious studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,033 and $27,538 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 377 religious studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in religious studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great religious studies programs and 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 religious studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Religious Studies Schools

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 Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 4 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $1,866 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Northwestern University Religious Studies Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s religion degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $2,712 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UChicago.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. 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%.

Read more about Religious Studies at University of Chicago

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 8 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $3,166 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full U-M Religious Studies Report

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 10 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $4,367 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%.

Full UW - Madison Religious Studies Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $8,194 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Ohio State Religious Studies Report

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

With a ranking of #6, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s religion degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #8 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $4,969 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 91%.

Read more about Religious Studies at IU Bloomington

#7

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $11,578 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Read more about Religious Studies at GVSU

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s religion students in 2019-2020.

UWM also took the #9 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $13,222 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UWM Religious Studies Report

#9

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Michigan, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $11,598 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Religious Studies at Central Michigan University

#10

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

Western Michigan University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k list, WMU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $13,021 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Religious Studies at Western Michigan University

#11

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Lake Forest College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Lake Forest is a small school located in Lake Forest, Illinois that handed out 4 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lake Forest has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,192 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lake Forest College.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 more about Religious Studies at Lake Forest College

#12

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Eastern Michigan University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern Michigan is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.

Eastern Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan is $13,904 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Religious Studies at Eastern Michigan University

#13

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon, Ohio

With a ranking of #13, Mount Vernon Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mount Vernon, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s religion degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

MVNU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mount Vernon Nazarene University is $18,507 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Mount Vernon Nazarene University

#14

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

DePaul University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 3 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $26,173 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DePaul University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 DePaul University Religious 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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Sowlos.

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