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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

14 Ranked Colleges
377 Degrees Awarded
$11,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

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 $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in religious studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality religious 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 religious 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 the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $3,995 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Religious Studies at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 3 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,800 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UChicago.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at University of Chicago

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s religion 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 Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,887 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend U-M.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

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

#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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 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. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $6,860 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, 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 95%.

Read more about Religious Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $10,037 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, 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 Religious Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,192 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at IU Bloomington

#7

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s religion students in 2019-2020.

GVSU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,459 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend GVSU.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full GVSU Religious Studies Report

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. UWM is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.

UWM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $14,957 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Religious Studies Report

#9

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

With a ranking of #9, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Central Michigan is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 3 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $12,127 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central Michigan.

Full Central Michigan University Religious Studies Report

#10

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Lake Forest College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest also took the #11 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lake Forest is $19,152 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Studies at Lake Forest College

#11

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

Eastern Michigan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan University is $14,136 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Eastern Michigan Religious Studies Report

#12

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

Western 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 $30-$48k ranking. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 7 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,276 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Religion students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Western Michigan University.

Full Western Michigan University Religious Studies Report

#13

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon, Ohio

Mount Vernon Nazarene University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

MVNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University is $16,876 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

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 $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s religion students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k list, DePaul has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $25,842 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree religion students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Religious Studies at DePaul

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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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