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2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

36 Ranked Colleges
1,019 Degrees Awarded
$31,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master'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. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Physical Sciences is the 18th most popular major in the country with 52,879 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $38,122 and had an average of $22,339 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,853 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,984 and $22,875 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,019 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree in physical sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great physical sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the physical sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Physical Sciences Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Physical Sciences 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 physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $30-$48k) 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 Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 27 diplomas to qualified masters’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Northwestern University

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 69 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UChicago Physical Sciences Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 51 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #4 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW - Madison Physical Sciences Report

#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 #4 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 90 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 36 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 27 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Purdue are $28,794.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Physical Sciences Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 45 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#7

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 19 degrees to qualified masters’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame also made our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Notre Dame

#8 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 57 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Ohio State are $37,141.

Full Ohio State Physical Sciences Report

#13 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 18 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#10

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at IU Bloomington

With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Physical Sciences Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Full UIC Physical Sciences Report

#13

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #13, Oakland University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland are $24,648.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Oakland

#14

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#22 in overall quality

Ball State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 14 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ball State Physical Sciences Report

#23 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Physical Sciences 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 SIUC are $32,928.

Full SIUC Physical Sciences Report

#16

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 23 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Western Illinois University are $11,996.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at WIU

#17

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Illinois State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Illinois State are $11,069.

Full Illinois State University Physical Sciences Report

#18

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Terre Haute, Indiana, and it awarded 8 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Indiana State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Indiana State University are $15,346.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Indiana State University

#19

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Michigan State University

#20

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan University are $26,552, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Eastern Michigan

#21

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Northern Illinois University

#22

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359.

Full Central Michigan Physical Sciences Report

#14 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Miami University - Oxford

#24

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 24 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Wayne State University

#10 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Case Western is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 16 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Physical Sciences 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 Case Western Reserve University are $47,958.

Full Case Western Reserve University Physical Sciences 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 NASA.

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