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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

36 Ranked Colleges
1,019 Degrees Awarded
$27,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 36 colleges that offer a degree in physical sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality physical sciences programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Physical Sciences 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 Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree physical sciences students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#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 #1 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 51 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 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 UW - Madison are $25,523.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Physical Sciences Report

#7 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 45 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physical sciences students with aid 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 UIUC 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

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 27 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus 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 Getting Aid. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 90 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at SIUE

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 30 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Bloomington Physical Sciences Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Physical Sciences Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 9 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#9

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#22 in overall quality

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified masters’s physical sciences students 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204.

Full Ball State Physical Sciences Report

#10

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 29 masters’s physical sciences degrees 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan State University Physical Sciences Report

#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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 57 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Ohio State

#12

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

With a ranking of #12, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 8 students 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State University are $15,346, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Indiana State

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#14

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 23 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full WIU Physical Sciences Report

#15

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Northwestern University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 27 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 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 Northwestern University are $56,567.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Northwestern University

#16

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan University are $26,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Eastern Michigan

#17

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oakland is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland University are $24,648, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Oakland

#18

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified masters’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

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

Full Northern Illinois University Physical Sciences Report

#19

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Illinois State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s physical sciences degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree physical sciences students with aid list, Illinois State has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Illinois State Physical Sciences Report

#20

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

With a ranking of #20, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Central Michigan is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Central Michigan

#21

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 11 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#22

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cleveland State University is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cleveland State University, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Cleveland State University

#23

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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Wayne State is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 masters’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wayne State University Physical Sciences Report

With a ranking of #24, Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 16 degrees to qualified masters’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Wright State University - Main Campus

#25

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

Western Michigan University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 22 masters’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU also made our “Best Physical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at WMU are $31,355, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Western Michigan University

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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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