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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Economics in the Great Lakes Region

89 Ranked Colleges
3,836 Degrees Awarded
$15,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

General Economics is the 22nd most popular major in the country with 31,150 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 4,035 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,836 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 89 colleges that offer a degree in general economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general economics 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 general economics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Economics in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 17 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - River Falls also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $13,748 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 General Economics at UW - River Falls

#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 45 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students list, UW - La Crosse has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,580 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse General Economics Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UW Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $15,463 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students.

Read more about General Economics at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $15,249 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students.

Read full report on General Economics at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 43 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $16,020 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

Full UW - Eau Claire General Economics Report

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 4 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,395 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students per year to attend UW - Green Bay.

Read more about General Economics at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,423 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Read full report on General Economics at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#8

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $16,210 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

Read more about General Economics at Western Illinois University

#9

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general economics degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,465 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.

Read more about General Economics at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#10

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend EIU is $14,607 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

Read full report on General Economics at Eastern Illinois University

#11

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general economics degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NIU is $18,259 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

Full Northern Illinois University General Economics Report

#12

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UIS is $12,477 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

Read more about General Economics at University of Illinois at Springfield

#13

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Illinois State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 46 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $20,895 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

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%.

Full Illinois State General Economics Report

#14

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school awarded 20 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,646 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

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 Grand Valley State University General Economics Report

#15

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan

With a ranking of #15, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,433 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students per year to attend Western Michigan University.

Read more about General Economics at Western Michigan University

University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. UW - Parkside is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 9 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Parkside is $11,327 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

Read full report on General Economics at University of Wisconsin - Parkside

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 13 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $16,945 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students.

Read more about General Economics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#18

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $17,876 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Read full report on General Economics at UWM

#19

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $11,947 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students.

Read full report on General Economics at Youngstown State University

#20

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Southern Indiana is a fairly large public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 18 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend USI is $13,437 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Read more about General Economics at USI

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Bowling Green, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,394 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students per year to attend BGSU.

Read full report on General Economics at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,792 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

Read more about General Economics at University of Akron Main Campus

#23

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 21 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $17,278 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students.

Read more about General Economics at Cleveland State University

#24

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general economics degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan University is $15,924 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students.

Full Eastern Michigan General Economics Report

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 17 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $15,843 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree general economics students.

Read more about General Economics at Northeastern Illinois 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 pixabay.

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