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

39 Ranked Colleges
849 Degrees Awarded
$30,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Economics 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.

Economics is the 18th most popular major in the country with 48,831 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,771 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,903 and $22,924 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 849 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Economics 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.

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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Economics 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 economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #2 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at Northwestern University

#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 Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 59 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

UChicago also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at UChicago

#5 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 Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 63 diplomas to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, U-M has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Economics 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 U-M are $49,548.

Read full report on Economics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’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 156 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UW - Madison Economics Report

#5

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at Notre Dame

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Purdue University - Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at Purdue University - Main Campus

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 76 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #6 spot in our “Best Economics 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.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Economics Report

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #12 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at IU Bloomington

#8 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 29 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Economics 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#23 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 5 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at IUPUI

#11

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also took the #0 spot in our “Best Economics 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 Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200.

Read full report on Economics at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#14 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 14 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at University of Illinois at Chicago

#13

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761.

Read full report on Economics at EIU

#14

University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan

University of Detroit Mercy did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Detroit Mercy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 18 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Detroit Mercy has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Economics 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 Detroit Mercy are $20,047.

Full University of Detroit Mercy Economics Report

#15

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Michigan State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Michigan State Economics Report

#16

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#18 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 15 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Economics 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 UWM are $25,295.

Full UWM Economics Report

#17

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495.

Read full report on Economics at Youngstown State University

#9 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 17 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at Miami University - Oxford

#19

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

Central Michigan University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 14 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Central Michigan University Economics Report

#20

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 4 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read full report on Economics at Northern Illinois University

#25 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics 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 4 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#22

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Wayne State is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Economics at Wayne State

#23

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois State University is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at Illinois State University

#24

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

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.

Full WIU Economics Report

Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 7 masters’s economics degrees 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 Economics at Wright State University - Main Campus

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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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