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

18 Ranked Colleges
192 Degrees Awarded
$35,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 48,831 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. 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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 192 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,428 and $121,375 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the economics program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region” 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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region doctor’s degree economics students.

Top 18 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in the Great Lakes Region

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 28 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#2

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.

NIU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full NIU Economics Report

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree economics students list, Purdue has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at Purdue

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

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

Full UIUC Economics Report

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 15 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Economics Report

#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

UWM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Economics Doctor’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 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Read full report on Economics at UWM

#7

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#10 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’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 IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Economics at Indiana University - Bloomington

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 1 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Economics Doctor’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 University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Economics Report

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’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 Michigan State are $37,056.

Full Michigan State Economics Report

#15 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

UC also took the #15 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’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 UC are $26,644.

Full UC Economics Report

#11

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Western Michigan University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Western Michigan University is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355.

Read more about Economics at Western Michigan University

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Economics Report

#14 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Economics Doctor’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.

Read full report on Economics at SIUC

#14

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#16 in overall quality

Wayne State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Wayne State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wayne State Economics Report

#15

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#3 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Economics Doctor’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 U-M are $49,548.

Read more about Economics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#16

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at University of Notre Dame

#17

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at Northwestern

#18

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

University of Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #2 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at UChicago

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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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