2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
78
Ranked Colleges
6,916
Degrees Awarded
$15,800
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 49,055 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,736 and had an average of $22,046 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,916 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,027 and $23,639 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 78 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality 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 economics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Economics 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 Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” 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 Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region economics students.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Economics in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 23 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $13,844 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Economics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 17 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Read full report on 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 #3 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 44 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Eau Claire is $16,051 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Full UW - Eau Claire Economics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 25 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 full report on Economics at UW - La Crosse
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for UW Oshkosh is $14,687 for great lakes region economics students.
Read full report on Economics at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Read more about Economics at University of Akron Main Campus
Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 196 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #9 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for great lakes region economics students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Economics at Purdue University - Main Campus
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 12 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,462 for Great Lakes Region Economics students per year to attend SIUE.
Read full report on Economics at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Western Illinois University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 14 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $15,305 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Read full report on Economics at WIU
Youngstown State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Full Youngstown State University Economics Report
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 32 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Western Michigan University is $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Read more about Economics at Western Michigan University
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 27 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Full Northern Illinois University Economics Report
With a ranking of #13, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Full Central Michigan Economics Report
Illinois State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 45 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Illinois State Economics Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 72 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus is $23,831 for great lakes region economics students.
Read full report on Economics at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 24 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $16,285 for great lakes region economics students.
Read more about Economics at SIUC
Eastern Michigan University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,127 for great lakes region economics students per year to attend Eastern Michigan.
Full Eastern Michigan University Economics Report
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 58 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Economics Report
With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 864 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at UW - Madison
Grand Valley State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 20 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Economics students.
The low undergrad 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 full report on Economics at Grand Valley State University
With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,082 for Great Lakes Region Economics students per year to attend UW - Parkside.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Economics at UW - Parkside
With a ranking of #22, Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. BGSU is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $18,558 for great lakes region economics students.
Read more about Economics at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
University of Southern Indiana landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. USI is a medium-sized public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 17 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $13,481 for great lakes region economics students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Economics at University of Southern Indiana
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 563 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,321 for great lakes region economics students per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.
Full UIUC Economics Report
With a ranking of #25, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. EIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 12 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,098 for great lakes region economics students per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.
Read full report on Economics at EIU
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