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2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

21 Ranked Colleges
555 Degrees Awarded
$10,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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 General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

General Social Sciences is the 44th most popular major in the country with 18,762 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 555 general social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 21 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general social sciences 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 social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The general social sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 21 Best Value Colleges for General Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 182 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,500 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Chicago.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Social Sciences at UChicago

2
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $245 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Social Sciences at Northwestern

3

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 9 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

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

4
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 129 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,927 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Michigan State University General Social Sciences Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 13 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $7,068 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Ohio State

6

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized school located in River Falls, Wisconsin that handed out 9 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $8,438 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at UW - River Falls

7

University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s general social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UM Dearborn also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $9,113 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Michigan - Dearborn General Social Sciences Report

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and it awarded 20 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Stout has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stout is $10,074 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Social Sciences at UW - Stout

9

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 37 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $10,259 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Valley State University General Social Sciences Report

10

University of Southern Indiana landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 3 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

USI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern Indiana is $7,815 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at University of Southern Indiana

11

Indiana University - Southeast came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Southeast is a public institution located in New Albany, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Indiana University - Southeast has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,587 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Southeast.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Indiana University - Southeast

12

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s general social sciences students in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $8,143 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Social Sciences at UW - Whitewater

13
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 3 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Eastern Michigan also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan University is $12,465 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Social Sciences at Eastern Michigan

14

Cleveland State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s general social sciences students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cleveland State University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $13,272 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Cleveland State University General Social Sciences Report

15
Denison crest
Denison University
Granville, Ohio

With a ranking of #15, Denison University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Denison University is located in Granville, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s general social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Denison also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Denison University is $15,242 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Denison

16
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

Central Michigan also took the #17 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $10,805 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Central Michigan University

17
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Central College is a small school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 3 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

North Central not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Central is $19,430 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central General Social Sciences Report

18

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 18 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,614 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend OHIO Athens.

Full OHIO Athens General Social Sciences Report

19

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 3 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Akron Main Campus, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $14,420 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus

20
Shawnee State University crest
Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, Ohio

Shawnee State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Portsmouth, Ohio, this small public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified ’s general social sciences students in 2020-2021.

Shawnee State University also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $7,849 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Shawnee State University.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Shawnee State University

21
Roosevelt crest
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s general social sciences students in 2020-2021.

Roosevelt also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,854 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Roosevelt.

Read more about General Social Sciences at Roosevelt

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