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2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region

13 Colleges in the United States
$25,693 Avg Student Debt
$61,782 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Badge [General Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/general-social-sciences/social-sciences-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general social sciences schools.

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2027 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general social sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value General Social Sciences Schools

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Dearborn the best value for a degree in general social sciences in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Students borrow a median of $38,850 to complete the general social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.

2

University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,008, compared with $17,470 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $24,245. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $42,357. Set against $24,245 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

3

University Of Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $53,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Platteville one of the best values for general social sciences. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,677 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $56,998 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,677 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.

5

Grand Valley State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general social sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,400 to complete the general social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $43,217. That is a strong return on a $27,400 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.

6

Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $22,053. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $58,088. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.

7

Shawnee State University landed the #7 spot for general social sciences value this year. Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Portsmouth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,448, with out-of-state students paying around $16,032. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $25,233. General Social Sciences graduates of Shawnee State University earn a median of $42,878 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,233 median debt.

8

University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $27,873. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

9
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general social sciences schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $29,198 to complete the general social sciences program here. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $46,206. Set against $29,198 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.

10
North Central College crest
North Central College
Naperville, IL

North Central College earned the #10 position for value in general social sciences this year. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,726. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $25,699. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $46,247. Set against $25,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.

11

Ohio University Main Campus came in at #11 for value in general social sciences this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general social sciences graduates is $24,546. Early-career general social sciences graduates make about $52,274. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.

12
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, OH

Franklin University earned the #12 position for value in general social sciences this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,577. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $35,890 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general social sciences degree recipients from Franklin University generally make around $57,471. That is a strong return on a $35,890 median debt.

13

Northwestern University placed #13 among the best values for general social sciences. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. General Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. General Social Sciences graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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