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2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

45 Ranked Colleges
560 Degrees Awarded
$18,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Geography is the 144th most popular major in the country with 5,476 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 776 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 560 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 45 colleges that offered a degree in geography. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geography programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geography program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $16,784 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Northwestern Geography Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $17,929 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 100%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Geography at UChicago

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,573 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Geography at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

#4

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 10 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $16,138 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

Read more about Geography at UW - River Falls

#14 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also took the #14 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,364 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Read more about Geography at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#3 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $21,998 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UIUC.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geography at UIUC

#7

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
#16 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UW - Platteville is a public institution located in Platteville, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, UW - Platteville has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Platteville is $17,414 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Platteville Geography Report

#8

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, UW - Stevens Point has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $16,425 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full UW - Stevens Point Geography Report

#5 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $21,364 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Geography Report

#10

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 13 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, NIU has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $21,425 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Northern Illinois University Geography Report

#21 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #11. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 11 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Oshkosh also took the #21 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $17,210 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Geography at UW Oshkosh

#4 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $21,860 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full UW - Madison Geography Report

#13

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $18,196 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Geography at UW - Eau Claire

#14

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 23 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k list, GVSU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $20,113 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Valley State University Geography Report

With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 9 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $14,993 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full UW - Parkside Geography Report

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUE, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $18,928 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Geography at SIUE

#17

Indiana University - Southeast

New Albany, Indiana

With a ranking of #17, Indiana University - Southeast did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Indiana University - Southeast is a small school located in New Albany, Indiana that handed out 14 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $15,844 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read more about Geography at Indiana University - Southeast

#18

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $19,147 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Geography at Eastern Illinois University

#19

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#15 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $18,951 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Geography at Indiana University - Bloomington

#20

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,894 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Central Michigan.

Full Central Michigan Geography Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #21. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $17,952 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full IUPUI Geography Report

#22

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #22. Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $16,241 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Saginaw Valley State University Geography Report

#23

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#24 in overall quality

Ball State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $19,446 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Geography at Ball State

#24

Aquinas College Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Aquinas College Michigan landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Aquinas College Michigan is a small school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that handed out 3 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,905 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Aquinas College Michigan.

Read more about Geography at Aquinas College Michigan

#25

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $25,379 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Illinois State.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Geography at Illinois State University

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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 Couleur.

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