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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

50 Ranked Colleges
2,057 Degrees Awarded
$29,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master's 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. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 205,726 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 22,091 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,186 and $24,310 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,057 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 50 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social sciences programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Social Sciences Schools

The 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $0-$30k) 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 64 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern Social Sciences Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 383 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

UChicago also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at UChicago

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 91 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Read full report on Social Sciences at U-M

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 238 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW - Madison Social Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 101 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Social Sciences Report

#6

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 48 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Notre Dame

#7

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Purdue has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Purdue Social Sciences Report

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 26 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Social Sciences at IU Bloomington

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Michigan State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Michigan State Social Sciences Report

#9 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 Ohio State are $37,141.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Social Sciences Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 24 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

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 IUPUI Social Sciences Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Whitewater are $19,200.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 10 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#14

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

Ball State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State University is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 17 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at Ball State University

#15

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Springfield is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Illinois at Springfield

#15 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIC has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UIC

#17

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

Indiana State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana State is a fairly large public school situated in Terre Haute, Indiana. It awarded 18 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, Indiana State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 Indiana State University are $15,346.

Read more about Social Sciences at Indiana State

University of Michigan - Flint came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Flint, Michigan, and it awarded 5 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Flint are $18,202, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UM Flint

#19

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 47 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 UWM are $25,295.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#20

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Wheaton, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois also took the #0 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 Wheaton College Illinois are $17,424.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Wheaton College Illinois

#21

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086.

Read more about Social Sciences at Northern Illinois University

#11 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 32 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’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 Miami University - Oxford are $31,697.

Read more about Social Sciences at Miami University - Oxford

#23

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Eastern Illinois University

#24

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 21 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Central Michigan University

#25

University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan
#19 in overall quality

University of Detroit Mercy came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Detroit Mercy, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Detroit Mercy are $20,047, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Detroit Mercy

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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.

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