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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

50 Ranked Colleges
2,057 Degrees Awarded
$30,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 205,726 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 50 colleges that offered a degree in social sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social sciences programs, but they also cost less that 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Social Sciences Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 64 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Northwestern

#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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 383 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UChicago

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 91 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

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

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 238 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #4 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UW - Madison

#5

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#3 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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 48 masters’s social sciences degrees 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 University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Notre Dame

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 34 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue Social Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 101 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Read more about Social Sciences at IU Bloomington

#9 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 56 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #9 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 Ohio State are $37,141.

Full Ohio State Social Sciences Report

#10

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Illinois at Springfield

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 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 IUPUI are $26,013.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Social Sciences Report

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at SIUE

#13

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater 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 $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 2 masters’s social sciences degrees 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Whitewater are $19,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Social Sciences Report

#15 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago 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.

UIC also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036.

Full UIC Social Sciences Report

#15

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

Ball State University 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 $30-$48k ranking. Ball State University is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 17 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #21 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 Ball State University are $26,204.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Ball State University

#16

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

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

Full EIU Social Sciences Report

#17

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

Indiana State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Indiana State is a fairly large public school situated in Terre Haute, Indiana. It awarded 18 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Indiana State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Indiana State

University of Michigan - Flint ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Flint, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UM Flint are $18,202.

Full UM Flint Social Sciences Report

#19

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Michigan State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 34 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Michigan State University

#20

University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of Detroit Mercy did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Detroit Mercy also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Detroit Mercy are $20,047.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Detroit Mercy

#8 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Case Western Reserve University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 11 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Case Western, the school also landed the #8 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 Case Western Reserve University are $47,958.

Read more about Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University

#22

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 47 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #20 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 Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#23

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. 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.

Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at Northern Illinois University

With a ranking of #24, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 12 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 SIUC are $32,928.

Read more about Social Sciences at SIUC

#25

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

With a ranking of #25, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school handed out 46 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Wayne 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.

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