2023 Best Value Colleges for Sociology (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
79
Ranked Colleges
3,166
Degrees Awarded
$7,600
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
Sociology is the 25th most popular major in the country with 38,475 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, sociology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $24,587 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,166 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,085 and $25,610 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 79 colleges that offer a degree in sociology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent sociology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the sociology program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Sociology (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 44 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $245 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern University.
The low undergrad 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%. With a undergrad 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 Sociology Report
Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools 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 awarded 68 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $2,500 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.
Full University of Chicago Sociology Report
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 Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 155 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Sociology 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 Sociology at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools 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. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 152 students in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UW - Madison Sociology Report
Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #5 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, 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 94%.
Read full report on Sociology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 119 students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $5,995 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at Purdue
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 66 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Notre Dame ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.
Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Notre Dame is $9,872 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Sociology at Notre Dame
With a ranking of #9, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 107 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also made our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $7,068 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.
Read more about Sociology at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 108 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also made our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Sociology at Michigan State University
Oberlin College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oberlin, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Oberlin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,756 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oberlin.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Oberlin College Sociology Report
With a ranking of #12, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Sociology Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - River Falls is located in River Falls, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.
UW - River Falls not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $8,438 for great lakes region sociology 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%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Sociology Report
Beloit College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Beloit is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Beloit, Wisconsin. It awarded 11 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
Beloit also took the #24 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Beloit College is $7,970 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Beloit College Sociology Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 43 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,517 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 UW - La Crosse Sociology Report
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 81 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,549 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at UIC
DePauw University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Greencastle, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
DePauw also took the #9 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePauw University is $19,503 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Sociology at DePauw
Oakland University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 36 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $8,949 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Oakland Sociology Report
Kenyon College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kenyon is a small school located in Gambier, Ohio that handed out 16 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Kenyon has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kenyon is $14,958 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full Kenyon Sociology Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,047 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Sociology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Purdue University Northwest ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Hammond, Indiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,775 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue Northwest.
Read full report on Sociology at Purdue University Northwest
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 55 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Whitewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $8,143 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Sociology Report
With a ranking of #23, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 34 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 full report on Sociology at Ball State University
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,741 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Parkside.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Full UW - Parkside Sociology Report
University of Southern Indiana came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 8 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,815 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Southern Indiana.
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%.
Full University of Southern Indiana Sociology Report
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