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2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

32 Ranked Colleges
195 Degrees Awarded
$31,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 37,807 people earned their degree in sociology, making the major the 24th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, sociology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,727 and had an average of $23,622 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,239 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,473 and $25,310 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 195 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the sociology 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 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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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

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

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 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 Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567.

Read full report on Sociology at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Sociology 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. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 9 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Sociology 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 Chicago are $61,548.

Read full report on Sociology at University of Chicago

#4 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 Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #4 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Sociology Report

#5 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 Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 11 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Sociology 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 UW - Madison are $25,523.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Sociology Report

#5

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Notre Dame. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 10 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Notre Dame Sociology Report

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Purdue University - Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

Purdue also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue Sociology Report

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 5 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Sociology 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.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Sociology Report

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 5 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Sociology 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 full report on Sociology at IU Bloomington

#8 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Sociology at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology 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 4 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUE, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SIUE Sociology Report

With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 3 students 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 Sociology Report

#11 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 8 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree sociology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Sociology at University of Illinois at Chicago

#13

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Sociology at Ball State

#14

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 3 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Sociology 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 NIU are $11,086.

Full NIU Sociology Report

#10 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Case Western is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree sociology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Case Western has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Sociology 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 full report on Sociology at Case Western

#16

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan State Sociology Report

#22 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 2 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC also took the #22 spot in our “Best Sociology 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 SIUC are $32,928.

Read full report on Sociology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#18

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 7 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Wayne State also took the #24 spot in our “Best Sociology 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 Wayne State are $37,215.

Read more about Sociology at Wayne State

#19

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 5 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU also took the #25 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Sociology at WIU

#14 in overall quality

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

BGSU also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Sociology at BGSU

#21

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

Illinois State also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Sociology at Illinois State University

#22

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified masters’s sociology students in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Sociology 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 UWM are $25,295.

Read more about Sociology at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#23

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Sociology at WMU

#24

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #24, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 2 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan are $26,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Eastern Michigan Sociology Report

#16 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644.

Read full report on Sociology at UC

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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 Kontos.

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