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2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

32 Ranked Colleges
195 Degrees Awarded
$31,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 $48-$75k” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in sociology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great sociology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

One Size Does Not Fit All

The sociology 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 Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Sociology (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 9 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern University Sociology Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 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 Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 9 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Sociology 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 more about Sociology at University of Chicago

#4 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 Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 15 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Sociology at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#4

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Purdue 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree sociology students whose families make $48-$75k list, Purdue has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Sociology at Purdue University - Main Campus

#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 $48-$75k. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 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.

Read full report on Sociology at Notre Dame

#5 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 11 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took 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.

Read more about Sociology at UW - Madison

#6 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 5 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Sociology Report

#8

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 5 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #9 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 Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Sociology at Indiana University - Bloomington

#8 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 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 Ohio State are $37,141.

Read more about Sociology at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#11 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

UIC also took the #11 spot 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Sociology Report

#21 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 4 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300.

Read full report on Sociology at SIUE

#12

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Sociology at NIU

#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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Sociology at Ball State University

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 3 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Sociology Report

#22 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s sociology degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Sociology Report

#10 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 2 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western Reserve University are $47,958, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Sociology at Case Western

#17

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 $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 7 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Wayne State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wayne State Sociology Report

#14 in overall quality

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

BGSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Sociology at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

#19

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Western Illinois University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Sociology at WIU

#20

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Michigan State University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 2 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Sociology at Michigan State

#21

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Eastern Michigan is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan University are $26,552.

Full Eastern Michigan Sociology Report

#22

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Illinois State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 7 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #17 spot in our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Sociology at Illinois State

#23

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 1 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Sociology Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Sociology at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#24

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

With a ranking of #24, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school situated in Toledo, Ohio. It awarded 6 masters’s sociology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Sociology at University of Toledo

#16 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree sociology students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC has also earned the #16 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 UC are $26,644.

Read more about Sociology at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

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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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