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2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

79 Ranked Colleges
3,143 Degrees Awarded
$15,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Sociology is the 20th most popular major in the country with 38,394 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,143 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 79 colleges that offered a degree in sociology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality sociology 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 sociology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region sociology students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Sociology in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #1 spot on the list. 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 also made our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $14,417 for great lakes region sociology students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Sociology Report

2

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #2 spot on the list. UW - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - River Falls also took the #23 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $13,844 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Read more about Sociology at UW - River Falls

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for great lakes region sociology students.

Full SIUE Sociology Report

4

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #4 spot on the list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

Full NIU Sociology Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 43 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Sociology at UW - La Crosse

6

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 90 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region sociology students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Sociology Report

7

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 39 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,051 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Read more about Sociology at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

8

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 20 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,945 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Read full report on Sociology at University of Akron Main Campus

9

Purdue University Northwest ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $11,384 for great lakes region sociology students.

Read more about Sociology at Purdue Northwest

10

With a ranking of #10, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 16 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $15,305 for great lakes region sociology students.

Full WIU Sociology Report

11

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

Full UW Oshkosh Sociology Report

12
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

Read full report on Sociology at Western Michigan University

13
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 119 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue also took the #7 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Sociology at Purdue University - Main Campus

14

Illinois State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 69 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $20,830 for great lakes region sociology students.

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%.

Read full report on Sociology at Illinois State

15
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 26 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend EIU is $13,098 for great lakes region sociology students.

Read full report on Sociology at EIU

16
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Sociology at Central Michigan

17

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,486 for great lakes region sociology students.

Read more about Sociology at UWM

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. 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.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $11,082 for great lakes region sociology students.

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%.

Read full report on Sociology at University of Wisconsin - Parkside

19

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 12 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $16,285 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

Read full report on Sociology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

20

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,558 for great lakes region sociology students.

Read more about Sociology at BGSU

21

Grand Valley State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $17,356 for great lakes region sociology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Sociology at Grand Valley State University

22

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. OHIO Athens is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 83 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $23,831 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students per year to attend OHIO Athens.

Read full report on Sociology at Ohio University - Athens Campus

23
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Michigan is a public institution located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan is $15,127 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

Full Eastern Michigan Sociology Report

24

Kent State University at Kent ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school handed out 50 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $19,117 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students.

Read full report on Sociology at Kent State

25

Youngstown State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 11 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,225 for great lakes region sociology students per year to attend Youngstown State University.

Full Youngstown State University Sociology Report

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