College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

12 Ranked Colleges
133 Degrees Awarded
$15,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Urban Studies is the 209th most popular major in the country with 1,507 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, urban studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $39,193 and had an average of $21,495 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 133 urban studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,848 and $26,222 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 12 colleges that offered a degree in urban studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent urban studies 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 urban studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Urban Studies Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Urban Studies Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Urban Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s urban studies students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UM Dearborn has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,113 for Great Lakes Region Urban Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Read full report on Urban Studies at University of Michigan - Dearborn

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s urban studies degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $11,973 for Great Lakes Region Urban Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Urban Studies at UWM

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cleveland State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 56 ’s urban studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Cleveland State University also made our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Cleveland State University is $13,272 for Great Lakes Region Urban Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Cleveland State University Urban Studies Report

4
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wayne State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 16 ’s urban studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Wayne State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $11,060 for great lakes region urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Wayne State

5
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wheaton College Illinois. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheaton, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Wheaton College Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,933 for Great Lakes Region Urban Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wheaton College Illinois.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Urban Studies at Wheaton College Illinois

6

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,061 for Great Lakes Region Urban Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Urban Studies Report

7
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s urban studies degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,133 for Great Lakes Region Urban Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Elmhurst University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Elmhurst Urban Studies Report

8

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Wright State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Wright State University - Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,980 for Great Lakes Region Urban Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wright State University - Main Campus.

Read more about Urban Studies at Wright State University - Main Campus

9

The College of Wooster landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The College of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wooster, Ohio. It awarded 2 ’s urban studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Wooster College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend The College of Wooster is $12,636 for great lakes region urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Urban Studies at The College of Wooster

10

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. OHIO Athens is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s urban studies degrees to qualified students.

OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,614 for great lakes region urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.

Read more about Urban Studies at OHIO Athens

11
Roosevelt crest
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Roosevelt has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,854 for Great Lakes Region Urban Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Roosevelt University.

Read full report on Urban Studies at Roosevelt

12
Xavier crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio

Xavier University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Xavier is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 5 ’s urban studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Xavier not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Urban Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $29,961 for great lakes region urban studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Xavier University.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Urban Studies at Xavier

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options