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2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

11 Ranked Colleges
946 Degrees Awarded
$12,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 6,430 people earned their degree in public policy, making the major the 113th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, public policy graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $49,451 and had an average of $21,866 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 946 public policy graduates with average earnings and debt of $49,270 and $20,394 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in public policy. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public policy programs that also have a lower cost than 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 public policy program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Public Policy (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 411 diplomas to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $4,777 for Great Lakes Region Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Public Policy at UChicago

2
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 45 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public policy students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwestern has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $917 for Great Lakes Region Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Northwestern Public Policy Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 225 degrees to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for Great Lakes Region Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Policy at U-M

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 96 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Public Policy Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.

IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,216 for Great Lakes Region Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.

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%.

Full IUPUI Public Policy Report

6

With a ranking of #6, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,581 for Great Lakes Region Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on Public Policy at Ohio State University - Main Campus

7

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 27 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $11,351 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Public Policy Report

8
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified ’s public policy students in 2020-2021.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Public Policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Policy at Michigan State

9
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public policy students whose families make $30-$48k list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,658 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Olivet Nazarene.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Public Policy Report

10
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 26 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul University is $27,252 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Policy at DePaul

11
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Loyola Chicago also made our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola University Chicago is $29,357 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Loyola University Chicago Public Policy Report

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