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2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Policy (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region

11 Ranked Colleges
946 Degrees Awarded
$30,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking - to help you make that 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 Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public policy. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public policy programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

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

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Public Policy (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #1 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 225 students in 2020-2021.

U-M also took the #2 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $14,878 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about Public Policy at U-M

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

IUPUI also took the #8 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,416 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full IUPUI Public Policy Report

3

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 96 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 UW - Madison Public Policy Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k list, Ohio State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Public Policy Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.

UIC also made our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $13,214 for Great Lakes Region Public Policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read more about Public Policy at UIC

6
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 411 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $28,517 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend UChicago.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full University of Chicago Public Policy Report

7
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s public policy degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State also made our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $19,058 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan State Public Policy Report

8
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

Olivet Nazarene not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $19,470 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.

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 full report on Public Policy at Olivet Nazarene

9
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 45 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $23,279 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Northwestern Public Policy Report

10
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public policy degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k list, DePaul has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $31,174 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.

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 more about Public Policy at DePaul University

11
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Vallue Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 8 ’s public policy degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k list, Loyola Chicago has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Public Policy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola Chicago is $36,434 for great lakes region public policy students whose families make more than $110k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Loyola University Chicago Public Policy Report

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