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2023 Best Value Colleges for Jazz Studies in the Great Lakes Region

15 Ranked Colleges
85 Degrees Awarded
$20,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 574 people earned their degree in jazz studies, making the major the 544th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 85 jazz studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in jazz studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality jazz studies 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 jazz studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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 Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Jazz Studies in the Great Lakes Region

1
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Michigan University landed the #1 spot on the list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s jazz degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

WMU also made our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Jazz students.

Full WMU Jazz Studies Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Akron Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 2 ’s jazz degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Akron Main Campus, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,945 for Great Lakes Region Jazz students per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Jazz Studies Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region. BGSU is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s jazz degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $18,558 for Great Lakes Region Jazz students.

Full BGSU Jazz Studies Report

4
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ball State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 1 ’s jazz degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $14,765 for Great Lakes Region Jazz students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ball State University Jazz Studies Report

5
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 17 ’s jazz degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $19,058 for great lakes region jazz students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.

Full Michigan State University Jazz Studies Report

6

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s jazz degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region jazz students list, UIUC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Jazz students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Jazz Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

7
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. DePaul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

DePaul also took the #9 spot in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $31,174 for great lakes region jazz students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Jazz Studies at DePaul University

8
Roosevelt crest
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Roosevelt University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 ’s jazz degrees in 2020-2021.

Roosevelt also took the #8 spot in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,678 for great lakes region jazz students per year to attend Roosevelt.

Read full report on Jazz Studies at Roosevelt

9

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s jazz degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

UIC also made our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for great lakes region jazz students.

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 UIC Jazz Studies Report

10

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 6 ’s jazz degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $16,845 for great lakes region jazz students per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 94%.

Full Ohio State Jazz Studies Report

11
Capital crest
Capital University
Columbus, Ohio

Capital University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Capital University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 2 ’s jazz degrees in 2020-2021.

Capital not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Capital is $20,020 for Great Lakes Region Jazz students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Capital Jazz Studies Report

12
UIndy crest
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana

University of Indianapolis came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s jazz students in 2020-2021.

UIndy also took the #15 spot in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIndy is $19,808 for great lakes region jazz students.

Read full report on Jazz Studies at University of Indianapolis

13

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $14,878 for great lakes region jazz students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Jazz Studies Report

14
Oberlin crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio

With a ranking of #14, Oberlin College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oberlin, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Oberlin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oberlin College is $34,777 for Great Lakes Region Jazz students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Jazz Studies at Oberlin

15
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Jazz Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s jazz students in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Jazz Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $23,279 for Great Lakes Region Jazz students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%. 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 University Jazz Studies Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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