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Our analysis found to be the best value (income $30-$48k) school for associate degrees in the Great Lakes Region in this year’s ranking.
by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 198 schools across the Great Lakes Region to determine which have the best value Associate Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $30-$48k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found to be the best value (income $30-$48k) school for associate degrees in the Great Lakes Region in this year’s ranking.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Not only is Purdue University - Main Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Indiana for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,955.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Gateway Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Gateway Community College is located in Steubenville, Ohio and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Eastern Gateway Community College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Ohio. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,669.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list means Elgin Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Elgin, Illinois.
Elgin Community College has the honor of being ranked #6 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,652.
Out of the 198 associate degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #5 spot on the list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis has the honor of being ranked #3 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,181.
Read full value report on Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
With a ranking of #6, College of Lake County did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. College of Lake County is a fairly large public school situated in Grayslake, Illinois.
College of Lake County has the honor of being ranked #1 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,633.
With a ranking of #7, Macomb Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Warren, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Macomb Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Michigan for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,028.
Washtenaw Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Washtenaw Community College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Michigan. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,341.
With a ranking of #9, Delta College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Delta College is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan.
Not only is Delta College a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Michigan for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $1,191.
With a ranking of #10, College of DuPage did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the school is a large public institution.
College of DuPage has the honor of being ranked #8 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,233.
Sinclair Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Sinclair Community College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Ohio. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,635.
City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College is a small public school located in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College has the honor of being ranked #5 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,119.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College Value Report
Joliet Junior College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Joliet Junior College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,662.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ivy Tech Community College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Indiana. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,880.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,579.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
Indiana University - Kokomo ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Kokomo, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Indiana University - Kokomo has the honor of being ranked #21 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $1,339.
Waubonsee Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. This medium-sized public school is located in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
Waubonsee Community College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,483.
With a ranking of #18, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Wilbur Wright College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,417.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
With a ranking of #19, William Rainey Harper College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, William Rainey Harper College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,076.
With a ranking of #20, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has the honor of being ranked #4 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,363.
Full Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Value Report
Oakland Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Not only is Oakland Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Michigan for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,906.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school located in Cleveland, Ohio.
Not only is Cuyahoga Community College District a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Ohio for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,501.
Read full value report on Cuyahoga Community College District
Lincoln Land Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Lincoln Land Community College is a small public school located in Springfield, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lincoln Land Community College is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,818.
Henry Ford College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Henry Ford College is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Henry Ford College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Michigan. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $3,184.
Lansing Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Lansing Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Michigan for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,501.
Not only did these schools make the top 30 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $30-$48k) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Oakton Community College | Des Plaines, IL | Value Report |
| 32 | Black Hawk College | Moline, IL | Value Report |
| 33 | Indiana University - Southeast | New Albany, IN | Value Report |
| 34 | Western Technical College | La Crosse, WI | Value Report |
| 35 | Madison Area Technical College | Madison, WI | Value Report |
| 36 | Kent State University at Stark | North Canton, OH | Value Report |
| 37 | City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College | Chicago, IL | Value Report |
| 38 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo, MI | Value Report |
| 39 | Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, IL | Value Report |
| 40 | Indiana University - Northwest | Gary, IN | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
