by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. 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 (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 201 schools in the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones have the best value Associate Degree programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, we first consider its average net price, which is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Eastern Gateway Community College tops this year’s ranking as the best value (with aid) school for associate degrees in the Great Lakes Region for overall quality. Eastern Gateway Community College is a public institution located in Steubenville, Ohio.
Not only is Eastern Gateway Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Ohio for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $2,270.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend . It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. College of Lake County is a fairly large public school situated in Grayslake, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of Lake County is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,486 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Valley Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Palos Hills, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Moraine Valley Community College has the honor of being ranked #14 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $1,831.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macomb Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Warren, Michigan, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Macomb Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Michigan for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,447 a year.
Elgin Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Elgin, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Elgin Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,140 a year.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Not only is Washtenaw Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Michigan for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $2,857 a year.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school located in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College has the honor of being ranked #10 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,068.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Value Report
With a ranking of #9, City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Olive-Harvey 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 - Olive-Harvey College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,670 a year.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College Value Report
With a ranking of #10, College of DuPage did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. This large public school is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of DuPage is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,440.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College has the honor of being ranked #18 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,439 a year.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
With a ranking of #12, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Not only is Ivy Tech Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Indiana for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,806.
Henry Ford College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Henry Ford College is a fairly large public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan.
Henry Ford College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $2,696 a year.
With a ranking of #14, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Gateway Technical College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,378 a year.
Sinclair Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Sinclair Community College has the honor of being ranked #10 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,476 a year.
Lincoln Land Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. This small public school is located in Springfield, Illinois.
Lincoln Land Community College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,604 a year.
Oakland Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Oakland Community College is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Michigan. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,444 a year.
South Suburban College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. SSC is a small public school situated in South Holland, Illinois.
South Suburban College has the honor of being ranked #11 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,021 a year.
William Rainey Harper College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region list. Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois.
Not only is William Rainey Harper College a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,112 a year.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Ohio. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $8,321 a year.
Learn More About Value at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Harry S Truman College is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,707 a year.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College
Oakton Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Des Plaines, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Oakton Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $6,143 a year.
Shawnee Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small public school is located in Ullin, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Shawnee Community College is ranked #30 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $2,859.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Cleveland, Ohio.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cuyahoga Community College District is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Ohio. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,149 a year.
Learn More About Value at Cuyahoga Community College District
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. This medium-sized public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College has the honor of being ranked #21 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,199.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Value Report
Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (With Aid) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in the Great Lakes Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN | Value Report |
| 33 | Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, IL | Value Report |
| 33 | Lorain County Community College | Elyria, OH | Value Report |
| 35 | Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | Value Report |
| 36 | Delta College | University Center, MI | Value Report |
| 37 | McHenry County College | Crystal Lake, IL | Value Report |
| 38 | Western Technical College | La Crosse, WI | Value Report |
| 39 | Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire, WI | Value Report |
| 40 | Indiana University - Southeast | New Albany, IN | Value Report |
| 41 | Lansing Community College | Lansing, MI | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
