College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2024 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

417 Colleges
$10,537 Avg Undergrad Tuition & Fees*
$8,289 Avg Room & Board*

It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking is part of that endeavor.

See What's Included in This Value Report:

Your Choice of School Matters

After analyzing 417 schools in the Great Lakes Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.

Our Methodology

To determine the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, we first add average tuition, fees, and room and board costs (without aid) together. 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 combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.

Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.

With Aid (All Income Levels) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $0-$30k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $30-$48k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $48-$75k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $75-$110k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income Over $110k) Best Value Degrees
Want to see the list of best value schools for families with specific income levels or whether or not aid is being applied? Click on one of the tiles above. If you'd rather work on your degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. Also, you may want to check out our other college rankings.

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.

Best Value Schools (No Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
Fox College crest
Fox College
Tinley Park, Illinois

Fox College tops this year’s ranking as the best value (no aid) school in the Great Lakes Region for overall quality. Fox College is a small private for-profit school situated in Tinley Park, Illinois.

The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,640 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,200 a year.

Full Fox College Value Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northcentral Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Northcentral Technical College has the honor of being ranked #9 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,855 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,440 a year.

Learn More About Value at Northcentral Technical College

3

The quality degree programs at Eastern Gateway Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, the school is a large public institution.

Not only is Eastern Gateway Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Ohio for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,622 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $3,600 a year.

Read full value report on Eastern Gateway Community College

4
Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School crest
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, Illinois

The quality degree programs at Moody Bible Institute helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region. Moody Bible Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois.

The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $26,435 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,370 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Moody Bible Institute

5
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list means Western Technical College is a great place for students working on their degree. Western Technical College is a small public school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Technical College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,659 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $6,972 per year for graduate students.

Full Western Technical College Value Report

6

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati State is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,220 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $5,130 a year.

Learn More About Value at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

7
CVTC crest
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Chippewa Valley Technical College has the honor of being ranked #8 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,527 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,844 per year for graduate students.

Full Chippewa Valley Technical College Value Report

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Northwestern Ohio did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Northwestern Ohio is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lima, Ohio.

University of Northwestern Ohio has the honor of being ranked #9 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,519 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,878 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on University of Northwestern Ohio

9
Gateway Technical College crest
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Gateway Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Not only is Gateway Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Wisconsin for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,647 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,844 a year.

Learn More About Value at Gateway Technical College

10
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

Macomb Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Warren, Michigan.

Not only is Macomb Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Michigan for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $15,850 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $8,170 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Macomb Community College

11

Lincoln Christian University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Lincoln Christian College and Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lincoln, Illinois.

The average cost without aid for the school is $22,310 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,602 a year.

Learn More About Value at Lincoln Christian University

12
FVTC crest
Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, Wisconsin

Fox Valley Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. FVTC is located in Appleton, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fox Valley Technical College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,705 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,844 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Fox Valley Technical College

13
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in River Forest, Illinois.

Concordia University, Chicago has the honor of being ranked #5 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $44,740 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,808 a year.

Learn More About Value at Concordia University, Chicago

14

With a ranking of #14, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Pewaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Waukesha County Technical College has the honor of being ranked #20 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,447 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,844 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Waukesha County Technical College

15
ECC crest
Elgin Community College
Elgin, Illinois

Elgin Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Elgin, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.

Elgin Community College has the honor of being ranked #29 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,141 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $5,625 per year for graduate students.

Full Elgin Community College Value Report

16
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Not only is Ivy Tech Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Indiana for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,735 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,808 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Ivy Tech Community College

17
VanderCook College of Music crest
VanderCook College of Music
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, VanderCook College of Music did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. VanderCook College of Music is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois.

The average cost without aid for the school is $37,300 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $15,230 a year.

Learn More About Value at VanderCook College of Music

18

Sinclair Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money 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 #29 for quality in the state of Ohio. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,440 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $5,364 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Sinclair Community College

19
<nil> crest
<nil>
<nil>, <nil>

ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list.

The average cost without aid for the school is $11,000 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $11,000 a year.

Full Value Report

20
LTC crest
Lakeshore Technical College
Cleveland, Wisconsin

Lakeshore Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. LTC is a small public school situated in Cleveland, Wisconsin.

Not only is Lakeshore Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #28 in Wisconsin for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,900 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,844 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Lakeshore Technical College

21
MATC crest
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. This fairly large public school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Area Technical College has the honor of being ranked #26 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,747 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,839 per year for graduate students.

Full Milwaukee Area Technical College Value Report

22

Madison Area Technical College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Madison Area Technical College is a fairly large public school located in Madison, Wisconsin.

Not only is Madison Area Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Wisconsin for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,009 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,009 per year for graduate students.

Full Madison Area Technical College Value Report

23

With a ranking of #23, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lansing, Michigan.

The average cost without aid for the school is $11,000 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $25,440 per year for graduate students.

Full Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School Value Report

24

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Southwest Tech is located in Fennimore, Wisconsin and has a small student population. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is ranked #30 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,527 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,844 a year.

Learn More About Value at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

25

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Marion, Indiana.

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global has the honor of being ranked #8 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $22,343 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,544 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global

25

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College has the honor of being ranked #32 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,649 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,800 a year.

Full Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Value Report

Rest of the Top 15% Value Schools (No Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 49 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

27
27
College of Lake County Crest
College of Lake County
Grayslake, Illinois
29
BTC Crest
Blackhawk Technical College
Janesville, Wisconsin
30
31
32
Oakland Community College Crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
33
Delta College Crest
Delta College
University Center, Michigan
34
Washtenaw Community College Crest
Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, Michigan

35
MVCC Crest
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, Illinois

36
37
38
39
40
41
42
Central Michigan Crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
43
44
SSC Crest
South Suburban College
South Holland, Illinois

45
Ferris Crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

46
47
LLCC Crest
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, Illinois
48
49
Mid-State Crest
Mid-State Technical College
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
50

View Best Value Schools (No Aid) Nationwide >

Rest of the Top 15% Best Value Schools (No Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:

Rank College Location Value
51 Danville Area Community College Danville, IL Value Report
52 Oakton Community College Des Plaines, IL Value Report
53 Central Ohio Technical College Newark, OH Value Report
54 Lansing Community College Lansing, MI Value Report
55 Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI Value Report
56 University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI Value Report
57 Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI Value Report
58 Chamberlain University - Illinois Addison, IL Value Report
59 Schoolcraft College Livonia, MI Value Report
60 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Value Report
61 Union Institute & University Cincinnati, OH Value Report
62 Northeast Ohio Medical University Rootstown, OH Value Report
63 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Value Report
63 Mount Carmel College of Nursing Columbus, OH Value Report

All Majors and Fields of Study >

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking:

Rank College Location Value
65 McCormick Theological Seminary Chicago, IL Value Report
66 Bellin College Green Bay, WI Value Report
67 Shawnee Community College Ullin, IL Value Report
68 Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science Cincinnati, OH Value Report
69 The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago Chicago, IL Value Report
70 John Wood Community College Quincy, IL Value Report
71 University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Value Report
72 Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL Value Report
73 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Value Report
74 Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH Value Report
75 College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Value Report
76 National Louis University Chicago, IL Value Report
77 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Value Report
78 City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Chicago, IL Value Report
79 Carl Sandburg College Galesburg, IL Value Report
Rank College Location Value
80 Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Value Report
81 Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MI Value Report
82 Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH Value Report
83 Illinois State University Normal, IL Value Report
84 Ashland University Ashland, OH Value Report

More Rankings >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 26 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options