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2023 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

417 Colleges
$11,457 Avg Undergrad Tuition & Fees*
$8,039 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 include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection 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

Eastern Gateway Community College tops this year’s ranking as the best value (no aid) school in the Great Lakes Region for overall quality. Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public school situated in Steubenville, Ohio.

Not only is Eastern Gateway Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Ohio for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,622 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $3,600 per year for graduate students.

Full Eastern Gateway Community College Value Report

2
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 #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.

The average cost without aid for the school is $26,435 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,370 per year for graduate students.

Full Moody Bible Institute Value Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northcentral Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Northcentral Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Northcentral Technical College has the honor of being ranked #20 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,855 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $6,440 per year for graduate students.

Full Northcentral Technical College Value Report

4
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

A rank of #4 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. This small public school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Not only is Western Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #17 in Wisconsin for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,659 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,972 a year.

Learn More About Value at Western Technical College

5
Gateway Technical College crest
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

The quality degree programs at Gateway Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region. Gateway Technical College is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Gateway Technical College has the honor of being ranked #11 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 $14,647 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,844 a year.

Full Gateway Technical College Value Report

6
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. This large public school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Ivy Tech Community College has the honor of being ranked #9 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 $16,735 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,808 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Ivy Tech Community College

7

University of Northwestern Ohio did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Lima, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Northwestern Ohio is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Ohio. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,519 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $17,878 a year.

Learn More About Value at University of Northwestern Ohio

8

Lincoln Christian University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Lincoln Christian College and Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lincoln, Illinois.

The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $22,310 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,602 a year.

Full Lincoln Christian University Value Report

9
Fox College crest
Fox College
Bedford Park, Illinois

Fox College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Fox College is a small private for-profit school situated in Bedford Park, Illinois.

The average cost without aid for the school is $21,640 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,200 a year.

Read full value report on Fox College

10

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Not only is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Ohio for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,220 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $5,130 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

11
FVTC crest
Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, Wisconsin

Fox Valley Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, the school is a fairly large public institution.

Not only is Fox Valley Technical College a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in Wisconsin for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,705 a year. 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

12
CVTC crest
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

Chippewa Valley Technical College has the honor of being ranked #25 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 to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,844 a year.

Learn More About Value at Chippewa Valley Technical College

13
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

Macomb Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Macomb Community College is a public institution located in Warren, Michigan.

Macomb Community College has the honor of being ranked #18 in Michigan 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 $15,850 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $8,170 per year for graduate students.

Full Macomb Community College Value Report

14
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Concordia University, Chicago is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost without aid for the school is $44,740 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,808 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Concordia University, Chicago

15
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
Indianapolis, Indiana

Purdue University Global did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the school is a large public institution.

Purdue University Global has the honor of being ranked #12 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,566 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $15,712 per year for graduate students.

Full Purdue University Global Value Report

16
ECC crest
Elgin Community College
Elgin, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Elgin Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Elgin, Illinois.

Not only is Elgin Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #37 in Illinois for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,141 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $5,625 a year.

Learn More About Value at Elgin Community College

17

Rasmussen University - Illinois landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Rockford, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private for-profit school.

Rasmussen University - Illinois has the honor of being ranked #12 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 $22,604 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $14,336 a year.

Full Rasmussen University - Illinois Value Report

18

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the school is a fairly large public institution.

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse has the honor of being ranked #3 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,784 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $26,843 a year.

Read full value report on University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

19

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the school is a fairly large public institution.

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College has the honor of being ranked #30 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 $14,649 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,800 a year.

Learn More About Value at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

20

With a ranking of #20, Chamberlain University - Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit institution located in Addison, Illinois.

The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $33,258 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $27,098 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Chamberlain University - Illinois

21
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #21, Oakland Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the school is a fairly large public institution.

Oakland Community College has the honor of being ranked #26 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,160 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,960 a year.

Learn More About Value at Oakland Community College

22

Sinclair Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Sinclair Community College is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio.

Sinclair Community College has the honor of being ranked #35 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,440 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $5,364 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Sinclair Community College

23

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, the school is a medium-sized public institution.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - River Falls is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,769 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $25,363 per year for graduate students.

Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Value Report

24

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a small public school located in Fennimore, Wisconsin.

Southwest 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 $14,527 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,844 per year for graduate students.

Full Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Value Report

25

McCormick Theological Seminary landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. McCormick Theological Seminary 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 $11,000 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $20,410 a year.

Full McCormick Theological Seminary Value Report

Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Schools (No Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
MATC Crest
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
29
VanderCook College of Music Crest
VanderCook College of Music
Chicago, Illinois
30
LTC Crest
Lakeshore Technical College
Cleveland, Wisconsin
31
32
33
Herzing University - Madison Crest
Herzing University - Madison
Madison, Wisconsin

34

35
36
Delta College Crest
Delta College
University Center, Michigan
36
38
Central Michigan Crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
39
Ferris Crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan
40
41
42
LCC Crest
Lansing Community College
Lansing, Michigan
43

44

45
UW - Stout Crest
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, Wisconsin
46
College of Lake County Crest
College of Lake County
Grayslake, Illinois
47
Oakton Community College Crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, Illinois
48
BTC Crest
Blackhawk Technical College
Janesville, Wisconsin
49
MVCC Crest
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, Illinois
50
LLCC Crest
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, Illinois

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 Schoolcraft College Livonia, MI Value Report
52 University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Value Report
53 Northeast Ohio Medical University Rootstown, OH Value Report
54 Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI Value Report
55 Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL Value Report
56 South Suburban College South Holland, IL Value Report
57 Herzing University - Kenosha Kenosha, WI Value Report
57 Stark State College North Canton, OH Value Report
57 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI Value Report
57 Shawnee Community College Ullin, IL Value Report
61 University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH Value Report
62 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Value Report
63 Western Illinois University Macomb, IL 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
64 Mott Community College Flint, MI Value Report
65 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI Value Report
65 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL Value Report
67 Clark State Community College Springfield, OH Value Report
68 DeVry University - Illinois Chicago, IL Value Report
68 Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WI Value Report
70 Mercy College of Ohio Toledo, OH Value Report
71 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Value Report
72 National Louis University Chicago, IL Value Report
72 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Value Report
74 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI Value Report
75 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Value Report
76 Illinois State University Normal, IL Value Report
76 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Value Report
78 Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI Value Report
Rank College Location Value
79 Ohio University - Southern Campus Ironton, OH Value Report
80 College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Value Report
81 Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH Value Report
82 Union Institute & University Cincinnati, OH Value Report
83 Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH Value Report
84 Glen Oaks Community College Centreville, MI Value Report

More Rankings >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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