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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Architecture (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

11 Ranked Colleges
644 Degrees Awarded
$11,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 4,967 people earned their degree in architecture, making the major the 124th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 845 architecture graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 644 architecture graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in architecture. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent architecture programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the architecture program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Architecture Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Architecture (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 70 bachelors’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $3,166 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Architecture at U-M

#2

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Notre Dame. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s architecture students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k list, Notre Dame has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,498 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Notre Dame.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full University of Notre Dame Architecture Report

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 87 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $8,194 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Read full report on Architecture at Ohio State

#4

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

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 architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ball State is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 51 bachelors’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also made our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $8,403 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State University.

Full Ball State Architecture Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 UIC Architecture Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 95 bachelors’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $13,222 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Architecture Report

#10 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUC has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $13,658 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Architecture at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#9 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s architecture degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

Kent State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kent State is $13,915 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Kent State University at Kent Architecture Report

#7 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 82 bachelors’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $15,078 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Architecture Report

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech also took the #4 spot in our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Institute of Technology is $17,222 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology

#11

Judson University

Elgin, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Judson University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value architecture Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Judson University is a small school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 26 bachelors’s architecture degrees in 2019-2020.

Judson did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Architecture Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,154 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree architecture students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Judson.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Judson University Architecture Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Danichou.

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