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2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

173 Ranked Colleges
8,393 Degrees Awarded
$14,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 101,094 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, accounting is the 8th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, accounting graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $44,557 and had an average of $26,381 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 15,309 accounting graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,733 and $24,768 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,393 accounting graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 173 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in accounting. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great accounting programs and 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 accounting program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Accounting Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Accounting in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

Out of the 173 schools in the Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 374 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $15,880 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Accounting Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 126 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,708 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full UW - Madison Accounting Report

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 173 schools in the Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 127 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $13,986 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid per year to attend Purdue.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue Accounting Report

#4

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

Out of the 173 schools in the Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Franklin University landed the #4 spot on the list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s accounting degrees to 165 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Franklin University is $12,895 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

Full Franklin University Accounting Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 96 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse also made our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $14,580 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Accounting Report

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 133 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Whitewater, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $15,249 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

Read full report on Accounting at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 172 bachelors’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid list, UIC has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIC is $13,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Accounting at UIC

#8

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 231 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $19,173 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Accounting at Michigan State

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 82 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire also made our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $16,020 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.

Read more about Accounting at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. UW - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 42 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $11,327 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

Full UW - Parkside Accounting Report

#11

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 32 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Green Bay is $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

Read more about Accounting at UW - Green Bay

#12

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s accounting degrees to 71 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $11,250 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

Read full report on Accounting at Purdue Northwest

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 bachelors’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UW Oshkosh is $15,463 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

Full UW Oshkosh Accounting Report

#14

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 171 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, NIU is in the top on our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $18,259 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

Read more about Accounting at Northern Illinois University

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 451 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,616 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Accounting at Ohio State

#16

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 46 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s accounting students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UIS is $12,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

Read full report on Accounting at UIS

#17

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized school located in River Falls, Wisconsin that handed out 20 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,748 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Read more about Accounting at UW - River Falls

#18

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 86 bachelors’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $15,147 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

Full Ball State Accounting Report

#19

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $14,465 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Accounting Report

University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 63 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s accounting students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn is $11,473 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 University of Michigan - Dearborn Accounting Report

#21

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. GSU is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 42 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,077 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid per year to attend Governors State University.

Read full report on Accounting at GSU

#22

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 98 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $11,802 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Accounting students with aid.

Read full report on Accounting at Oakland University

#23

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 88 bachelors’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $17,876 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

Read full report on Accounting at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#24

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Platteville came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is a medium-sized school located in Platteville, Wisconsin that handed out 16 bachelors’s accounting degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $15,718 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

Read full report on Accounting at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 83 bachelors’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $14,423 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree accounting students with aid.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Accounting Report

Rest of the Best 26 in Best Value Accounting Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 26 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

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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 Pixabay.

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