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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Information Science in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

19 Ranked Colleges
819 Degrees Awarded
$19,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Information Science is the 56th most popular major in the country with 18,368 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, information science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $58,848 and had an average of $32,600 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,416 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $54,956 and $25,584 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 819 information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in information science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great information science 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 information science program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value IS 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.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value IS 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 is students with aid.

Top 19 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Information Science in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 167 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,336 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Information Science at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

UIC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Information Science at University of Illinois at Chicago

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid list, UW - Green Bay has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid.

Full UW - Green Bay Information Science Report

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 182 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,876 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid per year to attend UWM.

Full UWM Information Science Report

#5

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Valley State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 56 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $17,646 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at Grand Valley State University

#6

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern University is $24,664 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Northwestern Information Science Report

University of Michigan - Flint ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Flint, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s IS students in 2019-2020.

UM Flint also took the #17 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Flint is $12,734 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid.

Read full report on Information Science at University of Michigan - Flint

#8

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#15 in overall quality

Cleveland State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Cleveland State University is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cleveland State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,278 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid per year to attend Cleveland State University.

Read more about Information Science at Cleveland State University

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s IS degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

BGSU also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,394 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid.

Read more about Information Science at BGSU

#10

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Saint Xavier University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. SXU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SXU also took the #18 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SXU is $14,528 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid.

Read full report on Information Science at Saint Xavier University

#11

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

With a ranking of #11, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school situated in Toledo, Ohio. It awarded 50 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid list, University of Toledo has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Toledo is $17,630 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid.

Read full report on Information Science at University of Toledo

With a ranking of #12, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 12 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus also took the #16 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,792 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid.

Read full report on Information Science at University of Akron Main Campus

#13

Northwood University

Midland, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

Northwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Northwood University is located in Midland, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

Northwood also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Northwood University is $21,618 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Information Science at Northwood University

#14

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Elmhurst University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Elmhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid list, Elmhurst has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst University is $21,485 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Information Science at Elmhurst University

#15

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

McKendree University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. McKendree University is located in Lebanon, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

McKendree also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for McKendree is $19,844 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid.

Read full report on Information Science at McKendree

#16

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Bradley University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s IS students in 2019-2020.

Bradley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley is $25,634 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read full report on Information Science at Bradley

#17

Carthage College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

Carthage College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Carthage is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 1 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Carthage did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carthage is $28,191 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at Carthage College

#18

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. DePaul is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 15 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid list, DePaul has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $30,090 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students with aid per year to attend DePaul University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Information Science at DePaul University

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UWM Flexible Option is a small public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 19 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM Flexible Option also took the #19 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

Read full report on Information Science at UWM Flexible Option

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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.

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