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

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

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in information science. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent information science 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 information science program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The is school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region.

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

#1

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified bachelors’s IS students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $17,646 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students.

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%.

Full Grand Valley State University Information Science Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Green Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $14,395 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students.

Read more about Information Science at UW - Green Bay

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 182 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,876 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students.

Read more about Information Science at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. BGSU is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Ohio that handed out 28 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students list, BGSU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,394 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.

Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Information Science Report

#5

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio
#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cleveland State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

Cleveland State University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cleveland State University is $17,278 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students.

Full Cleveland State University Information Science Report

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,792 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students.

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

#7

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

University of Toledo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s IS degrees to 50 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Toledo, the school also landed the #13 spot 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.

Read full report on Information Science at University of Toledo

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 116 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

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 UIC is $13,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students.

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 Information Science Report

#9

Northwood University

Midland, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Northwood University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Northwood University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Midland, Michigan. It awarded 16 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwood, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,618 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students per year to attend Northwood University.

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 full report on Information Science at Northwood University

University of Michigan - Flint did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. UM Flint is a public institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students list, UM Flint has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UM Flint is $12,734 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students.

Read more about Information Science at UM Flint

#11

Carthage College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

Carthage College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Carthage College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

Carthage also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Carthage is $28,191 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carthage Information Science Report

#12

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Bradley University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Bradley is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 17 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bradley University is $25,634 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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

#13

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

McKendree University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. McKendree University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Illinois. It awarded 6 bachelors’s IS degrees in 2019-2020.

McKendree also took the #14 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for McKendree is $19,844 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students.

Full McKendree Information Science Report

#14

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Elmhurst 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 list, Elmhurst has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $21,485 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Elmhurst Information Science Report

#15

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Saint Xavier University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. SXU is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

SXU also made our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for SXU is $14,528 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree is students.

Read more about Information Science at Saint Xavier University

#16

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. DePaul is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s IS degrees to qualified students.

DePaul also took the #9 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul is $30,090 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul Information Science Report

#17

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

With a ranking of #17, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s IS degrees to 167 students in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #2 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,336 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students per year to attend U-M.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full U-M Information Science Report

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s IS students in 2019-2020.

UWM Flexible Option did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex Information Science Report

#19

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value IS Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s IS degrees to 50 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Information Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $24,664 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree IS students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Information Science at Northwestern University

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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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