2023 Best Value Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
51
Ranked Colleges
2,820
Degrees Awarded
$11,000
Avg Net Price*
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 Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Curriculum & Instruction is the 55th most popular major in the country with 19,832 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, curriculum and instruction graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $50,993 and had an average of $28,557 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,820 curriculum and instruction graduates with average earnings and debt of $52,836 and $26,727 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 51 colleges that offered a degree in curriculum and instruction. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent curriculum and instruction programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the curriculum and instruction program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Curriculum Schools 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 174 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,995 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, 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 93%.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Purdue University - Main Campus
Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 97 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,981 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Madison.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Curriculum & Instruction Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, 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 94%.
Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 144 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Michigan State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #13 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full IU Bloomington Curriculum & Instruction Report
Ball State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Ball State
Alverno College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
Alverno did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,790 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Alverno College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Alverno
Indiana State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Indiana State University is a medium-sized school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 9 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana State University is $10,104 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Indiana State Curriculum & Instruction Report
National Louis University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 222 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k list, NLU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,190 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NLU.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at NLU
Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Concordia University, Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 145 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.
Concordia University, Chicago also took the #8 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $15,644 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Concordia University, Chicago Curriculum & Instruction Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school awarded 88 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,061 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Ferris State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ferris State University is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 7 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,577 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ferris State University.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Ferris
Illinois State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 51 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $13,783 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Illinois State University
Wisconsin Lutheran College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. WLC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
WLC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WLC is $13,073 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Wisconsin Lutheran College
With a ranking of #15, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 15 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Wayne State is $11,060 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Wayne State
McKendree University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. McKendree is a small school located in Lebanon, Illinois that handed out 21 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
McKendree did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend McKendree University is $15,273 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad 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%.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at McKendree University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 13 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,047 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full SIUE Curriculum & Instruction Report
Grand Valley State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 67 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The low undergrad 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%.
Full Grand Valley State University Curriculum & Instruction Report
University of Toledo came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school situated in Toledo, Ohio. It awarded 16 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Toledo also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $13,803 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Toledo.
Full University of Toledo Curriculum & Instruction Report
With a ranking of #20, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $10,549 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at University of Illinois at Chicago
Central Michigan University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 50 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $10,805 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Curriculum & Instruction at Central Michigan University
Aurora University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.
Aurora also took the #20 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Aurora is $13,571 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Aurora University
With a ranking of #23, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Akron, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 25 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.
University of Akron Main Campus also took the #17 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $14,420 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at University of Akron Main Campus
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.
SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $11,665 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Curriculum & Instruction Report
Lewis University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lewis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Romeoville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Lewis is $13,284 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Lewis Curriculum & Instruction Report
