College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

51 Ranked Colleges
2,820 Degrees Awarded
$12,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 51 colleges that offered a degree in curriculum and instruction. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality curriculum and instruction programs that also have a lower cost than 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 curriculum and instruction program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Curriculum Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The curriculum 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 Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 174 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,853 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Purdue University - Main Campus

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 97 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Curriculum & Instruction Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $8,036 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Curriculum & Instruction Report

4
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $7,061 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Curriculum & Instruction Report

5
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ball State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $10,786 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

6
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 207 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Saint Francis, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Francis is $12,679 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Saint Francis Curriculum & Instruction Report

7
WLC crest
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lutheran College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. WLC is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

WLC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WLC is $17,520 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

8
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 144 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Michigan State

9
Alverno crest
Alverno College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #9, Alverno College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Alverno is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Alverno also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Alverno is $16,842 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate 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 Alverno College Curriculum & Instruction Report

10
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, National Louis University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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 $30-$48k list, NLU has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NLU is $14,042 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at National Louis University

11
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana State University is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana State is $10,911 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Indiana State Curriculum & Instruction Report

12
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 15 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,414 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wayne State University.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Wayne State University

13
Illinois State crest
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois State University is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 51 ’s 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 estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $14,982 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Illinois State University

14
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,346 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Concordia University, Chicago.

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%.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Concordia University, Chicago

15
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 55 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend EIU is $10,056 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at EIU

16
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 13 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Aurora, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Aurora University is $13,273 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

Full Aurora University Curriculum & Instruction Report

17

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 7 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,351 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UIC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Curriculum & Instruction Report

18
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 67 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,026 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k 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 GVSU Curriculum & Instruction Report

19
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 50 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $12,346 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

20
University of Toledo crest
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio

University of Toledo landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Toledo is $14,550 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at University of Toledo

21

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,825 for great lakes region curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at SIUE

22

With a ranking of #22, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $12,226 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at SIUC

23
Lewis crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

With a ranking of #23, Lewis University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $15,348 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lewis University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Lewis University

24
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 120 students in 2020-2021.

Olivet Nazarene also took the #18 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $15,658 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Olivet Nazarene University

25
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 7 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,859 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ferris.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Ferris

Switch to a Similar Major

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options