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2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

51 Ranked Colleges
2,820 Degrees Awarded
$15,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 19,832 people earned their degree in curriculum and instruction, making the major the 55th most popular in the United States. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 51 colleges that offer 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the curriculum and instruction program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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 Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Curriculum & Instruction in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

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 Getting Aid. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 174 students in 2020-2021.

Purdue also took the #1 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.

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

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 41 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $14,321 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 97 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,234 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. 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%.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at University of Wisconsin - Madison

4
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s curriculum degrees to qualified students.

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 $14,619 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid.

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%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at IU Bloomington

5
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools 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 144 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Michigan State

6
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. National Louis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 222 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

NLU also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend NLU is $14,584 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid.

Full National Louis University Curriculum & Instruction Report

7
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 8 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $14,765 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid.

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%.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at Ball State

8
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 145 degrees to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

Concordia University, Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $17,051 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Concordia University, Chicago

9
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

With a ranking of #9, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indiana State University is a medium-sized school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 9 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,270 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid per year to attend Indiana State University.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Indiana State University

10

With a ranking of #10, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and it awarded 29 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW Oshkosh is $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at UW Oshkosh

11

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,214 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

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%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at UIC

12

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 88 students in 2020-2021.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $22,415 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid per year to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Curriculum & Instruction at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

13
Alverno crest
Alverno College
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Alverno College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 20 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

Alverno not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,437 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid per year to attend Alverno College.

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. 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%.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Alverno

14
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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 207 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region curriculum students with aid list, University of Saint Francis has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of St Francis is $17,102 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Saint Francis Curriculum & Instruction Report

15
University of Toledo crest
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio

With a ranking of #15, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

University of Toledo also took the #15 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Toledo is $17,312 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

Full University of Toledo Curriculum & Instruction Report

16

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 25 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Akron Main Campus, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Curriculum & Instruction Report

17
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 Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $13,962 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Wayne State

18

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 15 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

SIUC also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $16,285 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Curriculum & Instruction Report

19
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 55 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $13,098 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Eastern Illinois University

20
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Aurora University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Aurora University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Aurora, Illinois. It awarded 13 ’s curriculum degrees in 2020-2021.

Aurora also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Aurora University is $16,994 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid.

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

21
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

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 more about Curriculum & Instruction at Central Michigan

22

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 25 diplomas to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

NIU also took the #19 spot in our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NIU is $13,956 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Northern Illinois University

23
Illinois State crest
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Illinois State 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 also made our “Best Curriculum & Instruction Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Curriculum students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Curriculum & Instruction Report

24
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

With a ranking of #24, Ferris State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s curriculum degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ferris is $12,213 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Ferris State University

25

Youngstown State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Curriculum Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Youngstown, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified ’s curriculum students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $12,225 for great lakes region curriculum students with aid.

Read more about Curriculum & Instruction at Youngstown State University

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