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2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

37 Ranked Colleges
1,408 Degrees Awarded
$20,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value General Education Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 28th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,216 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,408 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 37 colleges that offer a degree in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Education Schools

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 General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree general education students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 119 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at U-M

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 169 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIUC General Education Report

#3

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 186 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus General Education Report

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#14 in overall quality

Out of the 37 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #4 spot on the list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on General Education at Indiana University - Bloomington

#5

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 39 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan State General Education Report

#4 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 216 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at Ohio State

#7

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Platteville, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Platteville are $18,226, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at UW - Platteville

#8

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 39 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point are $19,178, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#9

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 63 degrees to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stout also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Stout are $16,851, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Stout General Education Report

#21 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Flint landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Flint, Michigan, and it awarded 16 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Flint not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Flint are $18,202, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at UM Flint

#11

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Hammond, Indiana, and it awarded 41 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue Northwest also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University Northwest are $11,633.

Read more about General Education at Purdue University Northwest

#12

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 34 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Grand Valley State University General Education Report

#15 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 31 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Dearborn are $25,072, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at University of Michigan - Dearborn

#14

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SXU are $15,450, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at SXU

#15

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

With a ranking of #15, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359.

Full Central Michigan University General Education Report

#16

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 16 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Northern Illinois University

#17

Aquinas College Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Aquinas College Michigan did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Aquinas College Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Aquinas College Michigan are $11,184.

Full Aquinas College Michigan General Education Report

#18

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 14 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Education at Western Illinois University

#19

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Elmhurst University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Elmhurst, Illinois, and it awarded 10 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Elmhurst University are $32,300.

Read more about General Education at Elmhurst

#20

Cedarville University

Cedarville, Ohio
#24 in overall quality

Cedarville University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Cedarville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cedarville, Ohio. It awarded 5 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cedarville, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cedarville University are $9,065, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Cedarville General Education Report

#21

John Carroll University

University Heights, Ohio

With a ranking of #21, John Carroll University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. John Carroll University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in University Heights, Ohio. It awarded 1 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree general education students whose families make $0-$30k list, John Carroll has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at John Carroll are $15,957, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at John Carroll

#22

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

McKendree University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. McKendree is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Illinois. It awarded 27 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

McKendree also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at McKendree University are $9,324, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Education at McKendree University

#23

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Valparaiso University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Valparaiso, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s general education degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Valpo also made our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Valpo are $12,220, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Education at Valparaiso University

#24

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Quincy, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified masters’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Quincy U are $12,000, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Education at Quincy University

#13 in overall quality

Baldwin Wallace University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Berea, Ohio, and it awarded 9 masters’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Baldwin Wallace College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Baldwin Wallace College are $11,191, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Baldwin Wallace College General Education Report

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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.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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