2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
60
Ranked Colleges
3,130
Degrees Awarded
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 Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 29,810 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 41st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, general education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,719 and had an average of $23,394 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,130 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,937 and $23,962 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 60 colleges that offered a degree in general education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general education 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 general education 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
The education 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 Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 258 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,450 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Purdue.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Purdue University - Main Campus General Education Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 124 students in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $10,481 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
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 Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 233 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $11,505 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UIUC General Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Beloit College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Beloit College is located in Beloit, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Beloit did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Beloit College is $10,850 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Beloit College General Education Report
Out of the 60 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 281 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $13,273 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Education at Ohio State
With a ranking of #6, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 239 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $15,277 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at GVSU
University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UM Dearborn is $12,398 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Education at University of Michigan - Dearborn
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 206 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $9,405 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about General Education at Ivy Tech Community College
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 2 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $12,369 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 General Education Report
Stark State College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Stark State College is located in North Canton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Stark State College is $8,660 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about General Education at Stark State College
University of Wisconsin - Stout ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Wisconsin - Stout is a medium-sized public school situated in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It awarded 89 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Stout also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $15,247 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Stout General Education Report
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 75 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
UW - Green Bay also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Green Bay is $13,258 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay General Education Report
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 186 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $20,557 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 General Education at Michigan State University
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 148 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
UWM also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,606 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee General Education Report
Purdue University Northwest ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $12,829 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Purdue Northwest General Education Report
University of Michigan - Flint did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. UM Flint is a public institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,218 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Michigan - Flint.
Read full report on General Education at University of Michigan - Flint
Eastern Michigan University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
Eastern Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,547 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Eastern Michigan.
Read more about General Education at Eastern Michigan University
Concordia University, Chicago came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
Concordia University, Chicago also made our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $15,903 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 General Education at Concordia University, Chicago
Alverno College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Alverno is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 4 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,834 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Alverno College.
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. 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%.
Full Alverno General Education Report
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 58 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,560 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.
Read full report on General Education at UW - Stevens Point
With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Platteville, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s education degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,699 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UW - Platteville.
Read full report on General Education at UW - Platteville
Valparaiso University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Valpo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valparaiso, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Valpo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $21,256 for great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Valparaiso University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Education at Valparaiso University
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,265 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Saginaw Valley State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Saginaw Valley State University General Education Report
Elmhurst University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region education students whose families make $48-$75k list, Elmhurst has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,435 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Elmhurst.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 General Education at Elmhurst
Denison University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Denison University is located in Granville, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Denison, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Denison is $18,607 for Great Lakes Region Education students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Education at Denison University
