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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

148 Ranked Colleges
19,113 Degrees Awarded
$26,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 310,601 education students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,887 and had an average of $30,244 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 43,513 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,643 and $27,857 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 19,113 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 148 colleges that offered a degree in education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great education programs and cost less that 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 education program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Education Schools

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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

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

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 148 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 74 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northwestern University Education Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 148 schools in the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UChicago Education Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 173 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best 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 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Read more about Education at U-M

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 278 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 155 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at UW - Madison

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 273 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Education at Purdue

#7

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 156 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at IU Bloomington

With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Northwest are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Indiana University - Northwest

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#16 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 242 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Michigan State University Education Report

#10

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

Ball State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 1,577 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ball State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at Ball State

#15 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 248 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best 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 Ohio State are $37,141.

Read more about Education at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#12

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse are $20,038, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at UW - La Crosse

#13

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#24 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is located in River Falls, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best 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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls are $18,233.

Read more about Education at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

#14

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 190 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UW - Whitewater Education Report

#15

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Platteville is a medium-sized school located in Platteville, Wisconsin that handed out 32 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Platteville are $18,226, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 72 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#17

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Green Bay are $19,126.

Read full report on Education at UW - Green Bay

#18 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 166 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best 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 University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Read more about Education at UIC

#19

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 21 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris State University are $7,908, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at Ferris State University

#20

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 45 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Stevens Point are $19,178.

Read full report on Education at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#21

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

With a ranking of #21, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 33 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - South Bend are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at Indiana University - South Bend

#22

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Stout is a medium-sized school located in Menomonie, Wisconsin that handed out 98 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

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 Education Report

#23

Indiana University - Southeast

New Albany, Indiana

With a ranking of #23, Indiana University - Southeast did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Southeast is a public institution located in New Albany, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 51 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Southeast are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Indiana University - Southeast

#24

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Southern Indiana is a fairly large public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 26 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USI are $20,039.

Read full report on Education at USI

#25

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 1 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree education students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Eau Claire are $19,430, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

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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 Horadrim.

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