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2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

148 Ranked Colleges
19,113 Degrees Awarded
$26,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Education Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 148 colleges that offer a degree in education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent education programs, but they also 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 74 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern Education Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 37 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

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 University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Chicago Education Report

#6 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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 173 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at U-M

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 155 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Education at UW - Madison

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 273 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #4 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 Purdue are $28,794.

Full Purdue Education Report

#3 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 278 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Education Report

#7

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 156 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Education Report

Indiana University - Northwest landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Gary, Indiana, and it awarded 16 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Education at Indiana University - Northwest

#9

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

UW - River Falls also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - River Falls are $18,233.

Read full report on Education at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

#15 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 248 students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#11

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

Ball State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ball State University is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 1,577 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also made our “Best Education Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Ball State University

#12

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is located in Platteville, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Platteville are $18,226, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at UW - Platteville

#13

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 51 masters’s education degrees 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.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Education Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. University of Illinois at Chicago 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Education at University of Illinois at Chicago

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at IUPUI

#16

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. UW - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Green Bay are $19,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at UW - Green Bay

#17

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 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.

Read full report on Education at UW - Whitewater

#18

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stout ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 98 masters’s education degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Stout are $16,851, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Education at University of Wisconsin - Stout

#19

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - South Bend is a public institution located in South Bend, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 masters’s 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 full report on Education at Indiana University - South Bend

#20

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #20, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 45 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

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 full report on Education at UW - Stevens Point

#21

Indiana University - Southeast

New Albany, Indiana

Indiana University - Southeast did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in New Albany, Indiana, this small public school awarded 51 diplomas to qualified masters’s education students in 2019-2020.

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

Read more about Education at Indiana University - Southeast

#22

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 226 masters’s education degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Francis are $13,839, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Saint Francis Education Report

#23

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s education degrees to 204 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Oakland are $24,648, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Education at Oakland University

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh 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 $30-$48k ranking. UW Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 133 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Oshkosh are $18,744, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Education Report

#25

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Education Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Eau Claire, the school also landed the #0 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 UW - Eau Claire are $19,430.

Read more about Education at UW - 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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