2023 Best Value Colleges for Elementary Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
109
Ranked Colleges
5,292
Degrees Awarded
$8,400
Avg Net Price*
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 Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 43,003 people earned their degree in elementary education, making the major the 17th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,292 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 109 colleges that offered a degree in elementary education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent elementary 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 elementary 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.
More Ways to Rank Elementary 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 Elementary Teaching Schools 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. 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 Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Elementary Education (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 38 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $4,777 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Elementary Education at University of Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 92 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $7,061 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Elementary Education Report
Out of the 109 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 68 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,036 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 full report on Elementary Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Out of the 109 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 83 students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #7 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,853 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 full report on Elementary Education at Purdue University - Main Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
U-M also took the #9 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,670 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend U-M.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Elementary Education at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 105 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also took the #4 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,788 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, 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 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Elementary Education Report
With a ranking of #7, Sinclair Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Dayton, Ohio. It awarded 54 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $4,227 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Sinclair Community College Elementary Education Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 163 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,216 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend IUPUI.
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%.
Full IUPUI Elementary Education Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 136 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse also made our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $10,075 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Oakland University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 137 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $8,839 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Oakland University Elementary Education Report
Ball State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 217 students in 2020-2021.
Ball State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,786 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ball State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Ball State University
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 94 diplomas to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - River Falls, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,478 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - River Falls.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Elementary Education Report
Indiana University - Northwest did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Indiana University - Northwest is a public institution located in Gary, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend IU Northwest is $3,534 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Elementary Education at IU Northwest
Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Indiana University - South Bend is a small school located in South Bend, Indiana that handed out 41 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,544 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.
Read more about Elementary Education at Indiana University - South Bend
Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 79 diplomas to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,427 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Read more about Elementary Education at Purdue University Fort Wayne
Indiana University - East ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Richmond, Indiana, this small public school awarded 29 diplomas to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - East is $6,831 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Indiana University - East
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 27 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,581 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Elementary Education at Ohio State University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #18, Wisconsin Lutheran College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 13 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
WLC also took the #14 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WLC is $17,520 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Wisconsin Lutheran College
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 49 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $11,351 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full UIC Elementary Education Report
Purdue University Northwest did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Purdue University Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 55 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $8,608 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Purdue Northwest
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 121 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Whitewater also took the #20 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $10,390 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
With a ranking of #22, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 248 students in 2020-2021.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $14,982 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Illinois State
Indiana University - Kokomo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Kokomo, Indiana, this small public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for IU Kokomo is $6,875 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full IU Kokomo Elementary Education Report
With a ranking of #24, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 61 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,825 for Great Lakes Region Elementary Teaching students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Read more about Elementary Education at SIUE
University of Southern Indiana came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 68 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for USI is $10,440 for great lakes region elementary teaching students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full USI Elementary Education Report
