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2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

36 Ranked Colleges
2,925 Degrees Awarded
$11,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Civil Engineering is the 50th most popular major in the country with 21,388 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, civil engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $63,364 and had an average of $24,364 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,925 civil engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $62,958 and $25,172 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 36 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in civil engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great civil engineering 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 civil engineering program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Civil Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s civil eng degrees to 72 students in 2020-2021.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $917 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Northwestern

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s civil eng degrees to 98 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k list, U-M has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at U-M

3
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

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 Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 273 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue also made our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $5,853 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Civil Engineering at Purdue

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 157 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UW - Madison Civil Engineering Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 403 diplomas to qualified ’s civil eng students in 2020-2021.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,036 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read more about Civil Engineering at UIUC

6

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 174 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,581 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.

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%. 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 more about Civil Engineering at Ohio State

7

Michigan Technological University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan Technological University is a medium-sized school located in Houghton, Michigan that handed out 87 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan Tech also made our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Michigan Technological University is $8,983 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Michigan Technological University

8
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 67 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Notre Dame is $9,136 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Notre Dame

9

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 133 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $11,351 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago

10
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 90 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State also took the #10 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan State University Civil Engineering Report

11

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s civil eng degrees to 73 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,825 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full SIUE Civil Engineering Report

12

University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Platteville, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 96 diplomas to qualified ’s civil eng students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Platteville, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $10,334 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at UW - Platteville

13

Purdue University Northwest came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Hammond, Indiana. It awarded 26 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,608 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Purdue Northwest

14

Youngstown State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 54 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $9,972 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Youngstown State University

15
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 61 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $11,414 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wayne State University.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Wayne State University

16
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 63 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

WMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $15,552 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Civil Engineering at WMU

17

Case Western Reserve University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Case Western is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

Case Western also took the #8 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Case Western Reserve University is $15,570 for great lakes region civil eng 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 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%.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at Case Western Reserve University

18

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 82 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

University of Akron Main Campus also took the #20 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,510 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Read full report on Civil Engineering at University of Akron Main Campus

19

Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 44 degrees to qualified ’s civil eng students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois Tech, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois Tech is $21,101 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois Tech Civil Engineering Report

20

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $12,226 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full SIUC Civil Engineering Report

21
Valpo crest
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Valparaiso University is located in Valparaiso, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s civil eng degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Valpo, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,717 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k 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 full report on Civil Engineering at Valparaiso University

22
USI crest
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, Indiana

With a ranking of #22, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. USI is a medium-sized public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 11 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $10,440 for great lakes region civil eng 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 University of Southern Indiana Civil Engineering Report

23

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC is a large school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 107 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,966 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read more about Civil Engineering at UC

24
University of Toledo crest
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio

University of Toledo ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Toledo, Ohio, and it awarded 57 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Toledo, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,550 for Great Lakes Region Civil Eng students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Toledo.

Read more about Civil Engineering at University of Toledo

25
MSOE crest
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Civil Eng Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 48 ’s civil eng degrees in 2020-2021.

MSOE also made our “Best Civil Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The yearly cost to attend MSOE is $19,868 for great lakes region civil eng students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Civil Engineering at MSOE

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