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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

14 Ranked Colleges
555 Degrees Awarded
$63,000 Avg Salary
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 11,925 people earned their degree in general engineering, making the major the 78th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,152 and had an average of $20,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,754 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,330 and $24,526 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 555 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer a degree in general engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general engineering 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 general engineering program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The engineering 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 Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $6,452 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwestern.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The 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. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 Engineering at Northwestern University

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan Technological University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Michigan Technological University is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 3 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, Michigan Tech has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan Tech is $13,720 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Michigan Technological University General Engineering Report

#3

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern Indiana. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This fairly large school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

USI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for USI is $14,686 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Engineering at USI

#4

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 125 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,696 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Michigan State University.

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 low 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%.

Full Michigan State General Engineering Report

#5

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Milwaukee School of Engineering landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSOE, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSOE is $20,444 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering

#6

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. Olivet Nazarene University is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 bachelors’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene is $17,841 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low 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%.

Read full report on General Engineering at Olivet Nazarene University

#6 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s engineering degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Case Western did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Case Western Reserve University is $22,236 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, 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 93%.

Read full report on General Engineering at Case Western Reserve University

#8

Hope College

Holland, Michigan

Hope College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Holland, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 57 degrees to qualified bachelors’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Hope not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Hope College is $20,372 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 Engineering at Hope College

#9

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Calvin University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s engineering degrees to 83 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Calvin, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,773 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Calvin.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Engineering at Calvin

#10

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $15,912 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Western Illinois University General Engineering Report

#14 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s engineering degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $18,630 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Akron Main Campus General Engineering Report

#9 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school handed out 69 degrees to qualified bachelors’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OHIO Athens, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend OHIO Athens is $22,337 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full OHIO Athens General Engineering Report

#13

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan

With a ranking of #13, Andrews University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Andrews University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Andrews not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Andrews is $20,399 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The impressive 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 student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Engineering at Andrews

#10 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Oxford, Ohio, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best General Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $23,232 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Engineering at Miami University - Oxford

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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 Rémi Kaupp.

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