2022 Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Michigan

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Area Studies Schools in Michigan For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Area Studies is the 106th most popular major in the country with 6,820 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.

Across Michigan, there were 149 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,250 and $14,817 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools in Michigan For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 4 colleges that offer a degree in area studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent area studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the area studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The area studies 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 Area Studies Schools in Michigan For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Area Studies Schools in Michigan For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for michigan area studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 4 Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Michigan

#1

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

#1 in overall quality

$5,887 Average Net Price

$56,526 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Area Studies Schools in Michigan For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 85 ’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in Michigan” list. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $5,887 for Michigan Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 96%.

Read more about Area Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#2

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

#2 in overall quality

$12,459 Average Net Price

$41,297 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools in Michigan For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the #2 spot on the list. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 ’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Area Studies Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $12,459 for Michigan Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

Read full report on Area Studies at Grand Valley State University

#3

University of Michigan - Dearborn

Dearborn, Michigan

#4 in overall quality

$8,057 Average Net Price

$47,536 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools in Michigan For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized school located in Dearborn, Michigan that handed out 10 ’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Dearborn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in Michigan” list. It costs about $8,057 for Michigan Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UM Dearborn.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Area Studies at UM Dearborn

#4

Siena Heights University

Adrian, Michigan

#3 in overall quality

$16,673 Average Net Price

$49,100 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Area Studies Schools in Michigan For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Siena Heights University landed the #4 spot on the list. Siena Heights University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Adrian, Michigan. It awarded 16 ’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Siena Heights University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Area Studies Schools in Michigan” list. The estimated yearly cost for Siena Heights University is $16,673 for Michigan Area Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Area Studies at Siena Heights University

• Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
• Best Value Colleges for Area Studies (Income $30-$48k)

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 Karl Udo Gerth.

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