2023 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
164
Ranked Colleges
60,741
Degrees Awarded
$4,000
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
Liberal Arts General Studies is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 1st of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 556,813 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 60,741 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,415 and $19,554 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 164 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts general studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
The liberal arts 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 Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 157 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $2,500 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Chicago
Out of the 164 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 67 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 225 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at IU Bloomington
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Oakland Community College is a public institution located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 811 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Oakland Community College also did well on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $1,464 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Oakland Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,599 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
Harold Washington College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harold Washington College is $2,045 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 261 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at IUPUI
Moraine Valley Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Palos Hills, Illinois, and it awarded 1,141 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $-210 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MVCC. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at MVCC
With a ranking of #8, Elgin Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elgin Community College is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 931 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
ECC excels when it comes to liberal arts quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $2,273 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Elgin Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at ECC
Waubonsee Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 505 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Waubonsee also claimed a top spot on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $2,249 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Waubonsee.
Full Waubonsee Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
College of Lake County did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,475 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of Lake County, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $3,802 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at College of Lake County
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,101 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $1,736 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
With a ranking of #12, University of Notre Dame did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,872 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Notre Dame.
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%. 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Notre Dame Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Washtenaw Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 1,473 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Washtenaw Community College is $1,892 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Washtenaw Community College
With a ranking of #14, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 522 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for LLCC is $3,925 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at LLCC
With a ranking of #15, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 6,224 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ivy Tech Community College has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $6,213 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Ivy Tech Community College
William Rainey Harper College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Palatine, Illinois, and it awarded 1,873 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Harper College also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for William Rainey Harper College is $5,504 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full William Rainey Harper College Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in South Bend, Indiana, this small public school handed out 77 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Indiana University - South Bend is also in the top of our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - South Bend is $5,504 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Indiana University - South Bend
Delta College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in University Center, Michigan, and it awarded 416 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Delta College is $2,178 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Delta College
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cincinnati State is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 175 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $3,610 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Lansing Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lansing Community College is a fairly large school located in Lansing, Michigan that handed out 504 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Lansing Community College is $4,929 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Lansing Community College
Indiana University - Southeast ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. New Albany, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 107 students in 2020-2021.
Indiana University - Southeast also took the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $7,587 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Indiana University - Southeast Liberal Arts General Studies Report
Lewis and Clark Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Lewis and Clark Community College is a public institution located in Godfrey, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 513 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,423 for great lakes region liberal arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lewis and Clark Community College.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Lewis and Clark Community College
Joliet Junior College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 752 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $4,304 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Joliet Junior College
Henry Ford College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dearborn, Michigan, and it awarded 429 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $2,310 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Henry Ford College
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 13 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Liberal Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full Ohio State Liberal Arts General Studies Report
