2023 Best Value Colleges for International Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
18
Ranked Colleges
868
Degrees Awarded
$13,000
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 7,368 people earned their degree in international studies, making the major the 100th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, international studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,198 and had an average of $21,594 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 868 international studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,564 and $24,274 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in international studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent international studies 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 international studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank International Studies Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 18 Best Value Colleges for International Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
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 International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 209 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 International Studies at U-M
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 95 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $4,788 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - 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%.
Read more about International Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,036 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Notre Dame. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 61 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Notre Dame is $9,136 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Studies at Notre Dame
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
UW - Stevens Point not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,052 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.
Read more about International Studies at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
With a ranking of #6, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $15,170 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 2.6% 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 International Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
SIUE also made our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,825 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on International Studies at SIUE
Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Miami University - Oxford, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,062 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Miami University - Oxford International Studies Report
Grand Valley State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $11,026 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 more about International Studies at Grand Valley State University
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 35 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UWM also made our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $13,351 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
Read full report on International Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Illinois College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Jacksonville, Illinois, and it awarded 2 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k list, Illinois College has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois College is $12,647 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Illinois College International Studies Report
Western Michigan University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 23 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WMU is $15,552 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full WMU International Studies Report
Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 13 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wright State University - Main Campus, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wright State University - Main Campus is $13,747 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on International Studies at Wright State University - Main Campus
Hope College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Holland, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
Hope did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $18,994 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Hope College.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, 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 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Studies at Hope College
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,822 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BGSU.
Read full report on International Studies at BGSU
Baldwin Wallace University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Baldwin Wallace University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Berea, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Baldwin Wallace College also took the #10 spot in our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Baldwin Wallace University is $19,525 for Great Lakes Region International Studies students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, 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 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on International Studies at Baldwin Wallace University
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 2 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UC also made our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for UC is $15,966 for great lakes region international studies 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 International Studies at UC
University of Dayton ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Dayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
UDayton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best International Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $20,992 for great lakes region international studies students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Dayton.
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 1.4% 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 International Studies at UDayton
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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
- *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
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