2023 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
23
Ranked Colleges
1,381
Degrees Awarded
$12,400
Avg Net Price*
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 Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Environmental Studies is the 87th most popular major in the country with 9,899 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,381 environmental studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in environmental studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality environmental 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 environmental studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college 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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies 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 #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 142 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend U-M.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Environmental Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 338 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #3 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 52 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies 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 Environmental Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 66 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full Michigan State Environmental Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oberlin College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s ecosystem studies degrees to qualified students.
Oberlin also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $8,756 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oberlin College.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Oberlin College
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
UW - Green Bay did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $8,258 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Environmental Studies at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Northern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Marquette, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 27 degrees to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
Northern Michigan University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northern Michigan University is $8,958 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Northern Michigan University
Grand Valley State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 11 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $10,259 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full GVSU Environmental Studies Report
University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 14 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
UIS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,831 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIS.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at UIS
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 24 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $10,805 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad 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 Environmental Studies at Central Michigan University
Kent State University at Kent ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school awarded 33 diplomas to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $13,793 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Kent State Environmental Studies Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 49 degrees to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,061 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Environmental Studies at UC
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW Oshkosh has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,499 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW Oshkosh.
Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Environmental Studies Report
Cleveland State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cleveland State University, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $13,272 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Cleveland State University
With a ranking of #15, Denison University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Granville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
Denison also took the #5 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Denison University is $15,242 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Denison University
With a ranking of #16, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $11,665 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at SIUC
Lake Forest College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lake Forest, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2020-2021.
Lake Forest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lake Forest College is $15,933 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 full report on Environmental Studies at Lake Forest College
Augustana College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Augustana is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Augustana has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Augustana is $16,956 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at Augustana
With a ranking of #19, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 31 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $10,395 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Northern Illinois University
With a ranking of #20, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 19 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eastern Michigan, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan University is $12,465 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Eastern Michigan University
Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $17,614 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at OHIO Athens
DePaul University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
DePaul also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $27,123 for Great Lakes Region Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DePaul.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Environmental Studies at DePaul University
Loyola University Chicago came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 16 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Loyola Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Loyola Chicago is $29,263 for great lakes region ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Environmental Studies at Loyola Chicago
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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
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Lynn Betts.
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