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

59 Ranked Colleges
4,644 Degrees Awarded
$37,603 Avg Salary
Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 52,879 people earned their degree in physical sciences, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, physical sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $38,122 and had an average of $22,339 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,853 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,984 and $22,875 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,644 physical sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 59 colleges that offer a degree in physical sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality physical sciences 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 physical sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The physical sciences 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 Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences 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 44 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $6,452 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Northwestern Physical Sciences Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 145 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, UChicago has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $7,934 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at University of Chicago

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 238 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,227 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - 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 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 more about Physical Sciences at UW - Madison

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 140 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, U-M has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,028 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend U-M.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 Physical Sciences Report

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 152 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also made our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $9,654 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, 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 more about Physical Sciences at Purdue University - Main Campus

#5 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 309 degrees to qualified bachelors’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,351 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UIUC.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Physical Sciences Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 46 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s physical sciences students in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - La Crosse is $13,304 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Physical Sciences Report

#8

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution located in Notre Dame, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame also took the #7 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Notre Dame is $17,768 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Physical Sciences at Notre Dame

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 189 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $13,982 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Physical Sciences Report

#10

Beloit College

Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Beloit, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,769 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Beloit.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, 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 90%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Beloit

#16 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SIUE is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also took the #16 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $13,705 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Physical Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#12

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. IU Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 83 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $12,060 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, 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 91%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Indiana University - Bloomington

#13

University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville, Wisconsin
#17 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Platteville came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Platteville, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Platteville also took the #17 spot in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $15,152 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full UW - Platteville Physical Sciences Report

#14

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin
#21 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. This medium-sized school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - Green Bay has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Green Bay is $14,584 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Physical Sciences at UW - Green Bay

#15

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#15 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 47 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,474 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Physical Sciences Report

#16

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#25 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stevens Point is $14,165 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Physical Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#17

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin
#22 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - Whitewater has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $14,941 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UW - Whitewater

#18

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 74 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Physical Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Eau Claire is $14,887 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Physical Sciences Report

With a ranking of #19, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to 82 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,314 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend IUPUI.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Physical Sciences Report

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 51 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,683 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UIC

#21

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $14,230 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Saginaw Valley State University

#22

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. GVSU is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 54 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,775 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at GVSU

#23

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $18,346 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at Northern Illinois University

University of Wisconsin - Parkside came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 17 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $12,166 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree physical sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Physical Sciences at UW - Parkside

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Physical Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 bachelors’s physical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend UW Oshkosh is $15,236 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Physical Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Physical Sciences Report

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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 NASA.

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