2023 Best Value Colleges for General Economics (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
66
Ranked Colleges
3,685
Degrees Awarded
$9,500
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 was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 28,837 people earned their degree in general economics, making the major the 29th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,685 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 66 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general economics 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 General Economics Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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 General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Economics (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 646 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for great lakes region general economics 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about General Economics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Out of the 66 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 624 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for great lakes region general economics 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 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%.
Full UW - Madison General Economics Report
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 General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 352 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,858 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about General Economics at UIUC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 277 degrees to qualified ’s general economics students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region General Economics 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Michigan State General Economics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 124 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region General Economics 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 General Economics at IU Bloomington
Beloit College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Beloit, Wisconsin, and it awarded 4 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Beloit, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,970 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Beloit College.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Economics at Beloit
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $7,026 for great lakes region general economics 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%.
Full IUPUI General Economics Report
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 117 ’s general economics degrees to qualified students.
UIC also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,549 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIC.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 full report on General Economics at UIC
University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 23 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $8,438 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Economics at UW - River Falls
Miami University - Oxford landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 126 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for Great Lakes Region General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Economics at Miami University - Oxford
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s general economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $7,517 for Great Lakes Region General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Economics at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Kenyon College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kenyon College is a small school located in Gambier, Ohio that handed out 28 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Kenyon also made our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Kenyon is $14,958 for Great Lakes Region General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, 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 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Economics at Kenyon
Ball State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 39 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $8,273 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Economics at Ball State
With a ranking of #14, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. USI is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $7,815 for Great Lakes Region General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 more about General Economics at University of Southern Indiana
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 12 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,047 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUE.
Read full report on General Economics at SIUE
Wabash College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and it awarded 21 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Wabash did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wabash College is $16,637 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Wabash College General Economics Report
University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UM Dearborn is a public institution located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UM Dearborn is $9,113 for Great Lakes Region General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 more about General Economics at University of Michigan - Dearborn
Valparaiso University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Valparaiso, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Valpo also made our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Valpo is $19,548 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Economics at Valpo
With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this small public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified ’s general economics students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,741 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Parkside.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Full UW - Parkside General Economics Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $9,547 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about General Economics at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Oakland University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 11 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $8,949 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Read more about General Economics at Oakland
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s general economics degrees to qualified students.
UW - Whitewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,143 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Full UW - Whitewater General Economics Report
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
WMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,112 for great lakes region general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Western Michigan University.
Read full report on General Economics at WMU
Albion College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Albion is a small school located in Albion, Michigan that handed out 34 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Albion College is $10,452 for Great Lakes Region General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on General Economics at Albion College
Case Western Reserve University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Case Western Reserve University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 58 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Case Western did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Case Western Reserve University is $16,063 for Great Lakes Region General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, 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 93%.
Read full report on General Economics at Case Western
