2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
78
Ranked Colleges
6,916
Degrees Awarded
$9,800
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 Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
Economics is the 19th most popular major in the country with 49,055 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,736 and had an average of $22,046 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,916 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,027 and $23,639 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 78 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality economics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Economics Schools
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 Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Economics (Income $30-$48k) 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 Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 626 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $4,777 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Economics at University of Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 402 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $917 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Northwestern Economics Report
Out of the 78 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 728 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, U-M has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $5,670 for Great Lakes Region Economics 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 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%.
Read more about Economics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 864 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - Madison.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UW - Madison Economics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Purdue University - Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 196 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Purdue has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,853 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purdue.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Purdue Economics Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 563 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $8,036 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 140 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington also took the #14 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $7,061 for great lakes region economics 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 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%.
Full IU Bloomington Economics Report
University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 260 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Notre Dame has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Notre Dame is $9,136 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 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%.
Read more about Economics at University of Notre Dame
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 331 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,581 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Economics at Ohio State
Kenyon College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Gambier, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
Kenyon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kenyon College is $18,974 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 full report on Economics at Kenyon
Beloit College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Beloit, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Beloit did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,873 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Beloit.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%. 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.
Read more about Economics at Beloit
Oberlin College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Oberlin, Ohio, and it awarded 34 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Oberlin also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Oberlin is $13,745 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, 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.
Read more about Economics at Oberlin
With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,216 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Economics at IUPUI
Denison University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Denison University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Granville, Ohio. It awarded 74 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Denison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Denison is $14,686 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Denison University Economics Report
With a ranking of #15, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 129 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
UIC also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $11,351 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.
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%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Economics Report
With a ranking of #16, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 379 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,170 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Michigan State University.
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 Economics Report
With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls also made our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $9,478 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 25 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,075 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Economics Report
Oakland University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oakland is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 11 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,839 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oakland.
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%.
Read more about Economics at Oakland University
Ball State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 43 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $10,786 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 full report on Economics at Ball State
University of Southern Indiana ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $10,440 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend USI.
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 Economics at University of Southern Indiana
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $10,658 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full UW - Eau Claire Economics Report
University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Michigan - 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.
It costs about $10,465 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn.
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 Economics at University of Michigan - Dearborn
With a ranking of #24, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheaton, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wheaton College Illinois, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,519 for great lakes region economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wheaton College Illinois.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.
Read full report on Economics at Wheaton College Illinois
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,825 for Great Lakes Region Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SIUE.
Read full report on Economics at SIUE
