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

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Economics is the 18th most popular major in the country with 48,831 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 6,771 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,903 and $22,924 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 192 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,428 and $121,375 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent economics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the economics program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The economics 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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.
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. 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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region doctor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 18 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate 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. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.
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 Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.
UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #5 spot on the list. Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 4 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
Notre Dame did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 7 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 15 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UIUC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Economics Report
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #10, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, UIC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.
IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013.
With a ranking of #12, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region doctor’s degree economics students whose families make $48-$75k list, NIU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086.
With a ranking of #13, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.
Michigan State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056.
Wayne State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.
Wayne State also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 4 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 1 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Economics at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Western Michigan University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Doctorate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2019-2020.
WMU also made our “Best Economics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355.
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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 pixabay.
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