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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region

39 Ranked Colleges
849 Degrees Awarded
$30,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 48,831 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 849 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 39 colleges that offer a degree in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Economics Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree economics students whose families make $75-$110k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 34 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at Northwestern

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 59 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree economics students whose families make $75-$110k list, UChicago has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at UChicago

#3

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Notre Dame. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

Notre Dame also took the #3 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Notre Dame Economics Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 63 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #5 spot in our “Best Economics Master’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 U-M are $49,548.

Read full report on Economics at U-M

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Purdue University - Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Economics Master’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.

Read full report on Economics at Purdue University - Main Campus

#4 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 156 diplomas to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Economics Master’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.

Read full report on Economics at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#6 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 76 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Economics Master’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 UIUC are $30,083.

Read more about Economics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree economics students whose families make $75-$110k list, UW - Whitewater has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Economics Master’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 UW - Whitewater are $19,200.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Economics Report

#9

University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit, Michigan

University of Detroit Mercy came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of Detroit Mercy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Detroit Mercy also took the #16 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Detroit Mercy are $20,047, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Detroit Mercy Economics Report

#10

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at IU Bloomington

#8 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at Ohio State

#23 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Economics Report

#14 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 14 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Economics Master’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 UIC are $27,036.

Full UIC Economics Report

#14

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 11 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761.

Full EIU Economics Report

#15

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #15. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495.

Read more about Economics at Youngstown State University

#16

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 4 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086.

Full NIU Economics Report

#17

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

Central Michigan University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree economics students whose families make $75-$110k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Economics Master’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 Central Michigan are $19,359.

Full Central Michigan Economics Report

#18

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#18 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Economics Master’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 UWM are $25,295.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Economics Report

Wright State University - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Wright State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Economics Report

#20

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

With a ranking of #20, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Wayne State University Economics Report

#25 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

SIUC also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.

Read more about Economics at SIUC

#21 in overall quality

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #22. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

BGSU also took the #21 spot in our “Best Economics Master’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 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823.

Read more about Economics at BGSU

#23

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 9 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Eastern Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Economics Master’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 Eastern Michigan University are $26,552.

Read full report on Economics at Eastern Michigan University

#24

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 9 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at Michigan State University

#25

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 10 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Western Illinois University Economics 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 pixabay.

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