2023 Best Value Colleges for General Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
21
Ranked Colleges
568
Degrees Awarded
$11,600
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 18,997 people earned their degree in general social sciences, making the major the 54th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, general social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $32,991 and had an average of $24,438 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 568 general social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,813 and $28,816 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in general social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general social 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 general social sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
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. 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 Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 21 Best Value Colleges for General Social Sciences (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 Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 185 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $4,777 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, 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 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full UChicago General Social Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
Northwestern also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $917 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. The impressive undergraduate 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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Northwestern University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
U-M also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $5,670 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full U-M General Social Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $8,581 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Ohio State General Social Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,478 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - River Falls.
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 Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Michigan State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 131 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Michigan State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 91%.
Full Michigan State General Social Sciences Report
University of Michigan - Dearborn ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 20 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, UM Dearborn has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UM Dearborn is $10,465 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 General Social Sciences at University of Michigan - Dearborn
Denison University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Granville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
Denison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,686 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Denison.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Denison University
University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. UW - Stout is a public institution located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Stout did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,958 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - Stout General Social Sciences Report
Grand Valley State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 37 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $11,026 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Grand Valley State University General Social Sciences Report
University of Southern Indiana came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. USI is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
USI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern Indiana is $10,440 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Social Sciences at USI
Indiana University - Southeast ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - Southeast is a small public school situated in New Albany, Indiana. It awarded 3 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Indiana University - Southeast also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Southeast is $8,556 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on General Social Sciences at Indiana University - Southeast
With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 2 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Whitewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $10,390 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater General Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #14, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
Eastern Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan is $13,265 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Eastern Michigan
Cleveland State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
Cleveland State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,813 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Cleveland State University.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Cleveland State University
Central Michigan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,346 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central Michigan University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Central Michigan
North Central College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. North Central is a small school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 3 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, North Central has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Central is $20,595 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full North Central General Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #18, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $18,991 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.
Read more about General Social Sciences at OHIO Athens
Shawnee State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Shawnee State University is located in Portsmouth, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
Shawnee State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Shawnee State University is $8,478 for great lakes region social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about General Social Sciences at Shawnee State University
University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Akron Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $15,510 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about General Social Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus
