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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

21 Ranked Colleges
555 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 18,762 people earned their degree in general social sciences, making the major the 44th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 555 general social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 21 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The general social sciences 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 General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General 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

1
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 182 ’s general social sciences 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 General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,777 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UChicago.

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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Chicago General Social Sciences Report

2
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 4 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwestern has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $917 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 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.

Full Northwestern General Social Sciences Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $5,670 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Social Sciences at U-M

4

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 13 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $8,581 for great lakes region general 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus General Social Sciences Report

5

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #5 spot on the list. UW - 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.

UW - River Falls also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $9,478 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

6
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 129 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $15,170 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read more about General Social Sciences at Michigan State

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s general social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UM Dearborn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Dearborn is $10,465 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UM Dearborn General Social Sciences Report

8
Denison crest
Denison University
Granville, Ohio

Denison University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Denison is a private not-for-profit institution located in Granville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees 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. The estimated yearly cost for Denison is $14,686 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences 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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Social Sciences at Denison

9
UW - Stout crest
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Menomonie, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

UW - Stout also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $10,958 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - 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%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at UW - Stout

10
GVSU crest
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s general social sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $11,026 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Social Sciences at GVSU

11
USI crest
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 3 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USI, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Southern Indiana is $10,440 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Southern Indiana General Social Sciences Report

12
Indiana University - Southeast crest
Indiana University - Southeast
New Albany, Indiana

Indiana University - Southeast did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in New Albany, Indiana, and it awarded 3 ’s general social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Indiana University - Southeast not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Southeast is $8,556 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Indiana University - Southeast General Social Sciences Report

13

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified ’s general social sciences students 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 General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UW - Whitewater General Social Sciences Report

14
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, Eastern Michigan has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan is $13,265 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Eastern Michigan University

15

Cleveland State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cleveland State University is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 13 ’s general social sciences degrees 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. The yearly cost to attend Cleveland State University is $14,813 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Cleveland State University General Social Sciences Report

16
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value General 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 general social sciences students in 2020-2021.

Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $12,346 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central Michigan University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Central Michigan University

17
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

North Central not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend North Central College is $20,595 for Great Lakes Region General 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

18

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s general social sciences students 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 general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at OHIO Athens

19
Shawnee State University crest
Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, Ohio

With a ranking of #19, Shawnee State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Portsmouth, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

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. It costs about $8,478 for great lakes region general social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Shawnee State University.

Read more about General Social Sciences at Shawnee State University

20

With a ranking of #20, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general social sciences degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

University of Akron Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,510 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at University of Akron Main Campus

21
Roosevelt crest
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Roosevelt is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s general social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Roosevelt also made our “Best General Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Roosevelt is $19,320 for Great Lakes Region General Social Sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Social Sciences at Roosevelt

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