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2023 Best Value Colleges for Geographic Information Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

16 Ranked Colleges
482 Degrees Awarded
$10,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Geographic Information Science is the 333rd most popular major in the country with 3,231 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 482 geographic information science graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geographic information science. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent geographic information science programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geographic information science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Geographic Information Science (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 92 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,981 for great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, 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 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geographic Information Science at UW - Madison

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Geographic Information Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 47 ’s geographic information science degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State.

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 more about Geographic Information Science at Ohio State

4
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Michigan State Geographic Information Science Report

5

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified ’s geographic information science students in 2020-2021.

IUPUI also made our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $7,026 for great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.

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%.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Geographic Information Science Report

6

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,547 for great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.

Read more about Geographic Information Science at UW - Eau Claire

7
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geographic information science degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, WMU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WMU is $13,112 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Geographic Information Science at Western Michigan University

8
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 14 ’s geographic information science degrees in 2020-2021.

Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $10,805 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Geographic Information Science at Central Michigan University

9
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

With a ranking of #9, Northern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northern Michigan University is a public institution located in Marquette, Michigan. 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 geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northern Michigan University has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Michigan University is $8,958 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Geographic Information Science at Northern Michigan University

10
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s geographic information science students in 2020-2021.

Eastern Michigan also made our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan is $12,465 for great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Geographic Information Science at Eastern Michigan

11

Kent State University at Kent came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kent State is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 23 ’s geographic information science degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kent State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kent State is $13,793 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Kent State University at Kent Geographic Information Science Report

12

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geographic information science degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,061 for great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Geographic Information Science at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

13
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. 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 geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, EIU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend EIU is $11,015 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full EIU Geographic Information Science Report

14

With a ranking of #14, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 9 ’s geographic information science degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k list, WIU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,265 for great lakes region geographic information science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WIU.

Full WIU Geographic Information Science Report

15

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s geographic information science degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.

OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for OHIO Athens is $17,614 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full OHIO Athens Geographic Information Science Report

16

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Akron Main Campus also took the #13 spot in our “Best Geographic Information Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,420 for Great Lakes Region Geographic Information Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Full University of Akron Main Campus Geographic Information Science Report

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