2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
Geography is the 144th most popular major in the country with 5,476 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 776 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 560 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 45 colleges that offered a degree in geography. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geography programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the geography program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 45 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $2,712 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The 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 student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $1,866 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern University.
The impressive 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. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,367 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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%.
Read more about Geography at University of Wisconsin - Madison
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 #4 for the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $5,477 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Geography at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.
Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,194 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 26 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - La Crosse also took the #7 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $7,939 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, 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 86%.
With a ranking of #7, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 9 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
Michigan State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,686 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low 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%.
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $4,969 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - River Falls, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $8,366 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The 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 full report on Geography at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Whitewater has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $11,868 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 6 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Stevens Point also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $11,446 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Stevens Point.
Read more about Geography at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
With a ranking of #12, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.
SIUE also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,055 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
University of Wisconsin - Platteville ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Platteville is a medium-sized public school situated in Platteville, Wisconsin. It awarded 3 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Platteville also took the #16 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,117 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - Platteville.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $11,528 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $5,052 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IUPUI.
Read more about Geography at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Grand Valley State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 23 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $11,578 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low 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%.
Ball State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 17 bachelors’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.
Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State University is $8,403 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. UW - Parkside is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $6,652 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
UW Oshkosh also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $11,687 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Indiana University - Southeast landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Southeast is a public institution located in New Albany, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $6,697 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Southeast.
With a ranking of #21, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified bachelors’s geography students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $14,470 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #22, Northern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.
NIU also made our “Best Geography Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $15,281 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Geography at Northern Illinois University
Central Michigan University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $11,598 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Michigan University.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s geography degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend EIU is $12,350 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #25, Indiana State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s geography degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $9,422 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana State University.
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Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
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Geography students with family income $48-$75k in the Great Lakes Region
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Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
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Geography students with family income $75-$110k in the Great Lakes Region
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 Couleur.
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