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2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

15 Ranked Colleges
68 Degrees Awarded
$24,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Geography Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 5,476 people earned their degree in geography, making the major the 144th most popular in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 776 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 68 geography graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in geography. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality geography 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 geography 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 Geography Schools

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 Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college 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 Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 15 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Geography (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 4 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#2 in overall quality

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 Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 1 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Geography at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s geography degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography at Indiana University - Bloomington

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s geography students in 2019-2020.

SIUE did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography at SIUE

#6

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#4 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 6 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography at Michigan State

#7

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 4 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northern Illinois University Geography Report

#8

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
#14 in overall quality

Indiana State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this fairly large public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified masters’s geography students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, Indiana State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State University are $15,346, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Indiana State University Geography Report

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geography at Miami University - Oxford

#10

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#11 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s geography degrees to qualified students.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Geography at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#8 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s geography students in 2019-2020.

Kent State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Geography at Kent State University at Kent

#12

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Western Michigan University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Western Michigan University is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Geography 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 WMU are $31,355.

Full WMU Geography Report

#13

University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio
#13 in overall quality

University of Toledo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s geography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree geography students whose families make $30-$48k list, University of Toledo has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Toledo are $27,067, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Toledo Geography Report

#14

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Chicago State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSU is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

CSU also made our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chicago State University are $15,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geography at Chicago State University

#9 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Geography Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 7 masters’s geography degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also took the #9 spot in our “Best Geography Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Geography at OHIO Athens

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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 Couleur.

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