2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
43
Ranked Colleges
1,187
Degrees Awarded
$8,200
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
Geography & Cartography is the 110th most popular major in the country with 8,526 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, geography and cartography graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,604 and had an average of $22,522 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,187 geography and cartography graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,196 and $24,578 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 43 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in geography and cartography. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great geography and cartography programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the geography and cartography program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Geography & Cartography (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 11 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,500 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UChicago.
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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Full University of Chicago Geography & Cartography Report
Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $245 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Northwestern University Geography & Cartography Report
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 132 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at UW - Madison
Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Geography & Cartography 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 geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at UIUC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 88 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also made our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $7,068 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Geography & Cartography Report
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at IU Bloomington
Michigan State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 29 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Michigan State University Geography & Cartography Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - La Crosse has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $7,517 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Geography & Cartography Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $8,438 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Geography & Cartography Report
With a ranking of #10, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 10 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,026 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Geography & Cartography at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
SIUE did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $8,047 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at SIUE
With a ranking of #12, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 22 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,273 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 & Cartography at Ball State University
Miami University - Oxford came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Oxford, Ohio, and it awarded 48 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Miami University - Oxford.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 more about Geography & Cartography at Miami University - Oxford
Indiana State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Indiana State University is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,104 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana State.
Full Indiana State University Geography & Cartography Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 48 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Eau Claire has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,547 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Geography & Cartography Report
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 14 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $6,741 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Parkside
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 40 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Whitewater also took the #17 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $8,143 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Central Michigan University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 19 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan also took the #21 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $10,805 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 Geography & Cartography at Central Michigan University
Western Michigan University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 33 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
WMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend WMU is $13,112 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Western Michigan University Geography & Cartography Report
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 77 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $10,259 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 full report on Geography & Cartography at Grand Valley State University
With a ranking of #21, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 32 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $13,783 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at Illinois State
Indiana University - Southeast came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Southeast is located in New Albany, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s geography degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $7,587 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Southeast.
Full Indiana University - Southeast Geography & Cartography Report
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k list, UWM has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Geography & Cartography Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,973 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UWM.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Geography & Cartography Report
Northern Michigan University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Marquette, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s geography students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Northern Michigan University is $8,958 for Great Lakes Region Geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Geography & Cartography at Northern Michigan University
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Geography Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 8 ’s geography degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW Oshkosh is $9,499 for great lakes region geography students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Geography & Cartography at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
