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2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

50 Ranked Colleges
2,057 Degrees Awarded
$25,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 205,726 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 22,091 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,186 and $24,310 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,057 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 50 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social sciences 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 social sciences 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” 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. 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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#1

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 34 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #7 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at Purdue

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 238 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UW - Madison Social Sciences Report

#6 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 #3 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 101 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Social Sciences Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 91 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social sciences students with aid list, U-M has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Read full report on Social Sciences at U-M

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #5 spot on the list. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at UIS

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#12 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 26 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Indiana University - Bloomington

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UIC also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Social Sciences Report

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at UW - Whitewater

#9

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056.

Full Michigan State Social Sciences Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Social Sciences Report

#11

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 17 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State also took the #21 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204.

Read more about Social Sciences at Ball State

#12

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#20 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 47 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Social Sciences 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 UWM are $25,295.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Social Sciences Report

#13

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

Indiana State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this fairly large public school awarded 18 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Indiana State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Social Sciences 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.

Read more about Social Sciences at Indiana State

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 10 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300.

Read more about Social Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#15

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 30 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Illinois University are $20,761, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Eastern Illinois University

#9 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 56 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#17

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

CSU also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSU are $15,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Sciences at CSU

#18

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Northwestern University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 64 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Northwestern

University of Michigan - Flint came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Flint, Michigan, and it awarded 5 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Flint are $18,202, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Michigan - Flint Social Sciences Report

#20

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 12 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Youngstown State University

#21

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 16 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Northern Illinois University

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 49 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823.

Read full report on Social Sciences at BGSU

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 12 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SIUC Social Sciences Report

#24

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wayne State is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Wayne State University Social Sciences Report

#25

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at Central Michigan University

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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.

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