2023 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences in the Great Lakes Region
92
Ranked Colleges
22,158
Degrees Awarded
$15,200
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.
Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 205,984 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $36,262 and had an average of $23,306 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 22,158 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,460 and $24,793 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 92 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social sciences programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Social Sciences 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 Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University Global. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Purdue University Global is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 104 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue University Global also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Purdue University Global
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 118 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - River Falls also took the #25 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $13,844 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
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 Social Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region. UW - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 172 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
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%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Whitewater, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 245 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,417 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students per year to attend UW - Whitewater.
Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Social Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 90 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $14,462 for great lakes region social sciences students per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Read more about Social Sciences at SIUE
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 160 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $16,285 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 170 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $16,051 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Read more about Social Sciences at UW - Eau Claire
With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 137 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region social sciences students.
Full UW - Stevens Point Social Sciences Report
Northern Illinois University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 208 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,956 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students per year to attend Northern Illinois University.
Read full report on Social Sciences at NIU
University of Akron Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Akron, Ohio, and it awarded 113 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Social Sciences Report
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 66 diplomas to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,092 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students per year to attend UW - Green Bay.
Read full report on Social Sciences at UW - Green Bay
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 218 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
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 Social Sciences at Central Michigan
Western Michigan University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Western Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 173 ’s social sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend WMU is $20,371 for great lakes region social sciences students.
Full Western Michigan University Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 132 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $14,687 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.
Read more about Social Sciences at UW Oshkosh
With a ranking of #15, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue Northwest is located in Hammond, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $11,384 for great lakes region social sciences students.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Purdue Northwest
Western Illinois University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $15,305 for great lakes region social sciences students per year to attend Western Illinois University.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Western Illinois University
Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 491 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social sciences students list, Purdue has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Purdue
University of Wisconsin - Stout ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stout is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stout.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Stout
Eastern Michigan University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 235 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan University is $15,127 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
Full Eastern Michigan University Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #20, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 236 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social sciences students list, Illinois State has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
The low undergrad 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%.
Read more about Social Sciences at Illinois State University
Indiana State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Indiana State is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 196 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,270 for great lakes region social sciences students per year to attend Indiana State.
Read more about Social Sciences at Indiana State University
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 268 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Full GVSU Social Sciences Report
With a ranking of #23, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 256 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,486 for great lakes region social sciences students per year to attend UWM.
Read more about Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Eastern Illinois University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend EIU is $13,098 for Great Lakes Region Social Sciences students.
Full EIU Social Sciences Report
Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 80 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $12,225 for great lakes region social sciences students per year to attend Youngstown State University.
Read full report on Social Sciences at Youngstown State University
