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2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

79 Ranked Colleges
3,166 Degrees Awarded
$9,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Sociology Schools 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. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Sociology is the 25th most popular major in the country with 38,475 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, sociology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $24,587 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,166 sociology graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,085 and $25,610 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 79 colleges that offered a degree in sociology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality sociology 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 sociology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Sociology (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UChicago is $4,777 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Sociology at UChicago

2
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Out of the 79 schools in the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 44 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $917 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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%.

Full Northwestern University Sociology Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 155 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

U-M also made our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $5,670 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Sociology at U-M

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 152 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,788 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Sociology Report

5
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 119 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Purdue is $5,853 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Purdue Sociology Report

6
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 66 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Bloomington is $7,061 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full IU Bloomington Sociology Report

7

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $8,036 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Sociology at UIUC

8

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ohio State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $8,581 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Sociology at Ohio State University - Main Campus

9
Kenyon crest
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio

Kenyon College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Gambier, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s sociology degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Kenyon has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kenyon College is $18,974 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Sociology at Kenyon

10
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 54 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Notre Dame is $9,136 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Sociology at University of Notre Dame

11
Beloit crest
Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Beloit is located in Beloit, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

Beloit did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Beloit College is $8,873 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Beloit Sociology Report

12

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 31 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $8,216 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Sociology Report

13
Oberlin crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Oberlin College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oberlin, Ohio. It awarded 12 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

Oberlin also took the #14 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oberlin College is $13,745 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Oberlin College Sociology Report

14
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oakland University is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Oakland is $8,839 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 Sociology at Oakland University

15

With a ranking of #15, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 81 degrees to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $11,351 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 University of Illinois at Chicago Sociology Report

16

University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized school located in River Falls, Wisconsin that handed out 21 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $9,478 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Read full report on Sociology at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

17

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 43 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $10,075 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Sociology Report

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 55 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Whitewater also made our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $10,390 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UW - Whitewater Sociology Report

19

Purdue University Northwest came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Purdue Northwest is a public institution located in Hammond, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $8,608 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Sociology at Purdue University Northwest

20

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 27 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $8,825 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Sociology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

21
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 108 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $15,170 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 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%.

Read more about Sociology at Michigan State University

22

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 90 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $9,052 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Sociology at UW - Stevens Point

23
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #23, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s sociology degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,786 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k 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 Sociology at Ball State

24
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this large public school handed out 49 diplomas to qualified ’s sociology students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,414 for Great Lakes Region Sociology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wayne State University.

Read full report on Sociology at Wayne State University

25

With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Sociology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 29 ’s sociology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $8,022 for great lakes region sociology students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Sociology at University of Wisconsin - Parkside

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