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tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $0-$30k) school for associate degrees in the Great Lakes Region for overall quality.
by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 200 schools in the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones have the best value Associate Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $0-$30k) school for associate degrees in the Great Lakes Region for overall quality.
The quality degree programs at Purdue University - Main Campus helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Purdue University - Main Campus is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Indiana. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,709.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list means Eastern Gateway Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public school located in Steubenville, Ohio.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Eastern Gateway Community College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Ohio. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,679.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. ECC is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois.
Not only is Elgin Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,633.
Out of the 200 associate degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #5 spot on the list. This large public school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Indiana. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,579.
Read full value report on Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Washtenaw Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large public school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Washtenaw Community College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Michigan. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,242.
College of Lake County came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.
College of Lake County has the honor of being ranked #1 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,118.
College of DuPage ranked #8 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. This large public school is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
College of DuPage has the honor of being ranked #8 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,711.
Macomb Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Warren, Michigan.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Macomb Community College is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Michigan. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,657.
Moraine Valley Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Palos Hills, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Moraine Valley Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,561.
Delta College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. University Center, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Delta College a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Michigan for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $840.
Sinclair Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school located in Dayton, Ohio.
Sinclair Community College has the honor of being ranked #10 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,973.
With a ranking of #13, Joliet Junior College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Joliet Junior College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,766.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school located in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College has the honor of being ranked #10 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,460.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Value Report
With a ranking of #15, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is Ivy Tech Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Indiana for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,906.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. This medium-sized public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College has the honor of being ranked #18 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,363.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Olive-Harvey College is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College has the honor of being ranked #5 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,850.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Ohio. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,032.
Full Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Value Report
With a ranking of #19, Waubonsee Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Waubonsee Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
Waubonsee Community College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,720.
William Rainey Harper College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Harper College is a public institution located in Palatine, Illinois.
Not only is William Rainey Harper College a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,187.
Lincoln Land Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. LLCC is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois.
Lincoln Land Community College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,237.
Oakland Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Oakland Community College is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Michigan. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,025.
Henry Ford College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Henry Ford College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Michigan. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,980.
Indiana University - Southeast came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana University - Southeast is a public institution located in New Albany, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Indiana University - Southeast is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Indiana. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,073.
Indiana University - Kokomo did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. IU Kokomo is a small public school situated in Kokomo, Indiana.
Indiana University - Kokomo has the honor of being ranked #21 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,338.
Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (Income $0-$30k) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Madison Area Technical College | Madison, WI | Value Report |
| 33 | City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College | Chicago, IL | Value Report |
| 34 | Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, IL | Value Report |
| 35 | Indiana University - Northwest | Gary, IN | Value Report |
| 36 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo, MI | Value Report |
| 37 | Oakton Community College | Des Plaines, IL | Value Report |
| 38 | Ferris State University | Big Rapids, MI | Value Report |
| 39 | Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI | Value Report |
| 40 | Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | Value Report |
| 41 | Lansing Community College | Lansing, MI | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.