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 Bachelor's 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. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 218 schools in the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones have the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's 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 school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
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:
Our analysis found University of Chicago to be the best value (income $0-$30k) school for bachelor’s degrees in the Great Lakes Region in this year’s ranking. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Chicago is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,993.
Out of the 218 bachelor’s degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 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 $4,692.
Read full value report on University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
The quality degree programs at Michigan State University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Michigan State University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Michigan 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 $129.
Out of the 218 bachelor’s degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - Madison is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,753.
The quality degree programs at helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region.
With a ranking of #6, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Purdue University - Main Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Indiana for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,709.
With a ranking of #7, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Evanston, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northwestern University is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,911.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois.
Not only is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,651.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Value Report
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, the school is a large public institution.
Indiana University - Bloomington has the honor of being ranked #3 in Indiana 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 $5,625.
University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana.
University of Notre Dame has the honor of being ranked #1 in Indiana 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 $10,918.
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, the school is a large public institution.
Ohio State University - Main Campus has the honor of being ranked #1 in Ohio 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 $7,759.
Michigan Technological University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan Tech is a public institution located in Houghton, Michigan.
Michigan Technological University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Michigan 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 $7,006.
With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Indianapolis, 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, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is ranked #7 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
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,924.
Learn More About Value at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Indiana University - Kokomo ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Kokomo is located in Kokomo, Indiana and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Indiana University - Kokomo a great value, but it is also ranked #37 in Indiana for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,338.
Ball State University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State University is a large public school located in Muncie, Indiana.
Not only is Ball State University 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 $7,702.
With a ranking of #17, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. This large public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
Not only is University of Illinois at Chicago a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,739.
Indiana University - Southeast came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small public school is located in New Albany, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Indiana University - Southeast is ranked #26 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 - Northwest did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. IU Northwest is a small public school situated in Gary, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Indiana University - Northwest is ranked #35 for quality in the state of Indiana. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,760.
Ferris State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ferris is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Ferris State University has the honor of being ranked #14 in Michigan 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 $7,551.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Wisconsin - River Falls a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Wisconsin for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,285.
Learn More About Value at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Oakland University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Oakland University a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Michigan for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,347.
With a ranking of #23, University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. UM Dearborn is a medium-sized public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Michigan - Dearborn is ranked #16 for quality in the state of Michigan. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,786.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. This fairly large public school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Not only is University of Wisconsin - Whitewater a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Wisconsin for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,267.
With a ranking of #25, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue Northwest is a public institution located in Hammond, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Purdue University Northwest is ranked #23 for quality in the state of Indiana. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,972.
Not only did these schools make the top 33 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools (Income $0-$30k) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, IN | Value Report |
| 35 | University of Wisconsin - Stout | Menomonie, WI | Value Report |
| 36 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI | Value Report |
| 37 | DePauw University | Greencastle, IN | Value Report |
| 38 | Western Illinois University | Macomb, IL | Value Report |
| 39 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH | Value Report |
| 40 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL | Value Report |
| 41 | Oberlin College | Oberlin, OH | Value Report |
| 42 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | Value Report |
| 43 | University of Southern Indiana | Evansville, IN | Value Report |
| 44 | Vincennes University | Vincennes, IN | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.