2024 Best Schools for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region for Bachelor's Degrees
217
Colleges
$7,413
Avg Net Price (With Aid)*
84%
Discount Rate*
It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is part of that endeavor. 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:
Finding Your Best College Match
After analyzing 217 schools in the Great Lakes Region , we came up with our list of those that offered 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.
Our Methodology
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $30-$48k 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 account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different 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.
More Rankings to View
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
Want to see the list of best value schools for families with specific income levels or whether or not aid is being applied? Click on one of the tiles above. You may also want to
narrow this list by location to find the best value schools nearest you. Also, you may want to check out our other
college rankings.
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.
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Schools (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Chicago to be the best value (income $30-$48k) school for bachelor’s degrees in the Great Lakes Region in this year’s ranking. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
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 $30-$48k per year is $3,316.
Read full value report on University of Chicago
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list means Northwestern University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the school is a large private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Northwestern University a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,236.
Full Northwestern University Value Report
The quality degree programs at Purdue University - Main Campus helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the school is a large public institution.
Purdue University - Main Campus has the honor of being ranked #2 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,955.
Full Purdue University - Main Campus Value Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Madison is a large public school situated 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. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,697.
Learn More About Value at University of Wisconsin - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is University of Michigan - Ann Arbor a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Michigan for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,904.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Value Report
landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Read full value report on
University of Notre Dame did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Notre Dame, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is University of Notre Dame a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Indiana for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,482.
Read full value report on University of Notre Dame
With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and has a large student population. It is a public school.
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 $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,914.
Learn More About Value at Indiana University - Bloomington
Michigan State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Michigan State University is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Michigan. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,117.
Read full value report on Michigan State University
With a ranking of #10, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,821.
Read full value report on University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ohio State University - Main Campus is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Ohio. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,932.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Value Report
Michigan Technological University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated 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 $30-$48k per year is $8,254.
Read full value report on Michigan Technological University
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 $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. This large public school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis has the honor of being ranked #7 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,181.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Value Report
Indiana University - Kokomo landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IU Kokomo is a small public school situated in Kokomo, Indiana.
Indiana University - Kokomo has the honor of being ranked #37 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,339.
Full Indiana University - Kokomo Value Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is University of Wisconsin - La Crosse a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Wisconsin for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $9,118.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Value Report
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Chicago, Illinois 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, University of Illinois at Chicago is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,963.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Value Report
Ball State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Ball State University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $9,925.
Learn More About Value at Ball State University
Oakland University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) 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.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Oakland University is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Michigan. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,258.
Full Oakland University Value Report
Indiana University - Southeast landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) 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 #26 for quality in the state of Indiana. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,802.
Learn More About Value at Indiana University - Southeast
Indiana University - Northwest landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IU Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Indiana University - Northwest a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in Indiana for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,070.
Full Indiana University - Northwest Value Report
With a ranking of #21, Oberlin College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Oberlin, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Oberlin College a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Ohio for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,869.
Full Oberlin College Value Report
University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Dearborn, Michigan.
University of Michigan - Dearborn has the honor of being ranked #16 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,608.
Read full value report on University of Michigan - Dearborn
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. 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. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,289.
Learn More About Value at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Grand Valley State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Grand Valley State University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Michigan for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,828.
Learn More About Value at Grand Valley State University
With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - River Falls is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,031.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Value Report
