2024 Best Schools for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region for Associate Degrees
194
Colleges
$6,421
Avg Net Price (With Aid)*
69%
Discount Rate*
When pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) 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
Our analysis looked at 194 schools in the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones have the best value Associate Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. 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 Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $48-$75k 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 consider a school'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 Associate Degree Schools (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Purdue University - Main Campus tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $48-$75k) school for associate degrees in the Great Lakes Region for overall quality. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school located in West Lafayette, Indiana.
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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $4,645.
Read full value report on Purdue University - Main Campus
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) 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.
Not only is Eastern Gateway Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Ohio for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,204.
Full Eastern Gateway Community College Value Report
Out of the 194 associate degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Lake County landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is College of Lake County a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,694.
Full College of Lake County Value Report
Out of the 194 associate degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Macomb Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in Warren, Michigan.
Macomb Community College has the honor of being ranked #1 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,178.
Full Macomb Community College Value Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Elgin, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Elgin Community College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,893.
Learn More About Value at Elgin Community College
Washtenaw Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large public school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Not only is Washtenaw Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Michigan for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $4,981.
Learn More About Value at Washtenaw Community College
City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Olive-Harvey College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,965.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College Value Report
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,080.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Value Report
Joliet Junior College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large public school located in Joliet, Illinois.
Joliet Junior College has the honor of being ranked #19 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $4,840.
Learn More About Value at Joliet Junior College
With a ranking of #10, Sinclair Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. 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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,483.
Read full value report on Sinclair Community College
With a ranking of #11, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Wilbur Wright College is a public institution 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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $5,027.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
College of DuPage did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. COD is a public institution located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of DuPage is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,631.
Learn More About Value at College of DuPage
City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $5,898.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College
Oakland Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakland Community College is a public institution located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Not only is Oakland Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Michigan for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $6,021.
Learn More About Value at Oakland Community College
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) 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 #3 for quality in the state of Indiana. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,549.
Read full value report on Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Delta College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University Center, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Delta College has the honor of being ranked #14 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $5,264.
Read full value report on Delta College
With a ranking of #17, Carl Sandburg College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Carl Sandburg College is a small public school situated in Galesburg, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Carl Sandburg College is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $4,401.
Full Carl Sandburg College Value Report
With a ranking of #18, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Ivy Tech Community College has the honor of being ranked #6 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,862.
Read full value report on Ivy Tech Community College
Triton College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Triton College is located in River Grove, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Triton College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,384.
Read full value report on Triton College
William Rainey Harper College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Palatine, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, William Rainey Harper College is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $8,781.
Learn More About Value at William Rainey Harper College
Oakton Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakton Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Oakton Community College has the honor of being ranked #9 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,728.
Read full value report on Oakton Community College
With a ranking of #22, Lansing Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Lansing, 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, Lansing Community College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Michigan. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,389.
Learn More About Value at Lansing Community College
Henry Ford College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the school is a fairly large public institution.
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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $5,155.
Learn More About Value at Henry Ford College
Indiana University - Kokomo did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. IU Kokomo is located in Kokomo, Indiana and has a small student population. It is a public school.
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 $48-$75k per year is $4,307.
Full Indiana University - Kokomo Value Report
With a ranking of #25, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Cincinnati State Technical and Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Ohio for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,160.
Full Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Value Report
