by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. 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 $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is part of that endeavor. Due to the amount of income-based financial aid available, many 'high-priced' schools are more affordable than you think.
In This Year's Value Report:
We analyzed 215 schools across the Great Lakes Region to determine which have the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's 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. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a good education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named University of Chicago the best value (income $48-$75k) school in the Great Lakes Region for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution 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. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,432.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list means Purdue University - Main Campus is a great place for students working on their degree. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Purdue University - Main Campus is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Indiana. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,645.
Out of the 215 bachelor’s degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #3 spot on the list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois.
Northwestern University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Illinois 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 $9,389.
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list means University of Wisconsin - Madison is a great place for students working on their degree. Madison, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin - Madison is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,844.
The quality degree programs at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region. 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 $48-$75k per year is $12,432.
Learn More About Value at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Notre Dame came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution 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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $14,582.
With a ranking of #7, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Indiana University - Bloomington is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Indiana. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,484.
With a ranking of #8, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school located in Champaign, Illinois.
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. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,677.
Read full value report on University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Michigan State University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large public school is located in East Lansing, Michigan.
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 $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,578.
Michigan Technological University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is 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. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,285.
With a ranking of #11, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Ohio State University - Main Campus has the honor of being ranked #1 in Ohio 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 $14,619.
Read full value report on Ohio State University - Main Campus
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school located in Chicago, Illinois.
University of Illinois at Chicago has the honor of being ranked #7 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 $12,080.
Indiana University - Kokomo ranked #13 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. IU Kokomo is located in Kokomo, Indiana and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Indiana University - Kokomo is ranked #37 for quality in the state of Indiana. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,307.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #14 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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 $48-$75k per year is $11,549.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Value Report
With a ranking of #15, Oakland University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Oakland University a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Michigan for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,827.
With a ranking of #16, DePauw University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. DePauw University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Greencastle, Indiana.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, DePauw University is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Indiana. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,281.
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the school is a fairly large public institution.
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. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,042.
University of Michigan - Dearborn came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Michigan - Dearborn a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Michigan for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $10,552.
Trinity Christian College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Palos Heights, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Trinity Christian College has the honor of being ranked #35 in Illinois 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 $9,286.
With a ranking of #20, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Grand Valley State University has the honor of being ranked #5 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 $14,392.
With a ranking of #21, Indiana University - East did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. IU East is located in Richmond, Indiana and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Indiana University - East is ranked #34 for quality in the state of Indiana. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $8,317.
Indiana University - Northwest ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Gary, Indiana, the school is a small public institution.
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 $48-$75k per year is $7,923.
Oakland City University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Oakland City, Indiana, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,950.
Ball State University landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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 $48-$75k per year is $14,801.
Indiana University - Southeast did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Indiana University - Southeast is a small public school situated 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 $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,856.
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 $48-$75k) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend, IN | Value Report |
| 35 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL | Value Report |
| 36 | Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN | Value Report |
| 37 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, IL | Value Report |
| 38 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | Value Report |
| 39 | University of Wisconsin - Superior | Superior, WI | Value Report |
| 40 | Viterbo University | La Crosse, WI | Value Report |
| 41 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI | Value Report |
| 42 | Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, IN | Value Report |
| 43 | University of Wisconsin - Stout | Menomonie, WI | Value Report |
| 44 | Oberlin College | Oberlin, OH | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.