by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. 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 $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is part of that endeavor. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
We analyzed 191 schools across the Great Lakes Region to determine which have the best value Associate Degree programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. 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 Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $75-$110k 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.
We go into more detail on these factors on 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 Eastern Gateway Community College the best value (income $75-$110k) school in the Great Lakes Region for students working on their associate degree. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, the school is a large public institution.
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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,384.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is Purdue University - Main Campus 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 $75-$110k per year is $11,870.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list means City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a great place for students working on their degree. City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a small public school located in Chicago, Illinois.
Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $5,078.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list means City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College is a great place for students working on their degree. Olive-Harvey College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a public school.
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. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,692.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College
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 $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Elgin, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Elgin Community College has the honor of being ranked #6 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,766.
Macomb Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Warren, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Macomb Community College has the honor of being ranked #1 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,345.
With a ranking of #7, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Harold Washington College is a public institution 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. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,139.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Value Report
Carl Sandburg College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Carl Sandburg College is a small public school located 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. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,956.
Sinclair Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. 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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,014.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,710.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
Triton College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in River Grove, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Triton College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,274.
Lansing Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. LCC is a public institution located in Lansing, Michigan.
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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,626.
Lorain County Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Elyria, Ohio.
Lorain County Community College has the honor of being ranked #23 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $6,367.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is 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 $75-$110k per year is $8,878.
Joliet Junior College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large public school situated in Joliet, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Joliet Junior College is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,257.
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. This small public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College is ranked #29 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $6,730.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College Value Report
With a ranking of #17, City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Malcolm X College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $7,711.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Value Report
Oakton Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakton Community College is located in Des Plaines, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Oakton Community College has the honor of being ranked #9 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,297.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,833.
With a ranking of #20, North Central State College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Mansfield, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
North Central State College has the honor of being ranked #32 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,861.
With a ranking of #21, Oakland Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Oakland Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Michigan for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,161.
Delta College landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Delta College is located in University Center, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Delta College is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Michigan. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,518.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati State is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has the honor of being ranked #4 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $12,958.
Learn More About Value at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
With a ranking of #24, Northcentral Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. North Central Technical College is located in Wausau, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Northcentral Technical College has the honor of being ranked #4 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,195.
Kent State University at Stark ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Stark is a small public school located in North Canton, Ohio.
Kent State University at Stark has the honor of being ranked #13 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,928.
Not only did these schools make the top 29 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Western Technical College | La Crosse, WI | Value Report |
| 31 | Wayne County Community College District | Detroit, MI | Value Report |
| 32 | College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | Value Report |
| 33 | Henry Ford College | Dearborn, MI | Value Report |
| 34 | Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | Value Report |
| 35 | Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield, IL | Value Report |
| 36 | Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI | Value Report |
| 37 | Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland, OH | Value Report |
| 38 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College | Chicago, IL | Value Report |
| 39 | John Wood Community College | Quincy, IL | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.