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Our 2024 rankings named the best value (no aid) school in the Great Lakes Region for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average cost without aid for the school is $11,000 a year for undergraduates.
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 in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 221 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. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To determine the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, we first add average tuition, fees, and room and board costs (without aid) together. 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 collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit 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 2024 rankings named the best value (no aid) school in the Great Lakes Region for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average cost without aid for the school is $11,000 a year for undergraduates.
Out of the 221 bachelor’s degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse landed the #2 spot on the list. UW - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse has the honor of being ranked #3 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $24,784 a year.
Read full value report on University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
A rank of #3 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list means Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is a great place for students working on their degree. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Marion, Indiana.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global has the honor of being ranked #8 in Indiana for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $22,343 a year.
Full Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Value Report
The quality degree programs at University of Wisconsin - River Falls helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region. UW - River Falls is located in River Falls, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. 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. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,769 a year for undergraduates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Whitewater is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater has the honor of being ranked #5 in Wisconsin for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,352 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Wisconsin for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $25,721 a year.
Read full value report on University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Central Michigan University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Central Michigan University has the honor of being ranked #9 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,014 a year for undergraduates.
University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school located in Akron, Ohio.
University of Akron Main Campus has the honor of being ranked #15 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,304 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #9, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has the honor of being ranked #23 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,377 a year.
Learn More About Value at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Ferris State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money 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.
Not only is Ferris State University a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Michigan for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,528 a year.
Union Institute & University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Union is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Union Institute & University has the honor of being ranked #9 in Ohio for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $28,649 a year.
University of Wisconsin - Stout landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stout is a medium-sized public school located in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - Stout is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $25,272 a year for undergraduates.
Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the school is a large public institution.
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. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $38,824 a year.
University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. UW - Platteville is a public institution located in Platteville, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - Platteville is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,554 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at University of Wisconsin - Platteville
Northern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northern Illinois University is ranked #16 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $25,738 a year.
Western Michigan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Western Michigan University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $27,652 a year for undergraduates.
Grand Valley State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Valley State University is a large public school located in Allendale, Michigan.
Not only is Grand Valley State University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Michigan for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $29,508 a year.
Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Illinois University is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,489 a year for undergraduates.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school located in Carbondale, Illinois.
Not only is Southern Illinois University Carbondale a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Illinois for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $25,862 a year for undergraduates.
Read full value report on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Youngstown State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in Youngstown, Ohio.
Not only is Youngstown State University a great value, but it is also ranked #33 in Ohio for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,507 a year for undergraduates.
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $24,675 a year.
Learn More About Value at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Wisconsin. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,064 a year for undergraduates.
University of Northwestern Ohio did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. University of Northwestern Ohio is located in Lima, Ohio and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is University of Northwestern Ohio a great value, but it is also ranked #37 in Ohio for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,519 a year.
With a ranking of #24, DeVry University - Illinois did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region list. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a private for-profit school.
DeVry University - Illinois has the honor of being ranked #17 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $28,036 a year.
Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Eastern Michigan University is a fairly large public school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Eastern Michigan University has the honor of being ranked #17 in Michigan for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $27,204 a year.
Not only did these schools make the top 34 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools (No Aid) Nationwide >
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These schools also performed well in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in the Great Lakes Region ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Kent State University at Kent | Kent, OH | Value Report |
| 36 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL | Value Report |
| 37 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH | Value Report |
| 38 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | Value Report |
| 39 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH | Value Report |
| 40 | University of Wisconsin - Parkside | Kenosha, WI | Value Report |
| 41 | National Louis University | Chicago, IL | Value Report |
| 42 | Oakland University | Rochester Hills, MI | Value Report |
| 43 | Vincennes University | Vincennes, IN | Value Report |
| 44 | Lake Superior State University | Sault Ste Marie, MI | Value Report |
| 45 | Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.