2021 Best Affordable Colleges in the Great Lakes Region for Students from Canada
105
Colleges
$21,500
Avg Tuition & Fees*
37%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
When it comes to choosing a college, international students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Our analysis looked at 105 schools in the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones were the best for Canadian students in the Great Lakes Region. Instead of depending on subjective information, we focus on objective factors to determine this ranking. These factors include such things as the total number of international students at the school and the school's overall value.
Find out more about our ranking methodology.
Customizing Your List
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as quality or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as online students or returnings adults.
We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Top Value Colleges in the Great Lakes Region for Students from Canada
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Lake Superior State University tops this year’s ranking as the best value school for Canadian students in the Great Lakes Region. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 363 students in 2020-2021.
International students make up 2.5% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Lake Superior State University come from such countries as Canada, China, and United Kingdom. International students at Lake Superior State University can expect to pay, on average, about $13,200 a year to attend the school.
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The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Western Michigan University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for Canadian students in the Great Lakes Region. WMU is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,747 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 7.0% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at WMU are Saudi Arabia, India, and China. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at WMU is about $16,768 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $26,248 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Western Michigan University Report
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Eastern Illinois University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for Canadian students in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Charleston, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,076 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
International students make up 3.0% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at EIU come from such countries as India, China, and Nigeria. International students at EIU can expect to pay, on average, about $14,551 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $21,407 a year in average tuition and fees.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grand Valley State University. The school came in at #4 in this year’s ranking. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,263 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
International students make up 1.3% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as India, China, and Saudi Arabia come to GVSU to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at GVSU runs, on average, about $19,628. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $17,904 per year.
Read full report on Grand Valley State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #5 in this year’s ranking. Illinois State University is a large public school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 4,745 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 2.6% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Illinois State come from such countries as India, Panama, and China. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Illinois State runs, on average, about $24,172. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $11,773 per year.
Read full report on Illinois State University
Western Illinois University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region list. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,560 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the total number of students at the school, 3.4% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at WIU are India, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at WIU is about $13,297 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $12,182 a year in average tuition and fees.
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Central Michigan University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, the fairly large public school handed out 3,744 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 2.7% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as India, China, and Saudi Arabia come to Central Michigan to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Central Michigan runs, on average, about $13,094. Graduate students pay around $15,644 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Central Michigan University Report
Ferris State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, the fairly large public school handed out 2,124 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 1.2% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Ferris are Saudi Arabia, India, and China. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Ferris runs, on average, about $13,188. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $8,232 per year.
Full Ferris State University Report
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,727 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the total number of students at the school, 0.8% are international. Students from as far away as China, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia come to UW - Stevens Point to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at UW - Stevens Point is about $17,035 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $19,209 per year.
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Sacred Heart Major Seminary landed the #10 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 21 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 3.6% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Canada, India, and Mexico come to SHMS to study. International students at SHMS can expect to pay, on average, about $21,632 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $31,306 per year.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Kent State University at Kent landed the #11 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region. Kent State is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 5,120 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 4.8% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Kent State are India, China, and Saudi Arabia. International students at Kent State can expect to pay, on average, about $19,876 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $21,952 per year.
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Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region list. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school located in Bowling Green, Ohio that handed out 3,148 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 3.8% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at BGSU are China, India, and Saudi Arabia. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at BGSU is about $21,050 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $15,823 a year in average tuition and fees.
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University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,345 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 1.4% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at UW - Stout come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, China, and India. International students at UW - Stout can expect to pay, on average, about $17,820 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $17,213 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read full report on University of Wisconsin - Stout
Andrews University did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and it awarded 347 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 23.4% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Andrews are South Korea, Canada, and Brazil. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Andrews runs, on average, about $31,782. Graduate students pay around $29,630 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read full report on Andrews University
Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, the large public school handed out 6,797 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 3.7% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at OHIO Athens are China, India, and Saudi Arabia. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at OHIO Athens runs, on average, about $22,810. Graduate students pay around $17,712 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Report
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,247 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 10.4% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at UIC are India, China, and Iran. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UIC runs, on average, about $30,370. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $28,468 per year.
Read full report on University of Illinois at Chicago
With a ranking of #17, Oakland University did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,564 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 4.4% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Oakland come from such countries as China, India, and Saudi Arabia. International students at Oakland can expect to pay, on average, about $24,735 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $24,648 per year.
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University of Toledo came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Toledo, Ohio, the fairly large public school handed out 3,236 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 6.9% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Saudi Arabia, India, and China come to University of Toledo to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at University of Toledo runs, on average, about $20,239. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $27,739 per year.
Full University of Toledo Report
With a ranking of #19, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the large public school awarded 4,208 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 4.3% are international. Students studying at Wayne State come from such countries as India, Canada, and China. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Wayne State is about $32,727 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $38,667 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Wayne State University Report
Principia College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Principia is located in Elsah, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 102 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Around 20.9% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Principia come from such countries as Kenya, Canada, and Brazil. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Principia runs, on average, about $30,820.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Principia College Report
Cleveland State University landed the #21 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 2,817 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 6.7% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Cleveland State University come from such countries as India, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Cleveland State University is about $16,654 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $18,051 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read full report on Cleveland State University
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 6,500 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 7.3% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at UC come from such countries as India, China, and South Korea. International students at UC can expect to pay, on average, about $27,111 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $26,644 a year in average tuition and fees.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Report
Franciscan University of Steubenville came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 550 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 2.5% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Franciscan U are Canada, Nigeria, and United Kingdom. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Franciscan U is about $30,180 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $12,888 per year.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Franciscan University of Steubenville
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large public school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 12,018 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 9.1% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Ohio State are China, India, and South Korea. International students at Ohio State can expect to pay, on average, about $35,019 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $38,377 per year.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Report
Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 1,883 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 2.9% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as Saudi Arabia, India, and Kuwait come to Youngstown State University to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Youngstown State University is about $9,732 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $6,931 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read full report on Youngstown State University
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