2021 Best Affordable Colleges for International Students in the Great Lakes Region
187
Colleges
$21,305
Avg Tuition & Fees*
37%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
International students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its Best Value Colleges for International Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
After analyzing 187 schools in the Great Lakes Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best educational experiences for international students in the Great Lakes Region. Our ranking methodology focuses on a number of different objective factors - such as the overall value of the school, number of total international students at the school, and the percentage of international students on campus - to make this determination.
Get more details on our ranking methodology.
Custom Rankings
We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as online students or returnings adults.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don't have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Top Value Colleges in the Great Lakes Region for International Students
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Our 2021 rankings named University of Wisconsin - La Crosse the best affordable school for international students in the Great Lakes Region working on their bachelor’s degree. UW - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,199 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 0.6% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at UW - La Crosse come from such countries as China, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at UW - La Crosse is about $18,014 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $20,073 per year.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Valley State University. It ranked #2 on our 2021 Best Colleges for international students in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, the large public school awarded 5,263 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 1.3% are international. Students studying at GVSU come from such countries as India, China, and Saudi Arabia. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at GVSU is about $19,628 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $17,904 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Grand Valley State University Report
A rank of #3 on our list means Western Michigan University is a great place for international students in the Great Lakes Region working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 3,747 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 7.0% are international. Students studying at WMU come from such countries as 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.
Read full report on Western Michigan University
Out of the 187 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, the small public school awarded 607 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 6.2% are international. Students from as far away as India, China, and Saudi Arabia come to UIS to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UIS runs, on average, about $18,857. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $16,757 per year.
Full University of Illinois at Springfield Report
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Eastern Illinois University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for international students in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Charleston, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,076 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 3.0% are international. 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.
Read full report on Eastern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 3,080 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 4.4% are international. Students studying at NIU come from such countries as India, China, and Saudi Arabia. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at NIU is about $14,738 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $11,390 per year.
Read full report on Northern Illinois University
Ferris State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 2,124 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 1.2% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Ferris are Saudi Arabia, India, and China. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Ferris is about $13,188 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $8,232 per year.
Full Ferris State University Report
Illinois State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, the large public school awarded 4,745 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
International students make up 2.6% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Illinois State are India, Panama, and China. International students at Illinois State can expect to pay, on average, about $24,172 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $11,773 a year in average tuition and fees.
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Central Michigan University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,744 students 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. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $15,644 per year.
Full Central Michigan University Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the large public school awarded 6,500 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students 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
Western Illinois University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,560 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 3.4% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at WIU come from such countries as India, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at WIU runs, on average, about $13,297. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $12,182 per year.
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University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Menomonie, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,345 students in 2020-2021.
International students make up 1.4% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as Saudi Arabia, China, and India come to UW - Stout to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UW - Stout runs, on average, about $17,820. Graduate students pay around $17,213 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full University of Wisconsin - Stout Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 2,274 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 2.2% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at UW - Eau Claire are Malaysia, China, and South Korea. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at UW - Eau Claire is about $17,149 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $19,434 per year.
Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Report
Lake Superior State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Lake Superior State University is a small public school situated in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. It awarded 363 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 2.5% are international. Students studying at Lake Superior State University come from such countries as Canada, China, and United Kingdom. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Lake Superior State University is about $13,200 a year, on average.
Read full report on Lake Superior State University
University of Detroit Mercy landed the #15 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region. University of Detroit Mercy is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 719 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 13.6% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as Canada, China, and India come to Detroit Mercy to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Detroit Mercy is about $30,154 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $21,276 per year.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
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University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,727 students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 0.8% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at UW - Stevens Point are China, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UW - Stevens Point runs, on average, about $17,035. Graduate students pay around $19,209 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. OHIO Athens is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,797 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 3.7% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at OHIO Athens come from such countries as China, India, and Saudi Arabia. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at OHIO Athens is about $22,810 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $17,712 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read full report on Ohio University - Athens Campus
Kent State University at Kent came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,120 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 4.8% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as India, China, and Saudi Arabia come to Kent State to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Kent State is about $19,876 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $21,952 per year.
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Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 12,018 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 9.1% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to Ohio State to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Ohio State is about $35,019 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $38,377 a year in average tuition and fees.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read More…
Principia College did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. 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.
International students make up 20.9% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Principia are 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
University of Toledo came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Toledo, Ohio, the fairly large public school awarded 3,236 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 6.9% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at University of Toledo come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, India, and China. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at University of Toledo runs, on average, about $20,239. Graduate students pay around $27,739 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read full report on University of Toledo
With a ranking of #22, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9,305 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Around 19.2% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to UIUC to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UIUC runs, on average, about $37,632. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $30,862 per year.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
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University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 5,247 students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 10.4% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at UIC are India, China, and Iran. International students at UIC can expect to pay, on average, about $30,370 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $28,468 per year.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Report
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 1,804 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 1.1% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as South Korea, China, and India come to UW Oshkosh to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at UW Oshkosh is about $15,306 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $18,760 per year.
Read full report on University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Andrews University did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for international Students in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Andrews is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 347 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Around 23.4% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as South Korea, Canada, and Brazil come to Andrews to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Andrews is about $31,782 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $29,630 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Andrews University Report
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