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2027 Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

17 Colleges in the United States
643 Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Degrees Awarded
$50,768 Avg Early-Career Salary

Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their ecology, evolution & systematics biology programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for ecology, evolution & systematics biology students pursuing a degree.

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Best Schools for Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall ecology, evolution & systematics biology education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2027 ranking of the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 21 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees in the most recent data year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology, ranking #2. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 46 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees in the most recent data year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

3
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for ecology, evolution & systematics biology. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for Purdue University Main Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for ecology, evolution & systematics biology. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 46 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Typical student debt for the program is $20,542. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for Indiana University Bloomington

5

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology, ranking #5. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 32 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees in the most recent data year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

6

Ohio University Main Campus came in at #6 for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 27 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. More information about a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology from Ohio University Main Campus

7

Benedictine University earned the #7 position for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 33 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Benedictine University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $54,212. Typical student debt for the program is $25,338. Read more about the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program at Benedictine University

8

University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #8 among the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 55 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $28,856 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

9

Case Western Reserve University landed the #9 spot for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 21 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. Read more about the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program at Case Western Reserve University

10

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #10 for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 167 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program make about $46,846 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,242 to complete this degree. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

11
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University earned the #11 position for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 56 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Michigan State University earn around $29,318 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500. Read more about the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program at Michigan State University

12

Michigan Technological University earned the #12 position for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Houghton. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $64,652 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for Michigan Technological University

13

Loyola University Chicago ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for Loyola University Chicago

14

University Of Dayton ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 20 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $23,609. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology from University Of Dayton

15

Kent State University At Kent landed the #15 spot for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 26 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $44,776 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete this degree. Read more about the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program at Kent State University At Kent

16
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University landed the #16 spot for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 31 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Central Michigan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program make about $50,688 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,857. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for Central Michigan University

17

Eastern Michigan University earned the #17 position for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 10 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. Eastern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $28,781 in student loans. More information about a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology from Eastern Michigan University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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