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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Accounting in the Great Lakes Region

327 Ranked Colleges
14,839 Degrees Awarded
$29,000 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

With 99,265 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, accounting is the 8th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, accounting graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $47,712 and had an average of $26,539 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 14,839 accounting graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,417 and $25,672 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 327 colleges that offer a degree in accounting. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular accounting programs in the United States.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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.

Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

1

Out of the 327 schools in the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 385 ’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Accounting Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 367 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Ohio State Accounting Report

3
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
Indianapolis, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University Global. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University Global is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 509 ’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Accounting at Purdue University Global

4
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 327 schools in the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, DePaul University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 314 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Accounting at DePaul University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend DeVry University - Illinois. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. DeVry University - Illinois is a private for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 358 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Accounting at DeVry University - Illinois

6

Illinois State University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 243 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Accounting at Illinois State University

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 224 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Accounting at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s accounting degrees to 219 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UW - Madison Accounting Report

9
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 216 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Accounting at Michigan State

10

Miami University - Oxford came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 213 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Accounting at Miami University - Oxford

10

Grand Valley State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 213 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Accounting at GVSU

12
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 857 ’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Accounting at Ivy Tech Community College

13

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is a fairly large school located in Marion, Indiana that handed out 193 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Accounting Report

14

Eastern Gateway Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public school situated in Steubenville, Ohio. It awarded 190 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Accounting at Eastern Gateway Community College

15

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s accounting degrees to 189 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Accounting at University of Illinois at Chicago

16
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

With a ranking of #16, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 176 diplomas to qualified ’s accounting students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Accounting at WMU

17
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

With a ranking of #17, Franklin University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 159 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Accounting at Franklin University

18

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Kent State is a public institution located in Kent, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 158 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Accounting at Kent State

19

Northern Illinois University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 156 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Accounting at Northern Illinois University

20

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 153 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full BGSU Accounting Report

21
Davenport University crest
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Davenport University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s accounting degrees to 158 students in 2020-2021.

Full Davenport University Accounting Report

22

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 150 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full UW - Whitewater Accounting Report

23

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 144 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Accounting at SIUC

24
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 144 ’s accounting degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Wayne State Accounting Report

25

Cleveland State University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 138 ’s accounting degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Accounting at Cleveland State University

Rest of the Best 50 in Most Well Attended Accounting Major in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
27
Walsh crest
Walsh College
Troy, Michigan
28
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana
29
30
31
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
32
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
33
Northwood crest
Northwood University
Midland, Michigan
34
Lakeland crest
Lakeland University
Plymouth, Wisconsin
35
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan
36
37
37
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
39
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
39
41
42
43
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
44
45
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
46
47
47
Bradley crest
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois
47
47

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References

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