2027 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their best programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Best in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall best education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Best
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2027 ranking of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 74 best degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Best graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $69,994 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Fox Valley Technical College one of the top schools for best. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. About 42 best degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $44,020 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,319.
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Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Western Technical College La Cross, which ranked #3. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a large public university. Western Technical College La Cross awarded about 24 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $43,479 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,669 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Chippewa Valley Technical College one of the top schools for best. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 22 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $35,014. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 13 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,016 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete this degree.
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Madison Area Technical College came in at #6 for best this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 68 best students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete this degree.
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Waukesha County Technical College earned the #7 position for best this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 22 best students who graduated with this degree at Waukesha County Technical College in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $34,630 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,595 to complete this degree.
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College Of Dupage came in at #8 for best this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 27 best degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from College Of Dupage earn around $43,025 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492.
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University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #9 for best this year. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Dearborn in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $46,664 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,625.
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Mid State Technical College came in at #10 for best this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids. About 21 best degrees were awarded at Mid State Technical College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $41,678 early in their careers. Mid State Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,626 in student loans.
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Northcentral Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 28 best degrees were awarded at Northcentral Technical College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $41,696 early in their careers. Northcentral Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans.
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Cleveland State University landed the #12 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Cleveland State University awarded about 68 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $43,706. Students borrow a median of $24,219 to complete this degree.
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Aurora University placed #13 among the best best schools. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 13 best degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $39,482 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,900 to complete this degree.
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Ivy Tech Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 67 best degrees were awarded at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $40,734 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,889.
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Purdue University Global ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. Purdue University Global graduates 33% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 best students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Global in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $54,278. Purdue University Global graduates carry a median of $36,778 in student loans.
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Washtenaw Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 11 best students who graduated with this degree at Washtenaw Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Typical student debt for the program is $17,616.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
