2027 Best Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Computer Science degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 82 schools to find the best for computer science students.
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Best Schools for Computer Science in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall computer science education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Computer Science
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for computer science. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 336 computer science degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $99,981 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,600 to complete this degree.
Read more about the computer science program at Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes Milwaukee School Of Engineering one of the top schools for computer science. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 46 computer science degrees were awarded at Milwaukee School Of Engineering in the most recent year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Milwaukee School Of Engineering earn around $72,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,667.
More information about a degree in computer science from Milwaukee School Of Engineering
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in computer science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 1,684 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $135,600. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Students looking for a strong computer science program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 883 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $94,786 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,375.
Read more about the computer science program at Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for computer science. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 454 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $126,748. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for University Of Chicago
Miami University Oxford came in at #6 for computer science this year. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Miami University Oxford awarded about 203 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $49,700 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,177.
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Denison University came in at #7 for computer science this year. Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 35 computer science degrees were awarded at Denison University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Students borrow a median of $25,360 to complete this degree.
Read more about the computer science program at Denison University
Loyola University Chicago landed the #8 spot for computer science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 35 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $58,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology placed #9 among the best computer science schools. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology awarded about 111 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earn a median of $100,294 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
Read more about the computer science program at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #10 position for computer science this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 586 computer science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $89,963 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $19,087 in student loans.
Read more about the computer science program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Case Western Reserve University earned the #11 position for computer science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 250 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $95,688. Students borrow a median of $25,391 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for Case Western Reserve University
University Of Detroit Mercy landed the #12 spot for computer science this year. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates 67% of students within six years. About 10 computer science degrees were awarded at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $76,755 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in computer science from University Of Detroit Mercy
The College Of Wooster ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. Set in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 computer science students who graduated with this degree at The College Of Wooster in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from The College Of Wooster generally make around $32,382. Typical student debt for the program is $25,936.
Read more about the computer science program at The College Of Wooster
University Of Dayton came in at #14 for computer science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. University Of Dayton awarded about 315 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $74,052 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. About 75% of students finish within six years. Illinois Wesleyan University awarded about 10 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Illinois Wesleyan University earn around $50,808 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans.
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Ball State University came in at #16 for computer science this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Ball State University earn around $47,863 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,518.
More information about a degree in computer science from Ball State University
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #17 position for computer science this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 416 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $77,909. Students borrow a median of $20,417 to complete this degree.
Read more about the computer science program at Indiana University Bloomington
Elmhurst College came in at #18 for computer science this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 19 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $72,910 in their early career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from Elmhurst College
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #19 position for computer science this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Wheaton College Illinois awarded about 17 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $81,470 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,292 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in computer science from Wheaton College Illinois
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #20 for computer science this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 778 computer science degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $89,577 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the computer science program at Illinois Institute Of Technology
Illinois State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 69 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Illinois State University earn around $81,363 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
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Lawrence University placed #22 among the best computer science schools. Set in the city of Appleton, Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 computer science degrees were awarded at Lawrence University in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $15,699 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in computer science from Lawrence University
Michigan Technological University placed #23 among the best computer science schools. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 108 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $69,910 in the first couple years of their career. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $24,763 in student loans.
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Ohio Northern University landed the #24 spot for computer science this year. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Ohio Northern University awarded about 16 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Ohio Northern University earn around $69,046 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio Northern University graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from Ohio Northern University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #25 among the best computer science schools. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 89 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $76,106. Students borrow a median of $21,745 to complete this degree.
Get the full computer science details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Rest of the Top 50 Computer Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong computer science education:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 82 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.
