2027 Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
General Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 48 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general education students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for General Education in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in General Education
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general education. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 87 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $59,877 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 220 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $62,620 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #3. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for general education. 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. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 237 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $64,435 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 119 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $61,073 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
See the full general education program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Marquette University landed the #6 spot for general education this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 general education students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Marquette University earn around $60,443 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Marquette University
Michigan State University earned the #7 position for general education 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. About 138 general education degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $49,061 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Michigan State University
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 240 general education students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $60,633 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree.
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Walsh University landed the #9 spot for general education this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 25 general education degrees were awarded at Walsh University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Walsh University generally make around $53,629. Typical student debt for the program is $28,064.
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Lake Forest College came in at #10 for general education this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 15 general education degrees were awarded at Lake Forest College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $41,168. Typical student debt for the program is $26,661.
More information about a degree in general education from Lake Forest College
Illinois College placed #11 among the best general education schools. Set in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 general education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Illinois College generally make around $41,184. Illinois College graduates carry a median of $26,922 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from Illinois College
Northern Illinois University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 general education students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $50,338. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for Northern Illinois University
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates 56% of students within six years. About 56 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $54,168 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,161.
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Denison University earned the #14 position for general education this year. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. Denison University awarded about 11 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Typical student debt for the program is $25,360.
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Alverno College landed the #15 spot for general education this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Alverno College graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 general education students who graduated with this degree at Alverno College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Alverno College earn around $55,790 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $34,425.
More information about a degree in general education from Alverno College
North Park University came in at #16 for general education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 general education degrees were awarded at North Park University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $57,383. Students borrow a median of $27,360 to complete this degree.
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John Carroll University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of University Heights. John Carroll University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 15 general education degrees were awarded at John Carroll University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from John Carroll University earn around $37,978 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general education program report for John Carroll University
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay awarded about 73 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn around $42,768 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Western Illinois University landed the #19 spot for general education this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Illinois University awarded about 25 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $47,926 in their early career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Western Illinois University
Bluffton University landed the #20 spot for general education this year. Located in the rural area of Bluffton, Bluffton University is a small private not-for-profit university. Bluffton University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Bluffton University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Bluffton University earn around $41,821 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000.
See the full general education program report for Bluffton University
Grand Valley State University came in at #21 for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 31 general education degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,235 in their early career. Grand Valley State University graduates carry a median of $29,364 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Grand Valley State University
University Of Michigan Flint placed #22 among the best general education schools. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. About 51 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Flint in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Michigan Flint earn around $57,003 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Flint graduates carry a median of $31,016 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general education from University Of Michigan Flint
Marian University Indiana earned the #23 position for general education this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 general education students who graduated with this degree at Marian University Indiana in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Marian University Indiana earn around $49,784 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,633.
See the full general education program report for Marian University Indiana
Muskingum University landed the #24 spot for general education this year. Located in the rural area of New Concord, Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 92 general education degrees were awarded at Muskingum University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Muskingum University earn around $39,918 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,932.
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Franklin University landed the #25 spot for general education this year. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 general education degrees were awarded at Franklin University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $57,471 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $35,890 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at Franklin University
Rest of the Top 48 General Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general education education:
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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 · 48 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.