2027 Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
General Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 48 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general education schools.
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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
Leading the list is University Of Wisconsin Madison, our #1 school for general education. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 87 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school 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 220 general education degrees 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.
Read more about the general education program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. 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. Graduates of the general education program make about $45,767 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,306.
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Purdue University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 237 general education students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $64,435 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 119 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $61,073 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Marquette University landed the #6 spot for general education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. About 14 general education degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Typical student debt for the program is $24,122.
More information about a degree in general education from Marquette University
Michigan State University landed the #7 spot for general education this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 138 general education degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $49,061 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Michigan State University
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #8 for general education this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 240 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $60,633 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Ohio State University Main Campus
Walsh University earned the #9 position for general education this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Walsh University awarded about 25 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $53,629 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,064 to complete this degree.
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Lake Forest College came in at #10 for general education this year. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. About 78% of students finish within six years. Lake Forest College awarded about 15 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $41,168. Lake Forest College graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Lake Forest College
Illinois College earned the #11 position for general education this year. Located in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit university. Illinois College graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois College awarded about 13 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $41,184 in their early career. Illinois College graduates carry a median of $26,922 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Illinois College
Northern Illinois University landed the #12 spot for general education this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 24 general education degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $50,338 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Northern Illinois University
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #13 for general education this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 56 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $54,168. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates carry a median of $24,161 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Denison University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Denison University graduates 79% of students 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. Denison University graduates carry a median of $25,360 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Denison University
Alverno College earned the #15 position for general education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 general education degrees were awarded at Alverno College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Alverno College earn around $55,790 in the first couple years of their career. Alverno College graduates carry a median of $34,425 in student loans.
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North Park University came in at #16 for general education this year. North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $27,360.
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John Carroll University landed the #17 spot for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of University Heights. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 general education students who graduated with this degree at John Carroll University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $37,978. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in general education from John Carroll University
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay landed the #18 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 73 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay 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. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general education program at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Western Illinois University came in at #19 for general education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 general education students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $47,926. Typical student debt for the program is $27,639.
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Bluffton University came in at #20 for general education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Bluffton. Bluffton University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Bluffton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Bluffton University generally make around $41,821. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general education from Bluffton University
Grand Valley State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Grand Valley State University awarded about 31 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $50,235 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,364.
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University Of Michigan Flint ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best general education schools. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Flint in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Michigan Flint earn a median of $57,003 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,016.
Read more about the general education program at University Of Michigan Flint
Marian University Indiana placed #23 among the best general education schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Marian University Indiana graduates 67% of students 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 came in at #24 for general education this year. Located in the rural area of New Concord, Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Muskingum University awarded about 92 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Muskingum University earn a median of $39,918 early in their careers. Muskingum University graduates carry a median of $26,932 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at Muskingum University
Franklin University landed the #25 spot for general education this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Franklin University graduates 3% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 general education students who graduated with this degree at Franklin University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $57,471 in their early career. Franklin University graduates carry a median of $35,890 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 48 General Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education ranking:
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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.