by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
With 328,588 degrees handed out in 2021-2022, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. In , education graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $46,195 and had an average of $29,274 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 46,115 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,567 and $27,226 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 342 colleges that offer a degree in education. That schools that top this list have a program in education in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend VanderCook College of Music. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 57 students in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American College of Education. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this fairly large private for-profit school awarded 4,301 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend National Louis University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 1,084 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.
Out of the 342 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 1,032 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Education at Concordia University, Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Erikson Institute. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region. The Erikson Institute is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 98 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
University of Wisconsin - Superior did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Superior, Wisconsin, and it awarded 287 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Greenville University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Greenville University is located in Greenville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 101 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Rochester University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Rochester University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 79 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.
Saint Augustine College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Saint Augustine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 88 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.
College of Menominee Nation landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. College of Menominee Nation is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Keshena, Wisconsin. It awarded 10 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
With a ranking of #11, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ball State University is a fairly large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 2,553 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of St Francis came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 287 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Education at University of Saint Francis
Cardinal Stritch University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cardinal Stritch is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 136 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Trinity Christian College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Palos Heights, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 87 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
Muskingum University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. New Concord, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 128 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Maranatha Baptist University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Watertown, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 54 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Oakland City University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Oakland City, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 74 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Wisconsin Lutheran College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 51 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Rockford University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Rockford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rockford, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 96 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Alverno College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 162 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Olivet Nazarene is a small school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 273 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Bay Mills Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Brimley, Michigan, this small public school awarded 56 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
With a ranking of #23, Notre Dame College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Notre Dame College is a small school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 52 ’s education degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Ohio Dominican University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. ODU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 76 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Concordia University, Ann Arbor landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Education Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Concordia University, Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 38 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Viterbo University | La Crosse, WI |
| 52 | University of Mount Union | Alliance, OH |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
