2027 Best Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their education programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 229 schools to find the best for education students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Education in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall education education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Education
University Of Notre Dame tops our 2027 ranking of the best education schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. About 124 education degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $57,142. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans.
See the full education program report for University Of Notre Dame
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for education. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 651 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $47,726 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,918 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in education from University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in education, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 598 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $51,546. Students borrow a median of $20,876 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in education, ranking #4. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 70 education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $60,945 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 615 education degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $45,271 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,533 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 401 education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $59,981 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,080.
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Illinois State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 1,029 education degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their education degree from Illinois State University earn around $50,367 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,372.
More information about a degree in education from Illinois State University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 234 education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $48,760 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $16,335 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington came in at #9 for education this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 596 education students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $51,508. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #10 for education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 181 education students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $59,860 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Ohio Northern University came in at #11 for education this year. Located in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 20 education students who graduated with this degree at Ohio Northern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Ohio Northern University generally make around $56,878. Ohio Northern University graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans.
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Fox Valley Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 218 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $27,548 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
See the full education program report for Fox Valley Technical College
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 730 education students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their education degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $47,572 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,973 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University came in at #14 for education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 410 education students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $53,953 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,921.
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Michigan State University came in at #15 for education this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 584 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $60,737 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,242 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Located in the town of Wooster, Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute is a small public university. About 11 education degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $34,898 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,286.
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Goshen College landed the #17 spot for education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Goshen. About 65% of students finish within six years. Goshen College awarded about 56 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Goshen College earn a median of $71,791 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Chicago earned the #18 position for education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. About 36% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 717 education students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $65,603 early in their careers. Concordia University Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,552 in student loans.
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Wheaton College Illinois ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 60 education students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Graduates of the education program make about $47,714 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Northern Illinois University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 586 education students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $51,960. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,723 in student loans.
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University Of Dayton ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. About 316 education degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Graduates of the education program make about $48,250 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,448 to complete this degree.
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Elmhurst College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best education schools. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 99 education degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $46,897. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $26,649 in student loans.
More information about a degree in education from Elmhurst College
Trine University earned the #23 position for education this year. Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 76 education degrees were awarded at Trine University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Trine University generally make around $54,881. Trine University graduates carry a median of $25,765 in student loans.
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University Of St Francis came in at #24 for education this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. University Of St Francis awarded about 241 education degrees in the most recent data year. Education graduates of University Of St Francis earn a median of $61,635 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,642.
More information about a degree in education from University Of St Francis
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College placed #25 among the best education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Rice Lake. About 112 education degrees were awarded at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, education degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong education education:
Honorable Mentions
A few more education schools worth a look:
- #51 — Denison University · Granville, OH
- #52 — Olivet Nazarene University · Bourbonnais, IL
- #53 — University Of Southern Indiana · Evansville, IN
- #54 — Ohio Wesleyan University · Delaware, OH
- #55 — University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI
- #56 — Southwest Wisconsin Technical College · Fennimore, WI
- #57 — Governors State University · University Park, IL
- #58 — Siena Heights University · Adrian, MI
- #59 — Butler University · Indianapolis, IN
- #60 — Bradley University · Peoria, IL
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 229 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.
