by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Elementary Education is the 17th most popular major in the country with 43,003 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 5,292 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 183 colleges that offered a degree in elementary education. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in elementary education.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region elementary teaching students.
Out of the 183 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Menominee Nation landed the #1 spot on the list. College of Menominee Nation is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Keshena, Wisconsin. It awarded 6 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Full College of Menominee Nation Elementary Education Report
Out of the 183 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Allegheny Wesleyan College landed the #2 spot on the list. Allegheny Wesleyan College is a small school located in Salem, Ohio that handed out 1 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Elementary Education at Allegheny Wesleyan College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Trinity Christian College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Palos Heights, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 48 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Trinity Christian College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Superior. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region. University of Wisconsin - Superior is a small school located in Superior, Wisconsin that handed out 89 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Blackburn College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region. Blackburn is located in Carlinville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.
Wright State University - Lake Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Wright State University - Lake Campus is a small school located in Celina, Ohio that handed out 22 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Wright State University - Lake Campus
Rockford University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Rockford University is located in Rockford, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s elementary teaching 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.
Cardinal Stritch University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 40 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
National Louis University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. NLU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 167 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Elementary Education at National Louis University
Indiana University - Southeast ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Southeast is a public institution located in New Albany, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Indiana University - Southeast Elementary Education Report
Union Bible College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Union Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Westfield, Indiana. It awarded 1 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Taylor University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Upland, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 94 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Elementary Education at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
Greenville University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Greenville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greenville, Illinois. It awarded 19 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%.
Eureka College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Eureka, Illinois, and it awarded 8 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Wittenberg University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Springfield, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.
Indiana University - Northwest came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Gary, Indiana, and it awarded 36 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Indiana University - Northwest Elementary Education Report
Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Fort Wayne, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 79 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Purdue University Fort Wayne
Maranatha Baptist University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Watertown, Wisconsin, and it awarded 12 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
With a ranking of #20, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 136 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Calvin University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Elementary Education at Calvin University
Knox College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Galesburg, Illinois, and it awarded 15 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.
Franciscan University of Steubenville ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Steubenville, Ohio, and it awarded 37 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.
Oakland City University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Oakland City, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Indiana University - South Bend did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Indiana University - South Bend is located in South Bend, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Elementary Education at Indiana University - South Bend
Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
