Best Schools for General Engineering in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Engineering
No school ranked higher than Indiana University Bloomington this year for general engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 79 general engineering degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Students who receive their general engineering degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $52,123 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,542.
See the full general engineering program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Students looking for a strong general engineering program will find one at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #2. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 general engineering students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. General Engineering graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete this degree.
Get the full general engineering details for Michigan Technological University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for general engineering. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 46 general engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $57,461 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree.
See the full general engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong general engineering program will find one at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 111 general engineering degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. General Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans.
See the full general engineering program report for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best general engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 66 general engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. General Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $112,855 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general engineering from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Michigan State University landed the #6 spot for general engineering this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 88 general engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general engineering degree from Michigan State University earn around $75,058 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general engineering program report for Michigan State University
Viterbo University placed #7 among the best general engineering schools. Set in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Viterbo University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 10 general engineering degrees were awarded at Viterbo University in the most recent year. General Engineering graduates of Viterbo University earn a median of $60,309 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,107 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general engineering from Viterbo University
University Of Detroit Mercy ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general engineering schools. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 248 general engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general engineering degree from University Of Detroit Mercy earn around $76,755 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans.
See the full general engineering program report for University Of Detroit Mercy
Grand Valley State University placed #9 among the best general engineering schools. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 20 general engineering degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general engineering program make about $50,179 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,378.
See the full general engineering program report for Grand Valley State University
Baldwin Wallace College placed #10 among the best general engineering schools. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. About 67% of students finish within six years. Baldwin Wallace College awarded about 10 general engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general engineering program make about $46,668 in their early career. Baldwin Wallace College graduates carry a median of $27,307 in student loans.
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Harper College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. There were roughly 52 general engineering students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general engineering degree from Harper College earn around $44,523 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
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College Of Dupage placed #12 among the best general engineering schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. There were roughly 20 general engineering students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
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Calvin College placed #13 among the best general engineering schools. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 general engineering students who graduated with this degree at Calvin College in the most recent data year. General Engineering graduates of Calvin College earn a median of $68,852 early in their careers. Calvin College graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general engineering from Calvin College
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #14 position for general engineering this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 10 general engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the general engineering program make about $61,829 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
Read more about the general engineering program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
College Of Lake County came in at #15 for general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. About 31 general engineering degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. General Engineering graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,785.
See the full general engineering program report for College Of Lake County
Andrews University landed the #16 spot for general engineering this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Berrien Springs. Andrews University graduates 72% of students within six years. Andrews University awarded about 18 general engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general engineering program make about $62,634 in their early career. Andrews University graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans.
See the full general engineering program report for Andrews University
Hope College landed the #17 spot for general engineering this year. Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Holland. Hope College graduates 80% of students within six years. About 58 general engineering degrees were awarded at Hope College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Hope College generally make around $67,410. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general engineering program report for Hope College
Illinois Central College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general engineering schools. Illinois Central College is a large public school located in the suburb of East Peoria. There were roughly 12 general engineering students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Central College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general engineering program make about $53,190 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,222.
More information about a degree in general engineering from Illinois Central College
Mchenry County College earned the #19 position for general engineering this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Mchenry County College awarded about 17 general engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general engineering program make about $24,177 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,440.
Read more about the general engineering program at Mchenry County College
Rock Valley College landed the #20 spot for general engineering this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rockford. About 28 general engineering degrees were awarded at Rock Valley College in the most recent year. General Engineering graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $41,080 early in their careers. Rock Valley College graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans.
See the full general engineering program report for Rock Valley College
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #21 spot for general engineering this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Olivet Nazarene University graduates 61% of students within six years. Olivet Nazarene University awarded about 35 general engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $66,394. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general engineering from Olivet Nazarene University
Lewis And Clark Community College earned the #22 position for general engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Lewis And Clark Community College awarded about 11 general engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. Lewis And Clark Community College graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general engineering from Lewis And Clark Community College
Sinclair Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best general engineering schools. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. About 68 general engineering degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. General Engineering graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Sinclair Community College graduates carry a median of $9,192 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general engineering from Sinclair Community College
Schoolcraft College landed the #24 spot for general engineering this year. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. About 28 general engineering degrees were awarded at Schoolcraft College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general engineering program make about $46,283 in their early career. Schoolcraft College graduates carry a median of $8,949 in student loans.
Read more about the general engineering program at Schoolcraft College
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College landed the #25 spot for general engineering this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. About 75 general engineering degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general engineering program make about $33,073 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,093 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general engineering from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Rest of the Top 30 General Engineering Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general engineering this year:
Narrow General Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 110 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.
