2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for History in the Great Lakes Region
25
Ranked Colleges
132
Degrees Awarded
$45,493
Avg Salary

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
History is the 30th most popular major in the country with 31,443 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , history graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $30,453 and had an average of $22,435 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,683 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,228 and $22,830 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 132 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,470 and $126,402 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 25 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in history. That schools that top this list have a program in history in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region”.
Top 25 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for History in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 25 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 20 doctorate’s history degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, 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 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on History at University of Chicago
Out of the 25 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified doctorate’s history students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. 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.
Read full report on History at Notre Dame
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s history degrees 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full IU Bloomington History Report
Out of the 25 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s history 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about History at Northwestern
Out of the 25 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #5 spot on the list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about History at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified doctorate’s history students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about History at Ohio State
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 7 doctorate’s history degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on History at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 53 degrees to qualified doctorate’s history students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 History at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Case Western Reserve University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Case Western is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on History at Case Western Reserve University
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s history degrees in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - Madison History Report
With a ranking of #11, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school situated in Toledo, Ohio. It awarded 28 doctorate’s history degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on History at University of Toledo
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s history degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on History at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Michigan State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 7 doctorate’s history 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about History at Michigan State
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 3 doctorate’s history 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%.
Read full report on History at UIC
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s history degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Full Ohio University - Athens Campus History Report
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s history students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on History at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s history degrees to 2 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about History at University of Akron Main Campus
Northern Illinois University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on History at NIU
Western Michigan University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 1 doctorate’s history degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 History at WMU
Loyola University Chicago came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 4 doctorate’s history degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on History at Loyola Chicago
With a ranking of #21, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 2 doctorate’s history degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.
Full Central Michigan History Report
Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s history degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Full Purdue History Report
Kent State University at Kent landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kent State is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 3 doctorate’s history degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about History at Kent State University at Kent
Wayne State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 4 doctorate’s history 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%.
Read more about History at Wayne State
With a ranking of #25, Marquette University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s history students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Marquette History Report