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2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region

217 Ranked Colleges
3,756 Degrees Awarded
$29,900 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

History is the 23rd most popular major in the country with 32,731 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, history graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,467 and had an average of $23,587 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 3,756 history graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,228 and $24,399 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 217 colleges that offer a degree in history. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in history.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank History Schools

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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 Highly Focused on History 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region history students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for History in the Great Lakes Region

1
Wabash crest
Wabash College
Crawfordsville, Indiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wabash College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region. Crawfordsville, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s history degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Wabash History Report

2
Hillsdale College crest
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, Michigan

Out of the 217 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Hillsdale College landed the #2 spot on the list. Hillsdale College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hillsdale, Michigan. It awarded 31 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Hillsdale College History Report

3
Ripon crest
Ripon College
Ripon, Wisconsin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ripon College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region. Ripon is a small school located in Ripon, Wisconsin that handed out 13 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ripon History Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The College of Wooster. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region. The College of Wooster is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wooster, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full The College of Wooster History Report

5
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ashland University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region. This small school is located in Ashland, Ohio, and it awarded 75 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 more about History at Ashland

6
Blackburn crest
Blackburn College
Carlinville, Illinois

Blackburn College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Blackburn is located in Carlinville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

Full Blackburn History Report

7
Beloit crest
Beloit College
Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Beloit is located in Beloit, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Beloit

8
Oberlin crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oberlin College is a small school located in Oberlin, Ohio that handed out 34 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Oberlin College

9
Lawrence U crest
Lawrence University
Appleton, Wisconsin

Lawrence University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Lawrence U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Lawrence University

10
Northland crest
Northland College
Ashland, Wisconsin

Northland College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Ashland, Wisconsin, and it awarded 6 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

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 more about History at Northland College

11
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Knox College is a small school located in Galesburg, Illinois that handed out 13 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

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 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about History at Knox

12

With a ranking of #12, Ohio State University - Marion Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Marion, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s history degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Ohio State University - Marion Campus

13

Ohio Wesleyan University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio Wesleyan University is a small school located in Delaware, Ohio that handed out 15 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, 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.

Read more about History at OWU

14
St. Mary's College crest
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana

Saint Mary’s College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. Saint Mary’s College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 16 ’s history degrees 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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.

Full St. Mary’s College History Report

15
Wittenberg crest
Wittenberg University
Springfield, Ohio

Wittenberg University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Springfield, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

Full Wittenberg University History Report

16
DePauw crest
DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana

DePauw University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Greencastle, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about History at DePauw University

17
Kenyon crest
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio

Kenyon College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Kenyon is a small school located in Gambier, Ohio that handed out 14 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 0.5%, 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 89%.

Read more about History at Kenyon

18
Hanover crest
Hanover College
Hanover, Indiana

Hanover College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Hanover, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s history students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Hanover College History Report

19
Albion crest
Albion College
Albion, Michigan

Albion College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Albion, Michigan, and it awarded 13 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on History at Albion College

20
Finlandia crest
Finlandia University
Hancock, Michigan

Finlandia University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Finlandia is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hancock, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s 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.

Read more about History at Finlandia

21
Alma crest
Alma College
Alma, Michigan

Alma College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Alma College is a small school located in Alma, Michigan that handed out 12 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on History at Alma

22
Earlham crest
Earlham College
Richmond, Indiana

Earlham College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Richmond, Indiana, and it awarded 8 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about History at Earlham

23
Defiance College crest
Defiance College
Defiance, Ohio

Defiance College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Defiance College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Defiance, Ohio. It awarded 3 ’s history degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on History at Defiance College

24

Franciscan University of Steubenville did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution located in Steubenville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full Franciscan University of Steubenville History Report

25
Holy Cross College crest
Holy Cross College
Notre Dame, Indiana

Holy Cross College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Holy Cross College is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s history degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on History at Holy Cross College

Rest of the Best 33 in Schools Highly Focused on History Major in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 33 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
Denison crest
Denison University
Granville, Ohio
28
Monmouth crest
Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois
29
Wilmington College crest
Wilmington College
Wilmington, Ohio
30
Illinois College crest
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois
31
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
32
Illinois Wesleyan crest
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois
33
Carthage crest
Carthage College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Notes and References

References

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