2027 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 218 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
No school ranked higher than University Of Wisconsin Madison this year for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 102 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 60 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $59,139 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,312.
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University Of Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 172 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $26,094 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $38,065 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $20,728 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Students looking for a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities program will find one at University Of Notre Dame, which ranked #5. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 18 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $45,579 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,800.
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Indiana University Bloomington landed the #6 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 8,459 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $52,655 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,671.
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Harper College came in at #7 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 1,724 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $27,619 in their early career. Harper College graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans.
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College Of Dupage landed the #8 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. There were roughly 787 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from College Of Dupage earn around $28,678 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #9 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 88 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $79,921. Typical student debt for the program is $17,917.
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Calvin College earned the #10 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Grand Rapids. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Calvin College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Calvin College earn around $44,220 in the first couple years of their career. Calvin College graduates carry a median of $22,707 in student loans.
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Lewis University placed #11 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lewis University awarded about 27 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $55,718 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,838.
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Xavier University placed #12 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $47,064. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #13 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 87 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $49,223. Typical student debt for the program is $23,551.
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College Of Lake County landed the #14 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. College Of Lake County awarded about 1,717 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $33,413 early in their careers. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $6,687 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #15 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 12 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $54,302. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Aurora University landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. About 60% of students finish within six years. Aurora University awarded about 24 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $44,614 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Joliet Junior College landed the #17 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Joliet. About 677 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Joliet Junior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Joliet Junior College earn around $27,296 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago earned the #18 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $58,568 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $7,761 in student loans.
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Illinois State University placed #19 among the best liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 122 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $31,745 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $23,621 in student loans.
See the full liberal arts / sciences & humanities program report for Illinois State University
Eastern Illinois University came in at #20 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 92 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree from Eastern Illinois University earn around $40,273 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
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Waubonsee Community College came in at #21 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 528 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $27,597 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #22 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 35 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $32,604. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,784 in student loans.
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Lawrence Technological University came in at #23 for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Southfield. Lawrence Technological University graduates 60% of students within six years. Lawrence Technological University awarded about 13 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program make about $74,924 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,799 to complete this degree.
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Rock Valley College landed the #24 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rockford. There were roughly 545 liberal arts / sciences & humanities students who graduated with this degree at Rock Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $27,601. Students borrow a median of $7,035 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #25 position for liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee awarded about 158 liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $37,845. Typical student debt for the program is $23,011.
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Rest of the Top 50 Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s liberal arts / sciences & humanities ranking:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for liberal arts / sciences & humanities:
- #51 — University Of Wisconsin Whitewater · Whitewater, WI
- #52 — Grand Rapids Community College · Grand Rapids, MI
- #53 — City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College · Chicago, IL
- #54 — Triton College · River Grove, IL
- #55 — Kankakee Community College · Kankakee, IL
- #56 — Moraine Valley Community College · Palos Hills, IL
- #57 — Southern Illinois University Carbondale · Carbondale, IL
- #58 — Heartland Community College · Normal, IL
- #59 — Ohio University Main Campus · Athens, OH
- #60 — Kent State University At Kent · Kent, OH
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 218 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.