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2027 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region

25 Colleges in the United States
2,478 Best Degrees Awarded
$52,207 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their best programs.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools to find the best for best students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Best in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall best education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Best

1
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in best. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 best degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844. More information about a degree in best from Purdue University Main Campus

2

Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 best students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,774. More information about a degree in best from Illinois Institute Of Technology

3

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse, which ranked #3. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 11 best degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,223 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,551. More information about a degree in best from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

4

Bradley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 29 best degrees were awarded at Bradley University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. Typical student debt for the program is $26,380. Get the full best details for Bradley University

5

Augustana College Illinois came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 17 best students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $39,096 in their early career. Augustana College Illinois graduates carry a median of $26,764 in student loans. Get the full best details for Augustana College Illinois

6

Ohio University Main Campus came in at #6 for best this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 118 best students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,736 in their early career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Get the full best details for Ohio University Main Campus

7

Illinois State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 13 best degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,660 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Illinois State University

8

Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus landed the #8 spot for best this year. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus awarded about 1,161 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus earn a median of $47,735 early in their careers. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus graduates carry a median of $24,787 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus

9

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #9 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 117 best degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

10

Concordia University Wisconsin earned the #10 position for best this year. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Concordia University Wisconsin graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 best students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $58,227. Typical student debt for the program is $27,172. More information about a degree in best from Concordia University Wisconsin

11

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater awarded about 46 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn around $45,767 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans. Read more about the best program at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

12
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University placed #12 among the best best schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 251 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Depaul University earn around $55,390 in the first couple years of their career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Depaul University

13

Kent State University At Kent placed #13 among the best best schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 249 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $44,776 in the first couple years of their career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Kent State University At Kent

14
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, OH

Franklin University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. About 3% of students finish within six years. Franklin University awarded about 55 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Franklin University earn around $57,471 in the first couple years of their career. Franklin University graduates carry a median of $35,890 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Franklin University

15

Baldwin Wallace College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 29 best degrees were awarded at Baldwin Wallace College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $46,668. Students borrow a median of $27,307 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Baldwin Wallace College

16

University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #16 position for best this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Dearborn. University Of Michigan Dearborn graduates 58% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Dearborn awarded about 16 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $62,536 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,516. Get the full best details for University Of Michigan Dearborn

17

Wright State University Main Campus came in at #17 for best this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 62 best students who graduated with this degree at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Wright State University Main Campus earn around $49,077 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Wright State University Main Campus

18

University Of Wisconsin River Falls placed #18 among the best best schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of River Falls. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin River Falls in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $47,577 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for University Of Wisconsin River Falls

19

University Of Michigan Flint earned the #19 position for best this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Flint. University Of Michigan Flint graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Flint in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Michigan Flint earn around $51,692 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,016 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for University Of Michigan Flint

20

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #20 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Milwaukee. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee awarded about 36 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $46,561 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,657. See the full best program report for University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

21

Western Michigan University placed #21 among the best best schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 27 best degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Western Michigan University earn around $48,966 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,981. More information about a degree in best from Western Michigan University

22

National Louis University earned the #22 position for best this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. National Louis University awarded about 13 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $53,733 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for National Louis University

23

University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #23 for best this year. This large public university is located in the city of Akron. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Akron Main Campus earn around $49,045 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,347. Read more about the best program at University Of Akron Main Campus

24

Roosevelt University landed the #24 spot for best this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 best degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Roosevelt University

25
Davenport University crest
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, MI

Davenport University came in at #25 for best this year. Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Grand Rapids. Davenport University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 best students who graduated with this degree at Davenport University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Davenport University earn a median of $55,736 early in their careers. Davenport University graduates carry a median of $30,603 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Davenport University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 25 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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