2027 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their best programs.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best best schools.
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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
Northwestern University tops our 2027 ranking of the best best schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 51 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #2. 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 645 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Michigan Technological University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #3. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. Michigan Technological University awarded about 88 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $64,652 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800.
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Denison University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. Denison University awarded about 26 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Typical student debt for the program is $25,360.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 253 best degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
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Lewis University earned the #6 position for best this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 149 best degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Lewis University earn around $55,718 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,838.
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Bradley University earned the #7 position for best this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Bradley University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 best students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $54,513 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,380.
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John Carroll University landed the #8 spot for best this year. Located in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. John Carroll University awarded about 11 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from John Carroll University generally make around $44,308. Typical student debt for the program is $26,131.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #9 position for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 136 best degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Best graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
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Loyola University Chicago ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 best students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $58,568 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
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The College Of Wooster came in at #11 for best this year. Located in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit university. The College Of Wooster graduates 74% of students within six years. About 14 best degrees were awarded at The College Of Wooster in the most recent year. Best graduates of The College Of Wooster earn a median of $32,382 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,936.
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Grand Valley State University came in at #12 for best this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 best degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $50,179 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,378.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #13 position for best this year. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates 71% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse awarded about 17 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $49,223 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,551.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #14 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 20 best degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $49,911. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $22,574 in student loans.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #15 among the best best schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 24 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Chippewa Valley Technical College earn around $45,531 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #16 position for best 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 34 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.
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Depaul University came in at #17 for best this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 166 best degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $55,390 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete this degree.
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Knox College came in at #18 for best this year. Knox College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Galesburg. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 best degrees were awarded at Knox College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Knox College earn a median of $27,822 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,420 to complete this degree.
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Kent State University At Kent earned the #19 position for best this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 56 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $44,776 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,174.
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University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #20 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 best degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $50,590 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,619.
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Case Western Reserve University landed the #21 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 25 best degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $74,459 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $42,853 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 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.