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2027 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region

22 Colleges in the United States
1,882 Best Degrees Awarded
$52,244 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools to find the best for best students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Best 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 best degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Best

1

Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in best. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. 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. More information about a degree in best from Northwestern University

2

University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 645 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Get the full best details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

3

A rank of #3 makes Michigan Technological University one of the top schools for best. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 88 best degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $64,652 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,800. Read more about the best program at Michigan Technological University

4
Denison University crest
Denison University
Granville, OH

A rank of #4 makes Denison University one of the top schools for best. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Granville. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 best degrees were awarded at Denison University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Typical student debt for the program is $25,360. Get the full best details for Denison University

5

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. See the full best program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

6
Lewis University crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Lewis University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 149 best students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $55,718 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Lewis University

7

Bradley University came in at #7 for best this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 70 best degrees were awarded at Bradley University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,380. Read more about the best program at Bradley University

8
John Carroll University crest
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH

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. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. John Carroll University graduates carry a median of $26,131 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from John Carroll University

9

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #9 spot for best this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 136 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data 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. See the full best program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

10

Loyola University Chicago placed #10 among the best best schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 21 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Get the full best details for Loyola University Chicago

11

The College Of Wooster placed #11 among the best best schools. The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wooster. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,936 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from The College Of Wooster

12

Grand Valley State University earned the #12 position for best this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 best students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $50,179 in their early career. Grand Valley State University graduates carry a median of $26,378 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Grand Valley State University

13

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #13 spot for best this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 17 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $49,223 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,551 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

14

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #14 for best this year. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 20 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $49,911. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

15

Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 24 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $45,531 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Chippewa Valley Technical College

16

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #16 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 34 best degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $46,561 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,657 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

17
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

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. Depaul University awarded about 166 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $55,390 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,340. Read more about the best program at Depaul University

18
Knox College crest
Knox College
Galesburg, IL

Knox College landed the #18 spot for best this year. Located in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 10 best students who graduated with this degree at Knox College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Knox College earn around $27,822 in the first couple years of their career. Knox College graduates carry a median of $26,420 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Knox College

19

Kent State University At Kent ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 best degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Typical student debt for the program is $25,174. See the full best program report for Kent State University At Kent

20

University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #20 for best this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $50,590. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Get the full best details for University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh

21

Case Western Reserve University earned the #21 position for best this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 25 best students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $74,459 in their early career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. See the full best program report for Case Western Reserve University

22

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay landed the #22 spot for best this year. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay awarded about 16 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $42,853 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,477. Read more about the best program at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay

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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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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