by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
International Studies is the 100th most popular major in the country with 7,368 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, international studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $34,198 and had an average of $21,594 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 868 international studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,564 and $24,274 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 72 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in international studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their international studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Principia College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Principia is located in Elsah, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
Out of the 72 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Kenyon College landed the #2 spot on the list. Kenyon is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Gambier, Ohio. It awarded 15 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Albion College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region. Albion, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Monmouth College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region. Monmouth, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 5 students 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 72 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Hanover College landed the #5 spot on the list. Hanover, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Bloomington, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on International Studies at Illinois Wesleyan
With a ranking of #7, Saint Mary’s College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 7 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Hope College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Hope College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Holland, Michigan. It awarded 13 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
University of Mount Union did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. University of Mount Union is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Alliance, Ohio. It awarded 8 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.
Heidelberg University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Heidelburg College is a small school located in Tiffin, Ohio that handed out 4 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about International Studies at Heidelberg University
University of Notre Dame ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 61 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 209 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Malone University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Canton, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.
North Central College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region list. North Central is a small school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 9 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Studies at North Central College
With a ranking of #15, Lawrence University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Lawrence U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Appleton, Wisconsin. It awarded 3 ’s international studies 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Mount Mary University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about International Studies at Mount Mary University
Ohio Wesleyan University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Delaware, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 3 students 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
Illinois College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois College is located in Jacksonville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s international studies degrees to qualified students.
Cedarville University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cedarville, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 88%.
University of Dayton ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.
With a ranking of #21, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 35 diplomas to qualified ’s international studies students in 2020-2021.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 16 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville International Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 13 ’s international studies degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about International Studies at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Case Western Reserve University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on International Studies Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s international studies degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, 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 93%.
Read full report on International Studies at Case Western Reserve University
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
