2026 Best Sustainability Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Sustainability Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 50 schools to find the best for sustainability science students.
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Best Schools for Sustainability Science in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall sustainability science education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Sustainability Science
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for sustainability science. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 46 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Sustainability Science graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong sustainability science 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. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 153 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sustainability science, ranking #3. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 48 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $58,088 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from Ohio State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong sustainability science program will find one at Illinois Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 15 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Illinois Institute Of Technology earn around $71,315 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree.
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Michigan State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability science schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Michigan State University earn around $54,166 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability science program report for Michigan State University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #6 spot for sustainability science this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 67 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $60,568. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #7 spot for sustainability science this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 129 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $52,963. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Green Bay placed #8 among the best sustainability science schools. This large public university is located in the city of Green Bay. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $42,853 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #9 among the best sustainability science schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn around $50,590 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #10 among the best sustainability science schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Menomonie. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 12 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stout in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $54,235. University Of Wisconsin Stout graduates carry a median of $25,821 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #11 among the best sustainability science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $54,897 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #12 for sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 87 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $42,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
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University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #13 for sustainability science this year. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 11 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $59,089. Typical student debt for the program is $24,205.
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Depaul University earned the #14 position for sustainability science this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 11 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Depaul University earn around $57,588 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 50 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.