2027 Best Sustainability Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Sustainability Science programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sustainability science programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools to find the best for sustainability science students.
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Best Schools for Sustainability Science 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 sustainability science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Sustainability Science
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for sustainability science. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 49 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full sustainability science program report for Northwestern University
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in sustainability science, ranking #2. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 207 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree.
See the full sustainability science program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Students looking for a strong sustainability science program will find one at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Michigan Technological University awarded about 30 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from Michigan Technological University earn around $64,652 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete this degree.
Get the full sustainability science details for Michigan Technological University
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sustainability science, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 46 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent 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. Typical student debt for the program is $22,053.
Read more about the sustainability science program at Ohio State University Main Campus
Illinois Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in sustainability science, landing the #5 spot this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 20 sustainability science degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $71,315 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,774.
Read more about the sustainability science program at Illinois Institute Of Technology
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #6 spot for sustainability science this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 107 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $52,963 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Read more about the sustainability science program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot for sustainability science this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 65 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Michigan State University came in at #8 for sustainability science this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 49 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $54,166 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,213.
Read more about the sustainability science program at Michigan State University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best sustainability science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 17 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability science degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $54,897 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earned the #10 position for sustainability science this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay awarded about 27 sustainability science degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Science graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $42,853 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,477.
Get the full sustainability science details for University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Depaul University earned the #11 position for sustainability science 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. There were roughly 16 sustainability science students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability science program make about $57,588 in their early career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
Get the full sustainability science details for Depaul University
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best sustainability science schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 84 sustainability science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $42,677. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
More information about a degree in sustainability science from University Of Illinois At Chicago
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 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.