2027 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools to find the best for best students.
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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
Leading the list is University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, our #1 school for best. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 20 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #2 spot this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 81 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans.
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Lewis University came in at #3 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 19 best students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Lewis University earn around $55,718 in the first couple years of their career. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans.
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Michigan State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Michigan State University awarded about 41 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Michigan State University earn around $54,166 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,213.
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Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of Detroit Mercy, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 best degrees were awarded at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Detroit Mercy earn around $76,755 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete this degree.
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Fox Valley Technical College placed #6 among the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 28 best students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $35,887 early in their careers. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #7 for best this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 best degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Best graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $51,202 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
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Madonna University placed #8 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Livonia, Madonna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Madonna University graduates 60% of students within six years. Madonna University awarded about 43 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Madonna University generally make around $56,984. Students borrow a median of $26,896 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Illinois University came in at #9 for best this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. About 22 best degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $43,603 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,293.
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Northern Michigan University came in at #10 for best this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Marquette. Northern Michigan University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 11 best degrees were awarded at Northern Michigan University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $40,508 early in their careers. Northern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $22,608 in student loans.
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Harper College earned the #11 position for best this year. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Harper College awarded about 27 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $44,523 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #12 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 54% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 54 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $48,975. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Indiana State University came in at #13 for best this year. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana State University awarded about 10 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $53,952. Typical student debt for the program is $25,582.
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College Of Dupage placed #14 among the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. College Of Dupage awarded about 38 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from College Of Dupage earn around $43,025 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492.
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University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #15 spot for best this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates 61% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Platteville awarded about 33 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $38,013. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates carry a median of $24,780 in student loans.
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Youngstown State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 best degrees were awarded at Youngstown State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Youngstown State University earn around $49,025 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,373.
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Ohio Northern University came in at #17 for best this year. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. Ohio Northern University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 16 best degrees were awarded at Ohio Northern University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $56,878 early in their careers. Ohio Northern University graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans.
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Washtenaw Community College placed #18 among the best best schools. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. There were roughly 24 best students who graduated with this degree at Washtenaw Community College in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Washtenaw Community College graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans.
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Sinclair Community College placed #19 among the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Dayton. There were roughly 52 best students who graduated with this degree at Sinclair Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $35,348 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 best degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $46,673. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree.
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Lake Land College placed #21 among the best best schools. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Lake Land College awarded about 10 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. Lake Land College graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans.
See the full best program report for Lake Land College
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #22 for best this year. This large public university is located in the city of Akron. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 best degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Akron Main Campus earn around $49,045 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete this degree.
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Tiffin University earned the #23 position for best this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Tiffin. Tiffin University graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 best students who graduated with this degree at Tiffin University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Tiffin University earn around $38,994 in the first couple years of their career. Tiffin University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Washington State Community College landed the #24 spot for best this year. Located in the town of Marietta, Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 26 best students who graduated with this degree at Washington State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Washington State Community College earn around $45,305 in the first couple years of their career. Washington State Community College graduates carry a median of $16,291 in student loans.
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Ivy Tech Community College placed #25 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. About 169 best degrees were awarded at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Ivy Tech Community College earn around $40,734 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,889.
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Rest of the Top 27 Best Schools
These schools also placed among the best for best this year:
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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 · 27 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.
