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2027 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region

35 Colleges in the United States
1,655 Best Degrees Awarded
$55,059 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 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

Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for best. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 best students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $73,260 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. Get the full best details for Northwestern University

2

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 600 best degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $52,502 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,731. More information about a degree in best from Indiana University Bloomington

3

Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global awarded about 11 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $47,491 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $33,307 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global

4

Illinois Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. About 13 best degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $71,315 in their early career. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Illinois Institute Of Technology

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for best. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. About 32 best degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Best graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $59,815 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Read more about the best program at University Of Illinois At Chicago

6

Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #6 position for best this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 177 best degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $50,294 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,887 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from Ohio State University Main Campus

7

University Of Dayton came in at #7 for best this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 12 best degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $56,077 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at University Of Dayton

8
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University landed the #8 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 best students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $65,378 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. See the full best program report for Depaul University

9

Northern Illinois University landed the #9 spot for best this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 best degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $62,849. Typical student debt for the program is $25,209. Read more about the best program at Northern Illinois University

10

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #10 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 85 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $66,900. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

11

Miami University Oxford came in at #11 for best this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Miami University Oxford awarded about 11 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $45,278 in the first couple years of their career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $25,731 in student loans. Get the full best details for Miami University Oxford

12

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #12 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $58,659 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Read more about the best program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

13
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University landed the #13 spot for best this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Central Michigan University awarded about 39 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $56,767 early in their careers. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. See the full best program report for Central Michigan University

14

Grand Valley State University landed the #14 spot for best this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 51 best degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $46,843. Typical student debt for the program is $25,697. Get the full best details for Grand Valley State University

15

Ohio University Main Campus placed #15 among the best best schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 36 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $55,481 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Ohio University Main Campus

16

University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned the #16 position for best this year. This large public university is located in the city of Oshkosh. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 21 best degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn around $65,648 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Read more about the best program at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh

17

Kent State University At Kent came in at #17 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. Kent State University At Kent graduates 64% of students within six years. About 25 best degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $66,131 in their early career. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $25,174 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Kent State University At Kent

18

National Louis University placed #18 among the best best schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 best students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $53,733. Typical student debt for the program is $29,242. More information about a degree in best from National Louis University

19

University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #19 for best this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Illinois At Springfield earn around $61,014 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,925. Get the full best details for University Of Illinois At Springfield

20
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, OH

Franklin University placed #20 among the best best schools. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Franklin University graduates 3% of students within six years. About 57 best degrees were awarded at Franklin University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Franklin University earn around $63,922 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,890. More information about a degree in best from Franklin University

21

Western Michigan University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 14 best degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $58,501 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Western Michigan University

22

Wayne State University earned the #22 position for best this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Wayne State University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 best students who graduated with this degree at Wayne State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Wayne State University earn around $50,539 in the first couple years of their career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Read more about the best program at Wayne State University

23
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Aurora University came in at #23 for best this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 16 best degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $42,605. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Aurora University

24

Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #24 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 19 best degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $37,119 in the first couple years of their career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Bowling Green State University Main Campus

25

Eastern Michigan University landed the #25 spot for best this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Eastern Michigan University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 best students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $60,337. Eastern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $28,781 in student loans. Get the full best details for Eastern Michigan University

Rest of the Top 35 Best Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong best education:

26
27
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL
28
29
30
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN
31
32
33
34
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI
35

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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 · 35 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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