by our College Data Analytics TeamNorthwestern University ranks #1 of 759 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Colleges in the Great Lakes Region ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 82% six-year graduation rate and $83,159 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in the Great Lakes Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **759** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 759 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Northwestern University leads the 759 ranked colleges in the Great Lakes Region, followed by University Of Chicago (#2) and University Of Michigan Ann Arbor (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Great Lakes Region. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Evanston, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,322. Median early-career earnings reach $78,551. The median student debt is $16,616.
The strong outcomes at University Of Chicago earned it the #2 place in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. About 96% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. University Of Chicago graduates report median early-career earnings of $81,002. The median student debt is $15,854.
You'll be in good company at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Great Lakes Region. This public school is set in Madison, WI. About 90% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Median early-career earnings reach $59,877. University Of Wisconsin Madison students take on a median of $21,813 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Notre Dame earned it the #5 place in the Great Lakes Region. Based in Notre Dame, IN, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,025. Median early-career earnings reach $69,494. University Of Notre Dame students take on a median of $19,891 in debt.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,461. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete a degree here.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #7 spot in the Great Lakes Region this year. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus students take on a median of $19,844 in debt.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #8 spot in the Great Lakes Region this year. Based in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University Bloomington posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,123. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete a degree here.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot in the Great Lakes Region this year. This public school is set in Columbus, OH. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,088. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete a degree here.
University Of Dayton ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Dayton, OH, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,077. Graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans.
Michigan State University did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $54,166. Graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans.
Case Western Reserve University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,106.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Terre Haute, IN, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,046. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $83,140. The median student debt is $25,148.
Butler University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Indianapolis, IN. Butler University posts a six-year graduation rate of 79%. In-state tuition and fees average $47,560. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $68,222. Butler University students take on a median of $25,351 in debt.
Marquette University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $51,170. Median early-career earnings reach $60,443. Typical student debt is $24,122.
Loyola University Chicago placed #16 among the best colleges in the Great Lakes Region. Based in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,568. Graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
Miami University Oxford ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Oxford, OH, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,700. Graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans.
Illinois State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. Illinois State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,896.
Midwestern University Downers Grove did well this year, earning the #19 position. Set in Downers Grove, IL, Midwestern University Downers Grove is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $98,692.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Chicago, IL, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Median early-career earnings reach $61,829. Graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans.
Kenyon College did well this year, earning the #21 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Gambier, OH. Kenyon College posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. Students from in state pay about $71,520 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $37,976. Typical student debt is $18,114.
Denison University placed #22 among the best colleges in the Great Lakes Region. Set in Granville, OH, Denison University is a private not-for-profit institution. Denison University posts a six-year graduation rate of 79%. Students from in state pay about $67,000 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $39,797. The median student debt is $25,360.
Illinois Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,315. Typical student debt is $26,774.
Depauw University landed the #24 spot in the Great Lakes Region this year. Set in Greencastle, IN, Depauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $59,070 in tuition and fees. Depauw University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,127. Depauw University students take on a median of $26,174 in debt.
Wheaton College Illinois did well this year, earning the #25 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wheaton, IL. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Wheaton College Illinois graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,654. Students borrow a median of $23,292 to complete a degree here.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 759 in the Great Lakes Region. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
These 64 colleges rank #51 through #114 of 759 in the Great Lakes Region. Explore the rest of the top 20% below:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | North Park University | Chicago, IL |
| 102 | Mount Carmel College Of Nursing | Columbus, OH |
| 103 | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, IL |
| 104 | Northwood University Michigan | Midland, MI |
| 105 | Carthage College | Kenosha, WI |
| 106 | Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College | Rice Lake, WI |
| 107 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL |
| 108 | University Of Evansville | Evansville, IN |
| 109 | University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI |
| 110 | Bowling Green State University Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH |
| 111 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 112 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI |
| 113 | University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI |
| 114 | University Of Michigan Dearborn | Dearborn, MI |
These 38 colleges rank #115 through #152 of 759 in the Great Lakes Region. These colleges narrowly missed the top tiers:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 140 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee, WI |
| 141 | Wittenberg University | Springfield, OH |
| 142 | Albion College | Albion, MI |
| 143 | Marietta College | Marietta, OH |
| 144 | University Of Mount Union | Alliance, OH |
| 145 | University Of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
| 146 | University Of Cincinnati Clermont College | Batavia, OH |
| 147 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale, IL |
| 148 | Kent State University At Kent | Kent, OH |
| 149 | Kettering College | Kettering, OH |
| 150 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore, WI |
| 151 | Grace College And Theological Seminary | Winona Lake, IN |
| 152 | Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.