by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in the Great Lakes Region, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights 765 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed graduate schools 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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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Northwestern University tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,322. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $78,551. Northwestern University students take on a median of $16,616 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Chicago earned it the #2 place in the Great Lakes Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,324. Early-career graduates earn a median of $81,002. Typical student debt is $15,854.
Out of the 765 graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region in this year's ranking, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,254. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor students take on a median of $19,137 in debt.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region. Based in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates report median early-career earnings of $59,877. University Of Wisconsin Madison students take on a median of $21,813 in debt.
Out of the 765 graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region in this year's ranking, University Of Notre Dame landed the #5 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Notre Dame, IN. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,494. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete a degree here.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Champaign, IL. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Median early-career earnings reach $57,461. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign students take on a median of $20,778 in debt.
Purdue University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #7 position. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school based in West Lafayette, IN. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Median early-career earnings reach $63,111. The median student debt is $19,844.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Bloomington, IN, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Indiana University Bloomington posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,123. Typical student debt is $20,542.
Ohio State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Columbus, OH. Ohio State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Median early-career earnings reach $58,088. Graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans.
University Of Dayton placed #10 among the best graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region. Based in Dayton, OH, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,140. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,077. University Of Dayton students take on a median of $25,033 in debt.
Michigan State University landed the #11 spot in the Great Lakes Region this year. Located in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,166. Michigan State University students take on a median of $25,213 in debt.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cleveland, OH. About 87% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,106.
Butler University landed the #13 spot in the Great Lakes Region this year. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,560. Early-career graduates earn a median of $68,222. The median student debt is $25,351.
Loyola University Chicago placed #14 among the best graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
Marquette University placed #15 among the best graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Students from in state pay about $51,170 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $60,443. Marquette University students take on a median of $24,122 in debt.
Illinois State University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Illinois State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,660. Typical student debt is $21,896.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology landed the #17 spot in the Great Lakes Region this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Terre Haute, IN. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Students from in state pay about $56,046 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $83,140. Students borrow a median of $25,148 to complete a degree here.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Chicago, IL. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete a degree here.
Miami University Oxford placed #19 among the best graduate schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in Oxford, OH, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $49,700. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete a degree here.
Midwestern University Downers Grove ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Midwestern University Downers Grove is a private not-for-profit school based in Downers Grove, IL. Median early-career earnings reach $98,692.
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wheaton, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,546. Wheaton College Illinois graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,654. The median student debt is $23,292.
Denison University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Granville, OH, Denison University is a private not-for-profit institution. Denison University posts a six-year graduation rate of 79%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,000. Denison University graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,797. Students borrow a median of $25,360 to complete a degree here.
Rush University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Chicago, IL, Rush University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,751 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $81,296 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $31,206 in student loans.
Depaul University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Chicago, IL, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,226. Typical student debt is $25,310.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in La Crosse, WI, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,070, with out-of-state students paying around $19,517. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,223. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse students take on a median of $23,551 in debt.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
See our data sources and methodologies.