by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 799 institutions ranked on economic diversity in Great Lakes, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the economic backgrounds of the student body (the mix of income levels). So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 799 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every student measures diversity the same way. Drill down by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Ready to build your own comparison? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College earned the #1 spot in this year's Most Economically Diverse Colleges ranking in Great Lakes. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 65.1, and gender diversity 97.8.
A rank of #2 makes University of Illinois Chicago one of the most economically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. University of Illinois Chicago scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 76.8, with a gender-diversity score of 99.1.
Out of the 799 colleges in Great Lakes in this year's ranking, Morrison Institute of Technology landed the #3 spot. Morrison Institute of Technology scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity.
A rank of #4 makes Morton College one of the most economically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 32.8, alongside a 98.6 gender-diversity score.
Richland Community College came in at #5 on this year's Most Economically Diverse Colleges ranking in Great Lakes. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 50.7, with a gender-diversity score of 96.5.
Marion Technical College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Marion Technical College scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 40.7, alongside a 99.6 gender-diversity score.
University of Rio Grande earned the #7 position in Great Lakes. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 44.3, alongside a 96.6 gender-diversity score.
Shawnee State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 47.1, and gender diversity 97.6.
Gogebic Community College landed the #9 spot in Great Lakes this year. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 31.5, alongside a 96.7 gender-diversity score.
Kirtland Community College placed #10 among the most economically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 35.1, with a gender-diversity score of 97.6.
North Central Michigan College placed #11 among the most economically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 28.9, with a gender-diversity score of 96.3.
The University of Olivet placed #12 among the most economically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 52.2, with a gender-diversity score of 98.2.
Wayne County Community College District landed the #13 spot in Great Lakes this year. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 44.7, with a gender-diversity score of 94.8.
Central Ohio Technical College earned the #14 position in Great Lakes. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 55.2, and gender diversity 89.5.
Sharps Academy of Hair Styling placed #15 among the most economically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100.
Chamberlain University-Ohio landed the #16 spot in Great Lakes this year. Chamberlain University-Ohio scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 56.0, alongside a 49.3 gender-diversity score.
Chamberlain University-Michigan placed #17 among the most economically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 55.1, alongside a 58.8 gender-diversity score.
Central School of Practical Nursing landed the #18 spot in Great Lakes this year. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100.
Universal Technical Institute - Illinois placed #19 among the most economically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. Universal Technical Institute - Illinois scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 62.5, with a gender-diversity score of 33.4.
Hair Academy came in at #20 in this year's ranking. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100.
Eureka College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Eureka College scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 51.1, with a gender-diversity score of 99.9.
Fox College earned the #22 position in Great Lakes. Fox College scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 58.0, with a gender-diversity score of 72.4.
John A Logan College landed the #23 spot in Great Lakes this year. John A Logan College scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 50.1, with a gender-diversity score of 97.2.
Methodist College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 51.7, alongside a 41.8 gender-diversity score.
Rockford University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. Rockford University scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 72.4, and gender diversity 98.2.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
Click any college name below to learn more:
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Summit Salon Academy - Kokomo | 100.0 |
| 52 | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | 99.9 |
| 53 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | 99.9 |
| 54 | Northern Illinois University | 99.9 |
| 55 | Roosevelt University | 99.9 |
| 56 | Calumet College of Saint Joseph | 99.9 |
| 57 | Brown Aveda Institute - Mentor | 99.9 |
| 58 | L’esprit Academy | 99.9 |
| 59 | Albion College | 99.9 |
| 60 | Mott Community College | 99.9 |
| 61 | Delta College | 99.9 |
| 62 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | 99.9 |
| 63 | West Shore Community College | 99.9 |
| 64 | Paul Mitchell the School Columbus | 99.9 |
| 65 | Maranatha Baptist University | 99.9 |
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 116 | Ohio University-Southern Campus | 99.5 |
| 117 | Terra State Community College | 99.5 |
| 118 | Alpena Community College | 99.5 |
| 119 | Montcalm Community College | 99.5 |
| 120 | Southwestern Michigan College | 99.5 |
These colleges narrowly missed the top tiers:
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | 99.5 |
| 122 | Nicolet Area Technical College | 99.5 |
| 123 | The Institute of Beauty and Wellness | 99.5 |
| 124 | House of Heavilin Beauty College-Academy of Beauty Professionals | 99.5 |
| 125 | Ohio State School of Cosmetology-Canal Winchester | 99.5 |
| 126 | Tri-Rivers Career Center | 99.5 |
| 127 | Douglas J Aveda Institute | 99.5 |
| 128 | Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick | 99.5 |
| 129 | Hair Professionals Career College | 99.5 |
| 130 | Rudae’s School of Beauty Culture-Ft Wayne | 99.5 |
| 131 | Paul Mitchell the School Milwaukee | 99.5 |
| 132 | State Career College | 99.5 |
| 133 | HVAC Technical Institute | 99.5 |
| 134 | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Normal | 99.5 |
| 135 | Black Hawk College | 99.3 |
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 136 | The Chicago School at Chicago | 99.3 |
| 137 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | 99.3 |
| 138 | Kaskaskia College | 99.3 |
| 139 | Lewis and Clark Community College | 99.3 |
| 140 | North Park University | 99.3 |
| 141 | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Janesville | 99.3 |
| 142 | Davis College | 99.3 |
| 143 | Lorain County Community College | 99.3 |
| 144 | North Central State College | 99.3 |
| 145 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 99.3 |
| 146 | Hair Professionals Career College | 99.3 |
| 147 | Kuyper College | 99.3 |
| 148 | University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology | 99.3 |
| 149 | Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Glendale Heights | 99.3 |
| 150 | Alverno College | 99.3 |
| 151 | Chamberlain University-Indiana | 99.3 |
| 152 | Bluffton University | 99.3 |
| 153 | Antioch University | 99.3 |
| 154 | Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Boardman | 99.3 |
| 155 | Nuvo College of Cosmetology | 99.3 |
| Rank | College | Economic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 156 | Casal Aveda Institute | 99.3 |
| 157 | Upper Valley Career Center | 99.3 |
| 158 | Illinois Media School | 99.3 |
| 159 | Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute | 99.3 |
| 160 | City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | 99.0 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the economic backgrounds of the student body (the mix of income levels). The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
