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Pacific College of Health and Science tops our 2026 ranking of the most ethnically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. It scores 80.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 80.0, and gender diversity 53.1.
by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 725 institutions by ethnic diversity in Great Lakes, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 725 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. Narrow your list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Pacific College of Health and Science tops our 2026 ranking of the most ethnically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. It scores 80.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 80.0, and gender diversity 53.1.
You'll find a welcoming community at Andrews University, which ranked #2 this year. It scores 80.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 80.0, with a gender-diversity score of 98.9.
Northwestern University came in at #3 on this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in Great Lakes. It scores 78.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 78.8, alongside a 99.4 gender-diversity score.
Roosevelt University came in at #4 on this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in Great Lakes. The school's ethnic diversity score is 78.2 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 78.2, with a gender-diversity score of 95.8.
You'll find a welcoming community at North Park University, which ranked #5 this year. On ethnic diversity, it scores 77.4 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 77.4, and gender diversity 97.6.
University of Illinois Chicago ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. University of Illinois Chicago scores 76.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 76.8, alongside a 99.1 gender-diversity score.
University of Chicago came in at #7 in this year's ranking. It scores 76.7 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 76.7, alongside a 99.5 gender-diversity score.
Benedictine University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. It scores 75.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 75.9, with a gender-diversity score of 99.2.
United Theological Seminary ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. The school's ethnic diversity score is 75.9 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 75.9, alongside a 98.0 gender-diversity score.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign placed #10 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scores 75.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 75.4, alongside a 99.4 gender-diversity score.
Trinity International University-Illinois earned the #11 position in Great Lakes. It scores 74.6 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 74.6, with a gender-diversity score of 93.4.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #12 spot in Great Lakes this year. On ethnic diversity, it scores 74.6 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 74.6, and gender diversity 99.9.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago placed #13 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. On ethnic diversity, it scores 74.4 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 74.4, alongside a 81.7 gender-diversity score.
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin scores 74.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 74.4, alongside a 11.8 gender-diversity score.
DePaul University placed #15 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. On ethnic diversity, it scores 74.2 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 74.2, alongside a 99.3 gender-diversity score.
Ross Medical Education Center - Elyria earned the #16 position in Great Lakes. Ross Medical Education Center - Elyria scores 73.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 73.9, and gender diversity 32.5.
Pivot Point Academy came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Pivot Point Academy scores 73.7 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 73.7, with a gender-diversity score of 54.2.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary landed the #18 spot in Great Lakes this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 73.5 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 73.5, alongside a 98.9 gender-diversity score.
Indiana Institute of Technology placed #19 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in Great Lakes. The school's ethnic diversity score is 73.4 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 73.4, and gender diversity 97.8.
Catholic Theological Union at Chicago landed the #20 spot in Great Lakes this year. On ethnic diversity, it scores 73.2 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 73.2, alongside a 95.2 gender-diversity score.
Oakton College landed the #21 spot in Great Lakes this year. Oakton College scores 72.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 72.8, and gender diversity 100.0.
University of Detroit Mercy ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. The school's ethnic diversity score is 72.7 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 72.7, alongside a 99.1 gender-diversity score.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor landed the #23 spot in Great Lakes this year. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor scores 72.6 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 72.6, and gender diversity 99.9.
College for Creative Studies ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. The school's ethnic diversity score is 72.4 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 72.4, alongside a 92.5 gender-diversity score.
Rockford University earned the #25 position in Great Lakes. It scores 72.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it 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 | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Knox College | 69.5 |
| 52 | Lewis University | 69.5 |
| 53 | Oberlin College | 69.4 |
| 54 | Lawrence Technological University | 69.3 |
| 55 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | 69.3 |
| 56 | Ottawa University-Milwaukee | 69.1 |
| 57 | Oakland Community College | 69.1 |
| 58 | Ross Medical Education Center - Roosevelt Park | 68.9 |
| 59 | Ross College-Grand Rapids North | 68.9 |
| 60 | Moody Bible Institute | 68.7 |
| 61 | Washtenaw Community College | 68.6 |
| 62 | Northern Illinois University | 68.6 |
| 63 | Ross Medical Education Center - Niles | 68.5 |
| 64 | Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute | 68.5 |
| 65 | College of DuPage | 68.4 |
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Chicago Theological Seminary | 66.0 |
| 92 | Empire Beauty School-Green Bay | 65.8 |
| 93 | Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago | 65.7 |
| 94 | Albion College | 65.6 |
| 95 | Aveda Institute - Chicago | 65.5 |
| 96 | Illinois Institute of Technology | 65.5 |
| 97 | Earlham College | 65.4 |
| 98 | Mount Mary University | 65.2 |
| 99 | William Rainey Harper College | 65.2 |
| 100 | Purdue University Northwest | 65.2 |
| 101 | City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | 65.1 |
| 102 | Mason Anthony School of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences | 65.1 |
| 103 | Chamberlain University-Illinois | 65.0 |
| 104 | Purdue University Global | 65.0 |
| 105 | Eastern Illinois University | 64.9 |
| 106 | Western Theological Seminary | 64.8 |
| 107 | Universal Spa Training Academy | 64.7 |
| 108 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | 64.7 |
| 109 | Holy Cross College | 64.6 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Concordia University-Chicago | 64.6 |
| 111 | Medical College of Wisconsin | 64.6 |
| 112 | Moraine Valley Community College | 64.5 |
| 113 | Calumet College of Saint Joseph | 64.4 |
| 114 | Ross College-Canton | 64.4 |
| 115 | Zen Shiatsu Chicago | 64.4 |
| 116 | Wayne State University | 64.3 |
| 117 | National University of Health Sciences | 64.3 |
| 118 | Estelle Medical Academy | 64.3 |
| 119 | Herzing University-Madison | 64.2 |
| 120 | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | 64.2 |
| 121 | College of Lake County | 64.2 |
| 122 | Ross Medical Education Center - Taylor | 64.2 |
| 123 | Franklin University | 64.1 |
| 124 | House of Heavilin Beauty College-Academy of Beauty Professionals | 64.0 |
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Ross Medical Education Center - Dayton | 64.0 |
| 126 | Eastern Michigan University | 63.9 |
| 127 | Kenyon College | 63.9 |
| 128 | Valor Christian College | 63.9 |
| 129 | Prairie State College | 63.9 |
| 130 | Erikson Institute | 63.9 |
| 131 | Americare Technical School | 63.8 |
| 132 | Rasmussen University-Illinois | 63.7 |
| 133 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 63.6 |
| 134 | Goshen College | 63.6 |
| 135 | Ross Medical Education Center - Canton | 63.5 |
| 136 | Rush University | 63.5 |
| 137 | Ambria College of Nursing | 63.5 |
| 138 | MyComputerCareer at Columbus | 63.4 |
| 139 | Principia College | 63.4 |
| 140 | Schoolcraft Community College District | 63.4 |
| 141 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 63.3 |
| 142 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | 63.3 |
| 143 | Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa | 63.2 |
| 144 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | 63.1 |
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 145 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 63.0 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. 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.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.