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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

13 Colleges in the United States
659 Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology Degrees Awarded
$51,729 Avg Early-Career Salary

Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for ecology, evolution & systematics biology students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall ecology, evolution & systematics biology education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology

1

Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for ecology, evolution & systematics biology. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 14 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees in the most recent data year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

Ohio State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology, landing the #2 spot 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 57 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $58,088 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for Ohio State University Main Campus

3
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for ecology, evolution & systematics biology. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 10 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program make about $63,111 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. More information about a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology from Purdue University Main Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the top schools for ecology, evolution & systematics biology. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program make about $52,123 in their early career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. More information about a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology from Indiana University Bloomington

5

University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854. More information about a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology from University Of Chicago

6

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

7

Ohio University Main Campus placed #7 among the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology 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. About 46 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $49,736 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,546. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for Ohio University Main Campus

8

Benedictine University placed #8 among the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Benedictine University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Benedictine University earn around $54,212 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,338 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology from Benedictine University

9

University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #9 position for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $28,856 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in ecology, evolution & systematics biology from University Of Wisconsin Madison

10

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #10 spot for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 167 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $46,846 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,242 to complete this degree. Read more about the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

11
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 54 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $29,318 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for Michigan State University

12

Loyola University Chicago came in at #12 for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 10 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for Loyola University Chicago

13

Case Western Reserve University came in at #13 for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 15 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,106. Read more about the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program at Case Western Reserve University

14

Kent State University At Kent ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best ecology, evolution & systematics biology schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Kent State University At Kent graduates 64% of students within six years. About 35 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Students who receive their ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $44,776 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete this degree. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for Kent State University At Kent

15

University Of Dayton earned the #15 position for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 16 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Graduates of the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program make about $23,609 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for University Of Dayton

16
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University came in at #16 for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 35 ecology, evolution & systematics biology students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, ecology, evolution & systematics biology degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $50,688. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. See the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology program report for Central Michigan University

17

Eastern Michigan University came in at #17 for ecology, evolution & systematics biology this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 ecology, evolution & systematics biology degrees were awarded at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the ecology, evolution & systematics biology program make about $47,887 in their early career. Eastern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $28,781 in student loans. Get the full ecology, evolution & systematics biology details for Eastern Michigan University

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 52 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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