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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Business Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region

14 Colleges in the United States
402 Business Economics Degrees Awarded
$56,511 Avg Early-Career Salary

Business Economics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for business economics students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Business Economics in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the business economics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Business Economics

1

Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in business economics. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 52 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. Get the full business economics details for Northwestern University

2

Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in business economics, ranking #2. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 73 business economics degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Business Economics graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $61,979 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the business economics program at Ohio State University Main Campus

3

Students looking for a strong business economics program will find one at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #3. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 27 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $61,333. Typical student debt for the program is $21,574. More information about a degree in business economics from Loyola University Chicago

4

The College Of Wooster came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best business economics schools. Located in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit university. The College Of Wooster graduates 74% of students within six years. About 22 business economics degrees were awarded at The College Of Wooster in the most recent year. Business Economics graduates of The College Of Wooster earn a median of $32,382 early in their careers. The College Of Wooster graduates carry a median of $25,936 in student loans. See the full business economics program report for The College Of Wooster

5

Students looking for a strong business economics program will find one at Miami University Oxford, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 business economics students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Business Economics graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $60,596 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000. Get the full business economics details for Miami University Oxford

6

University Of Dayton earned the #6 position for business economics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. University Of Dayton awarded about 31 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business economics degree from University Of Dayton earn around $55,871 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $24,548 in student loans. More information about a degree in business economics from University Of Dayton

7
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #7 position for business economics this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Depaul University awarded about 34 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $53,682. Students borrow a median of $21,666 to complete this degree. Get the full business economics details for Depaul University

8
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best business economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marquette University awarded about 16 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the business economics program make about $53,345 in their early career. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in business economics from Marquette University

9
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best business economics schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 14 business economics degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $55,045. Typical student debt for the program is $26,614. Read more about the business economics program at Xavier University

10

Wheaton College Illinois earned the #10 position for business economics this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. About 85% of students finish within six years. Wheaton College Illinois awarded about 53 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the business economics program make about $55,300 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in business economics from Wheaton College Illinois

11

Grand Valley State University placed #11 among the best business economics schools. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Grand Valley State University graduates 67% of students within six years. Grand Valley State University awarded about 18 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Business Economics graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $53,536 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full business economics program report for Grand Valley State 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 · 44 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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