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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region

33 Colleges in the United States
2,686 General Education Degrees Awarded
$48,671 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general education programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 128 schools to find the best for general education students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Education in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general education education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in General Education

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in general education. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 72 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $59,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from University Of Wisconsin Madison

2

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #2. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 37 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. Typical student debt for the program is $25,306. Get the full general education details for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

3

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #3. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 205 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $62,620 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. See the full general education program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

4
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general education, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 252 general education students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $64,435 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. See the full general education program report for Purdue University Main Campus

5
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

A rank of #5 makes Marquette University one of the top schools for general education. 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. About 13 general education degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Marquette University earn around $60,443 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Marquette University

6

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #6 for general education this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 117 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $61,073 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

7

Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 240 general education degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. General Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $60,633 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Ohio State University Main Campus

8
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Michigan State University awarded about 97 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $49,061. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full general education details for Michigan State University

9

Miami University Oxford earned the #9 position for general education this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 16 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Miami University Oxford

10
Walsh University crest
Walsh University
North Canton, OH

Walsh University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of North Canton. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 26 general education degrees were awarded at Walsh University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Walsh University earn around $53,629 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,064. Read more about the general education program at Walsh University

11
Lake Forest College crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College placed #11 among the best general education schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 general education students who graduated with this degree at Lake Forest College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Lake Forest College earn around $41,168 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,661 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Lake Forest College

12
John Carroll University crest
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH

John Carroll University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of University Heights. John Carroll University graduates 79% of students within six years. John Carroll University awarded about 19 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of John Carroll University earn a median of $37,978 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for John Carroll University

13
Bluffton University crest
Bluffton University
Bluffton, OH

Bluffton University came in at #13 for general education this year. Located in the rural area of Bluffton, Bluffton University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 53% of students finish within six years. Bluffton University awarded about 37 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Bluffton University earn a median of $41,821 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for Bluffton University

14

University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #14 spot for general education this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 60 general education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. General Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn a median of $54,168 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,161 to complete this degree. Read more about the general education program at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point

15

Northern Illinois University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. About 49% of students finish within six years. Northern Illinois University awarded about 35 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $50,338 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,209. Get the full general education details for Northern Illinois University

16

Ball State University earned the #16 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. Ball State University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 general education students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $24,518 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at Ball State University

17
Rockford College crest
Rockford College
Rockford, IL

Rockford College landed the #17 spot for general education this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit university. Rockford College graduates 47% of students within six years. Rockford College awarded about 22 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Rockford College earn around $56,020 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,094. Read more about the general education program at Rockford College

18
Trinity Christian College crest
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL

Trinity Christian College came in at #18 for general education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Palos Heights. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 general education degrees were awarded at Trinity Christian College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $48,400. Trinity Christian College graduates carry a median of $28,722 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at Trinity Christian College

19

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earned the #19 position for general education this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $42,768 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. More information about a degree in general education from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay

20

University Of Michigan Flint placed #20 among the best general education schools. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Michigan Flint graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Flint in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $57,003 in their early career. University Of Michigan Flint graduates carry a median of $31,016 in student loans. See the full general education program report for University Of Michigan Flint

21

Maranatha Baptist Bible College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the town of Watertown, Maranatha Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 general education students who graduated with this degree at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Maranatha Baptist Bible College earn a median of $56,298 early in their careers. Read more about the general education program at Maranatha Baptist Bible College

22

North Park University landed the #22 spot for general education this year. North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 general education degrees were awarded at North Park University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $57,383 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,360 to complete this degree. Get the full general education details for North Park University

23

Grand Valley State University came in at #23 for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 general education students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $50,235 early in their careers. Grand Valley State University graduates carry a median of $29,364 in student loans. Read more about the general education program at Grand Valley State University

24

Western Illinois University came in at #24 for general education this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 12 general education degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general education program make about $47,926 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general education from Western Illinois University

25

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #25 position for general education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 169 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn around $43,867 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,990 to complete this degree. See the full general education program report for University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

Rest of the Top 46 General Education Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general education ranking:

26
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
27
Muskingum University crest
Muskingum University
New Concord, OH
28
29
Edgewood College crest
Edgewood College
Madison, WI
30
Earlham College crest
Earlham College
Richmond, IN
31
32
Greenville College crest
Greenville College
Greenville, IL
33
34
35
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, OH
36
37
38
Wilmington College crest
Wilmington College
Wilmington, OH
39
Central State University crest
Central State University
Wilberforce, OH
40
41
42
Quincy University crest
Quincy University
Quincy, IL
43
44
45
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH
46

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 128 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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