ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Social Studies Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region

34 Colleges in the United States
311 Social Studies Education Degrees Awarded
$45,998 Avg Early-Career Salary

Social Studies Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 79 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social studies education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/social-studies-education/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 3
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 13.13), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "History (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "History (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "History (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "History (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "History (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "History (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 1 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 1
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 1 offers with relevance >= 0.8

Best Schools for Social Studies Education in the Great Lakes Region

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

Top Schools in Social Studies Education

1
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best social studies education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 social studies education students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $44,923 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Get the full social studies education details for Purdue University Main Campus

2

Ball State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best social studies education schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 31 social studies education degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social studies education degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $49,745. Typical student debt for the program is $24,998. Read more about the social studies education program at Ball State University

3

Miami University Oxford came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best social studies education schools. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 23 social studies education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social studies education degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $46,681. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $24,560 in student loans. See the full social studies education program report for Miami University Oxford

4

A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the top schools for social studies education. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 16 social studies education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social studies education degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $47,755. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social studies education from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

5

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social studies education, ranking #5. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 social studies education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Social Studies Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $43,242 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,225 to complete this degree. See the full social studies education program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

6

Kent State University At Kent placed #6 among the best social studies education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kent State University At Kent awarded about 28 social studies education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $47,727 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete this degree. See the full social studies education program report for Kent State University At Kent

7

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #7 for social studies education this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 17 social studies education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $50,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the social studies education program at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

8
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best social studies education schools. This large public university is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Central Michigan University awarded about 14 social studies education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from Central Michigan University earn around $52,168 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree. See the full social studies education program report for Central Michigan University

9
Indiana State University crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN

Indiana State University placed #9 among the best social studies education schools. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Indiana State University graduates 43% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 social studies education students who graduated with this degree at Indiana State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social studies education program make about $45,862 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in social studies education from Indiana State University

10

Western Michigan University landed the #10 spot for social studies education this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Western Michigan University graduates 58% of students within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 19 social studies education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social studies education degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $48,382. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000. Read more about the social studies education program at Western Michigan University

11

Northern Michigan University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best social studies education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Marquette. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 social studies education students who graduated with this degree at Northern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Social Studies Education graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $48,767 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the social studies education program at Northern Michigan University

12

University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #12 for social studies education this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 18 social studies education degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Social Studies Education graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $39,613 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the social studies education program at University Of Akron Main Campus

13
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University came in at #13 for social studies education this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 social studies education degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Social Studies Education graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $44,977 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,076 to complete this degree. Get the full social studies education details for Ferris State University

14

Youngstown State University placed #14 among the best social studies education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Youngstown. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 16 social studies education degrees were awarded at Youngstown State University in the most recent year. Social Studies Education graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $33,398 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,751. See the full social studies education program report for Youngstown State University

15

Eastern Michigan University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best social studies education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Eastern Michigan University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 social studies education students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social studies education degree from Eastern Michigan University earn around $46,732 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social studies education from Eastern Michigan University

Narrow Social Studies Education Schools by State

ADBLOCK #173
View All Social Studies Education Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

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 · 79 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options