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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2 Colleges in the United States
116 Best Degrees Awarded
$51,050 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 42 schools to find the best for best students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Best 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 best degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Best

1
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in best. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 38 best degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Ferris State University earn around $67,764 in the first couple years of their career. Ferris State University graduates carry a median of $20,308 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Ferris State University

2

A rank of #2 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for best. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 best degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Best graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $46,992 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Illinois State University

3
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #3. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Ivy Tech Community College awarded about 35 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $40,734 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Ivy Tech Community College

4

Heartland Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Heartland Community College awarded about 28 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. Heartland Community College graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Heartland Community College

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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 · 42 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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