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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Women’s Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

5 Colleges in the United States
324 Women's Studies Degrees Awarded
$44,074 Avg Early-Career Salary

Women’s Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their women’s studies programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 63 schools to find the best for women’s studies students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Women’s Studies in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall women’s studies education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Women’s Studies

1
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 getting a degree in women's studies. 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 16 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree. Get the full women's studies details for Purdue University Main Campus

2

Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in women's studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 14 women's studies degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Women's Studies graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,896. Read more about the women's studies program at Illinois State University

3

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in women's studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Women's Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $33,991 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,802. See the full women's studies program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

4

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in women's studies, ranking #4. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 11 women's studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their women's studies degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $58,659 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree. See the full women's studies program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

5

Ohio University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in women's studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 39 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $49,736 in their early career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Get the full women's studies details for Ohio University Main Campus

6

University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #6 position for women's studies this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 166 women's studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Women's Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $28,841 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. See the full women's studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

7

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #7 for women's studies this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 10 women's studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $45,767 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,306. See the full women's studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

8

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire placed #8 among the best women's studies schools. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 women's studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Graduates of the women's studies program make about $49,911 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,574. Read more about the women's studies program at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

9

Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for women's studies this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 women's studies degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $31,179. Typical student debt for the program is $22,056. More information about a degree in women's studies from Ohio State University Main Campus

10

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best women's studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 16 women's studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, women's studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $29,887. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $25,730 in student loans. More information about a degree in women's studies from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

Narrow Women's Studies Schools by State

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 63 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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