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2026 Best Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

9 Colleges in the United States
1,476 Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies Degrees Awarded
$42,778 Avg Early-Career Salary

Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 126 schools to find the best for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender 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 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 30 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $63,111 in the first couple years of their career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Purdue University Main Campus

2

Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 14 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Illinois State University earn around $49,660 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from Illinois State University

3

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 26 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

4

Students looking for a strong area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 80 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $32,194 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,776 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

5

Ohio University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 105 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete this degree. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Ohio University Main Campus

6

University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #6 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 642 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $28,841 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,745. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

7

Indiana University Bloomington earned the #7 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 59 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $68,501. Students borrow a median of $21,309 to complete this degree. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at Indiana University Bloomington

8

University Of Notre Dame placed #8 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 23 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $35,304 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of Notre Dame

9

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned the #9 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 35 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $49,911 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete this degree. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

10

University Of Chicago landed the #10 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 46 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of Chicago earn around $38,008 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for University Of Chicago

11

University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned the #11 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 13 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn around $50,590 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh

12

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #12 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater awarded about 18 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. Typical student debt for the program is $25,306. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

13
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University placed #13 among the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. Central Michigan University awarded about 15 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Central Michigan University earn around $50,688 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete this degree. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at Central Michigan University

14

Miami University Oxford earned the #14 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies 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. About 11 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $50,637 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,552. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for Miami University Oxford

15

Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. 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 35 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $31,179 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,056. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

16

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 37 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $24,742 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $22,179 in student loans. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

17

Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #17 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 28 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $45,196 early in their careers. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,449 in student loans. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

18

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #18 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 73 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $33,366 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $19,448 in student loans. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of Illinois At Chicago

19

Wayne State University came in at #19 for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Detroit. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Wayne State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Wayne State University earn around $55,469 in the first couple years of their career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $45,824 in student loans. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from Wayne State University

20

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #20 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee awarded about 53 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn around $29,887 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,782. Read more about the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

21
Oberlin College crest
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Oberlin. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 35 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees were awarded at Oberlin College in the most recent year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $20,905 in their early career. Oberlin College graduates carry a median of $24,951 in student loans. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from Oberlin College

22

Sinclair Community College landed the #22 spot for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Sinclair Community College awarded about 43 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Sinclair Community College earn around $35,348 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,525. Get the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies details for Sinclair Community College

23

Henry Ford Community College earned the #23 position for area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies this year. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. There were roughly 14 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Henry Ford Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program make about $36,247 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,876. See the full area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies program report for Henry Ford Community College

24
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Stark State College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies schools. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. There were roughly 23 area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies students who graduated with this degree at Stark State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies degree from Stark State College earn around $42,724 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in area, ethnic, culture, & gender studies from Stark State College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 126 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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