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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1 Colleges in the United States
154 Best Degrees Awarded
$51,669 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best best schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Best in the Great Lakes Region

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

Top Schools in Best

1

Ohio State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best best schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 best degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $58,088 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,053. See the full best program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

2

Ohio University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #2. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 35 best degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $49,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Ohio University Main Campus

3

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $49,223 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates carry a median of $23,551 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

4

Miami University Oxford is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #4. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 best students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Typical student debt for the program is $24,177. See the full best program report for Miami University Oxford

5

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Western Michigan University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 19 best degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Western Michigan University earn around $48,966 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,981. More information about a degree in best from Western Michigan University

6

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #6 among the best best schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 27 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $54,302 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,917. Get the full best details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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