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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Natural Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1 Colleges in the United States
65 Natural Sciences Degrees Awarded
$41,063 Avg Early-Career Salary

Natural Sciences degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their natural sciences programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for natural sciences students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Natural Sciences in the Great Lakes Region

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

Top Schools in Natural Sciences

1
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

Our analysis ranked Xavier University the best school in the country for a degree in natural sciences. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the natural sciences program make about $55,045 in their early career. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. Read more about the natural sciences program at Xavier University

2
Dominican University crest
Dominican University
River Forest, IL

A rank of #2 makes Dominican University one of the top schools for natural sciences. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Dominican University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 natural sciences students who graduated with this degree at Dominican University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, natural sciences degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $27,081. Students borrow a median of $25,054 to complete this degree. Read more about the natural sciences program at Dominican University

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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 · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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