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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Sustainability Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

10 Colleges in the United States
696 Sustainability Studies Degrees Awarded
$56,961 Avg Early-Career Salary

Sustainability Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their sustainability studies programs.

College Factual analyzed 50 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best sustainability studies schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Sustainability Studies in the Great Lakes Region

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

Top Schools in Sustainability Studies

1

No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for sustainability studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 46 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. Get the full sustainability studies details for Northwestern University

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for sustainability studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 153 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete this degree. Get the full sustainability studies details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

3

A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the top schools for sustainability studies. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 48 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Sustainability Studies graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree. See the full sustainability studies program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

4

Students looking for a strong sustainability studies program will find one at Illinois Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 15 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Get the full sustainability studies details for Illinois Institute Of Technology

5
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 58 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Sustainability Studies graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete this degree. Get the full sustainability studies details for Michigan State University

6

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #6 spot for sustainability studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 67 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $60,568 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137. Get the full sustainability studies details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

7

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 129 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $52,963 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Read more about the sustainability studies program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

8

University Of Wisconsin Green Bay came in at #8 for sustainability studies this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay graduates 53% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay awarded about 23 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn around $42,853 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete this degree. Read more about the sustainability studies program at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay

9

University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #9 spot for sustainability studies this year. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 sustainability studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn around $50,590 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,619 to complete this degree. See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh

10

University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best sustainability studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Menomonie. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stout in the most recent year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $54,235 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Stout graduates carry a median of $25,821 in student loans. More information about a degree in sustainability studies from University Of Wisconsin Stout

11

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #11 among the best sustainability studies schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 22 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $54,897 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

12

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #12 for sustainability studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 87 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their sustainability studies degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $42,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115. Get the full sustainability studies details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

13

University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #13 spot for sustainability studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Platteville. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 sustainability studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $59,089. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates carry a median of $24,205 in student loans. See the full sustainability studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Platteville

14
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University placed #14 among the best sustainability studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 11 sustainability studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the sustainability studies program make about $57,588 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310. Get the full sustainability studies details for Depaul University

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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 · 50 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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