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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in the Great Lakes Region

12 Colleges in the United States
770 Best Degrees Awarded
$47,789 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 74 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Best in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Best

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Cincinnati Main Campus this year for best. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

2

Ohio University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. About 65% of students finish within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 48 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,736 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,546. See the full best program report for Ohio University Main Campus

3
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 38 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Michigan State University earn around $54,166 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,213. Get the full best details for Michigan State University

4

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. About 10 best degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Get the full best details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

5
Lewis University crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Lewis University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 best students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $55,718 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,838. Get the full best details for Lewis University

6

Fox Valley Technical College earned the #6 position for best this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. About 29 best degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $35,887. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Fox Valley Technical College

7

Loyola University Chicago earned the #7 position for best this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 best students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $51,202 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Loyola University Chicago

8

Eastern Illinois University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. About 47% of students finish within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 21 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $43,603 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,293. Get the full best details for Eastern Illinois University

9
Madonna University crest
Madonna University
Livonia, MI

Madonna University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Livonia. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Madonna University awarded about 42 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Madonna University generally make around $56,984. Typical student debt for the program is $26,896. Read more about the best program at Madonna University

10
Indiana State University crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN

Indiana State University placed #10 among the best best schools. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Indiana State University graduates 43% of students within six years. Indiana State University awarded about 21 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $53,952 early in their careers. Indiana State University graduates carry a median of $25,582 in student loans. Get the full best details for Indiana State University

11

University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #11 for best this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates 61% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Platteville awarded about 43 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn around $38,013 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,780. More information about a degree in best from University Of Wisconsin Platteville

12

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #12 spot for best this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 best degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $48,975 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the best program at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

13

Washtenaw Community College came in at #13 for best this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Washtenaw Community College awarded about 38 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Typical student debt for the program is $17,616. See the full best program report for Washtenaw Community College

14
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College placed #14 among the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 16 best students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Harper College

15

University Of Akron Main Campus placed #15 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 23 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,045 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for University Of Akron Main Campus

16

Sinclair Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. There were roughly 29 best students who graduated with this degree at Sinclair Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Sinclair Community College earn around $35,348 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete this degree. Read more about the best program at Sinclair Community College

17

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #17 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 34 best degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $46,673. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Read more about the best program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

18
Tiffin University crest
Tiffin University
Tiffin, OH

Tiffin University landed the #18 spot for best this year. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Tiffin University graduates 40% of students within six years. About 27 best degrees were awarded at Tiffin University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Tiffin University earn around $38,994 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the best program at Tiffin University

19
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #19 for best this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Ivy Tech Community College awarded about 167 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. See the full best program report for Ivy Tech Community College

20

Washington State Community College came in at #20 for best this year. Set in the town of Marietta, Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 29 best degrees were awarded at Washington State Community College in the most recent year. Best graduates of Washington State Community College earn a median of $45,305 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,291 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from Washington State Community College

21

Wayne County Community College District placed #21 among the best best schools. Wayne County Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. There were roughly 47 best students who graduated with this degree at Wayne County Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Wayne County Community College District earn around $48,892 in the first couple years of their career. Wayne County Community College District graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. More information about a degree in best from Wayne County Community College District

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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 · 74 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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