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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Psychology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

151 Colleges in the United States
21,341 Psychology Degrees Awarded
$42,638 Avg Early-Career Salary

Psychology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 263 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for psychology students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Psychology 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 psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Psychology

1

Ohio State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 723 psychology degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $91,275 early in their careers. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,145 in student loans. Read more about the psychology program at Ohio State University Main Campus

2

University Of Notre Dame is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 95% of students finish within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 81 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,494. Typical student debt for the program is $19,015. See the full psychology program report for University Of Notre Dame

3

University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #3. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 581 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $55,378 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,215. See the full psychology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

4

Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 526 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $43,591 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $13,065 in student loans. More information about a degree in psychology from Northwestern University

5

University Of Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 111 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $35,101 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $13,496 in student loans. See the full psychology program report for University Of Chicago

6

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #6 spot for psychology this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 712 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $52,349 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,708 to complete this degree. Get the full psychology details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

7
Marquette University crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 139 psychology degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Marquette University earn around $35,076 in the first couple years of their career. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $24,891 in student loans. More information about a degree in psychology from Marquette University

8

University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #8 spot for psychology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 508 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $30,565 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Get the full psychology details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

9

Illinois State University landed the #9 spot for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 209 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $43,942. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Get the full psychology details for Illinois State University

10

Miami University Oxford ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Miami University Oxford awarded about 299 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $58,593 in their early career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Read more about the psychology program at Miami University Oxford

11

University Of Dayton earned the #11 position for psychology this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 159 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $50,737. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full psychology details for University Of Dayton

12

University Of Wisconsin La Crosse placed #12 among the best psychology schools. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 235 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $60,998 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,935. Get the full psychology details for University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

13

Loyola University Chicago ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 347 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $67,230 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full psychology program report for Loyola University Chicago

14

University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #14 for psychology this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 161 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn around $38,259 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree. See the full psychology program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire

15
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University came in at #15 for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 551 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $69,917 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in psychology from Michigan State University

16
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus earned the #16 position for psychology this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 401 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $31,172 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Get the full psychology details for Purdue University Main Campus

17
Kenyon College crest
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Kenyon College awarded about 25 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Kenyon College generally make around $39,203. Kenyon College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Get the full psychology details for Kenyon College

18

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #18 spot for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 645 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $33,384. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,050 in student loans. Read more about the psychology program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

19
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #19 position for psychology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 256 psychology degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Depaul University earn around $33,820 in the first couple years of their career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in psychology from Depaul University

20

Midwestern University Downers Grove placed #20 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Downers Grove, Midwestern University Downers Grove is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 14 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Midwestern University Downers Grove in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Midwestern University Downers Grove earn a median of $77,332 early in their careers. Read more about the psychology program at Midwestern University Downers Grove

21

Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #21 for psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 28 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $74,025 early in their careers. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Read more about the psychology program at Illinois Institute Of Technology

22
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College placed #22 among the best psychology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 108 psychology degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $71,867 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. See the full psychology program report for Elmhurst College

23

The College Of Wooster ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit university. The College Of Wooster graduates 74% of students within six years. About 32 psychology degrees were awarded at The College Of Wooster in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $32,382 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full psychology program report for The College Of Wooster

24

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #24 spot for psychology this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 322 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn around $54,068 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the psychology program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

25

University Of Toledo came in at #25 for psychology this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 136 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Toledo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $52,675 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000. See the full psychology program report for University Of Toledo

Rest of the Top 50 Psychology Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s psychology ranking:

26
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH
27
28
29
30
31
Dominican University crest
Dominican University
River Forest, IL
32
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
33
34
35
36
John Carroll University crest
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH
37
38
39
40
Franklin University crest
Franklin University
Columbus, OH
41
42
43
44
Depauw University crest
Depauw University
Greencastle, IN
45
Hope College crest
Hope College
Holland, MI
46
47
48
49
Carthage College crest
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI
50

Additional Psychology Award Winners

These schools also earned a top-quality badge for psychology this year:

Rank School Location
#61 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
#67 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL
#73 Bowling Green State University Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
#77 Wayne State University Detroit, MI
#85 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
#107 Kent State University At Kent Kent, OH

Honorable Mentions

A few more psychology schools worth a look:

Narrow Psychology Schools by State

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View All Psychology Rankings >

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 263 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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