With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. College Factual has developed its Best Associate Degree Colleges in the Great Lakes Region ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 163 colleges and universities across the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. While associate degree recipients from schools in the Great Lakes Region earn an average starting salary of $41,974, those from the top 22 school on this list made an average of $44,246.
Starting Salary ( 38585 to 51080 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in the Great Lakes Region have accumulated an average of $13,456 in student debt.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top associate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Top Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Our analysis found University of Northwestern Ohio to be the best school for associate degrees in the Great Lakes Region in this year’s ranking. Located in Lima, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 996 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from University of Northwestern Ohio is $42,809 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $21,926 in student loans.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 51 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rasmussen University - Illinois. The school came in at #3 in the Great Lakes Region on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school situated in Rockford, Illinois. It awarded 950 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Rasmussen University - Illinois make an average of $52,986 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,532.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 in the Great Lakes Region on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. This large public school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 45 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from UC go into careers with an average salary of $44,750 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,268.
A rank of #5 on our Best Associate Degree in the Great Lakes Region list means Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a great place for students working on their degree. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 87 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Herzing University - Madison landed the #6 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 197 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Herzing University - Madison make an average of $44,785 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,470.
Gateway Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 654 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Gateway Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $46,107 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $4,683.
With a ranking of #8, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8,655 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Ivy Tech Community College make an average of $44,419 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,112.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. IWU is located in Marion, Indiana and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 494 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from IWU make an average of $46,583 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $6,625.
Purdue University Global did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the large public school awarded 1,895 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,155 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,767 after getting their degree.
Madison Area Technical College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 1,366 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Madison College make an average of $47,822 per year during the early years of their career.
Rasmussen University - Wisconsin ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small private for-profit school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 171 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Rasmussen University - Wisconsin make an average of $52,986 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,532.
Herzing University - Akron did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 109 students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Herzing Akron make an average of $44,881 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,470 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #14, Western Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 624 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $48,197 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $8,755.
Vincennes University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Vincennes University is a public institution located in Vincennes, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,481 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Vincennes University make an average of $45,645 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,260 after getting their degree.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a fairly large public school located in Green Bay, Wisconsin that handed out 199 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 73 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,031 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $66,161.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #18 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 796 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,154 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,000 in student loans.
Fox Valley Technical College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large public school is located in Appleton, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1,009 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from FVTC go into careers with an average salary of $44,130 during the early years of their career.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 220 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from UW - Whitewater is $33,314 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $10,635.
Davenport University landed the #21 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 152 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Davenport University make an average of $37,926 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,912 after getting their degree.
National Louis University landed the #22 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. National Louis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 50 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from NLU make an average of $24,786 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $41,330 after getting their degree.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. NWTC is a fairly large public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 948 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from NWTC make an average of $46,349 per year during the early years of their career.
University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 393 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from University of Akron Main Campus make an average of $44,308 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $19,367 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #25, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. LLCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 786 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from LLCC is $43,295 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $12,934 in student loans.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
