by our College Data Analytics TeamWith 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.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 202 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.
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. Recent students who earned a associate degree in the Great Lakes Region entered the job market making an average of $36,077 while those in the top 21 schools on our list made an average of $36,386.
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well. During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in the Great Lakes Region take out an average of $19,490. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
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.
Find out more about our best schools ranking methodology
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Purdue University - Main Campus to be the best school for associate degrees in the Great Lakes Region in this year’s ranking. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 50 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in the Great Lakes Region list means University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a great place for students working on their degree. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from UC go into careers with an average salary of $40,605 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,534. Average monthly loan payments are around $150 for a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loyola University Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 93 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $5,520 in student loans.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Marion, Indiana, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 544 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from IWU go into careers with an average salary of $37,690 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $25,133.
Out of the 202 associate degree schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northwestern Ohio landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Northwestern Ohio is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lima, Ohio. It awarded 953 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from University of Northwestern Ohio go into careers with an average salary of $38,118 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,164 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $279 for a 10-year repayment plan.
College of Lake County came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, the fairly large public school handed out 1,249 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from College of Lake County is $51,165 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,262 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #7, National Louis University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from NLU is $31,385 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,333 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $479 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Rasmussen University - Illinois did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Rockford, Illinois, the small private for-profit school awarded 715 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,207 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $25,834. Average monthly loan payments are around $175 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $25,000.
Read full report on Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Purdue University Global came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
With a ranking of #11, Eastern Gateway Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Gateway Community College is a large public school located in Steubenville, Ohio that handed out 3,643 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Eastern Gateway Community College is $40,112 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $16,562 after getting their degree.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 205 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $25,705 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,875 after getting their degree.
Macomb Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in Warren, Michigan that handed out 2,260 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Macomb Community College make an average of $36,546 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,334 in student loans.
With a ranking of #14, Kent State University at Stark did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Stark is a public institution located in North Canton, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 765 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Kent State University at Stark make an average of $31,541 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $22,988 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $215 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #15, Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. CVTC is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 763 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from CVTC make an average of $40,089 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $17,637.
With a ranking of #16, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,299 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $18,250 in student loans.
Madison Area Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. This fairly large public school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 1,457 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Madison College make an average of $40,015 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $21,820 in student loans.
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Ohio State is $24,754 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,043 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $183 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #19, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 725 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Gateway Technical College make an average of $34,355 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,801.
Western Technical College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 656 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Western Technical College make an average of $38,510 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $17,650 after getting their degree.
Vincennes University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Vincennes, Indiana, and it awarded 1,443 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,370 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,789 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $192 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati State is a medium-sized public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 864 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,965 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,890.
Learn More About Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Ferris State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, the fairly large public school handed out 732 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Ferris is $32,804 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $19,903 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $194.
With a ranking of #24, Northcentral Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Wausau, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 565 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from North Central Technical College make an average of $35,206 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,359.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large public school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 280 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from UWM is $28,668 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,000 in student loans.
Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
These schools also performed well in our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL |
| 33 | City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College | Chicago, IL |
| 34 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI |
| 35 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, OH |
| 36 | Xavier University | Cincinnati, OH |
| 37 | Jackson College | Jackson, MI |
| 38 | City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College | Chicago, IL |
| 39 | College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL |
| 40 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 41 | Oakton Community College | Des Plaines, IL |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
