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 was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in the Great Lakes Region ranking is part of that endeavor.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
We analyzed 210 colleges and universities across the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones have the best bachelor's 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.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a bachelor's degree from the school. That is, everyone wants their degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their bachelor's so we factor that into our rankings as well. The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt. 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:
University of Chicago tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in the Great Lakes Region for overall quality. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,425 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UChicago make an average of $62,014 a year.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Northwestern University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,688 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern make an average of $58,255 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $77,943 in student loans.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Great Lakes Region. This large public school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 8,969 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from U-M go into careers with an average salary of $50,750 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $45,210.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Notre Dame. It ranked #4 on our 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 2,829 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame make an average of $63,844 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $51,156.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #5 on our 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This large public school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 7,504 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from IU Bloomington is $38,694 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $32,430 after getting their degree.
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #6 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 9,741 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UW - Madison make an average of $50,702 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $32,410.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 9,150 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UIUC make an average of $50,930 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $39,870 in student loans.
With a ranking of #8, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This large public school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 9,247 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Michigan State make an average of $45,813 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $42,570.
Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11,957 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State go into careers with an average salary of $47,703 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,756 after getting their degree.
Union Institute & University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 293 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $83,992 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 8,676 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Purdue go into careers with an average salary of $54,470 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $32,306 after getting their degree.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #12 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,286 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,339 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $64,440.
DePaul University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 3,047 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from DePaul go into careers with an average salary of $42,807 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $52,069 in student loans.
Miami University - Oxford landed the #14 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a public institution located in Oxford, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,655 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Miami University - Oxford make an average of $47,328 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $44,893 in student loans.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,665 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UC make an average of $48,944 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,690 after getting their degree.
Marquette University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Marquette is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,470 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $51,299 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $48,349 in student loans.
Herzing University - Madison did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 237 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,771 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $9,846.
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. OHIO Athens is a public institution located in Athens, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,850 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from OHIO Athens make an average of $44,101 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $34,910.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #19 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,618 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $61,581 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $57,347.
Illinois State University landed the #20 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large public school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 4,495 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State is $45,541 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $28,139.
With a ranking of #21, University of Dayton did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UDayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,118 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UDayton make an average of $50,956 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $54,807.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1,270 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Columbia make an average of $27,289 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $52,543 in student loans.
With a ranking of #23, Michigan Technological University did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 1,198 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Michigan Tech go into careers with an average salary of $63,426 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,323.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. IWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,253 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,866 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $13,148.
Kent State University at Kent landed the #25 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Kent, Ohio, the large public school awarded 5,070 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Kent State go into careers with an average salary of $38,862 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,465 after getting their degree.
Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 20% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
These schools also performed well in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | DePauw University | Greencastle, IN |
| 45 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH |
| 46 | Concordia University, Chicago | River Forest, IL |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI |
| 48 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI |
| 49 | Kettering University | Flint, MI |
| 50 | Carroll University | Waukesha, WI |
| 51 | Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, IL |
| 52 | Oberlin College | Oberlin, OH |
| 53 | Augustana College | Rock Island, IL |
| 54 | Ferris State University | Big Rapids, MI |
| 55 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH |
| 56 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI |
| 57 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
| 58 | Indiana Wesleyan University | Marion, IN |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Viterbo University | La Crosse, WI |
| 60 | John Carroll University | University Heights, OH |
| 61 | Aurora University | Aurora, IL |
| 62 | Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago, IL |
| 63 | Alverno College | Milwaukee, WI |
| 64 | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI |
More about our data sources and methodologies.