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Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2023 Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region

255 Colleges
$48,417 Avg Salary
$25,672 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Accounting School for You

With 99,265 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, accounting is the #8 most popular major in the United States.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 255 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Check out the accounting programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 25 Top Great Lakes Region Schools in Accounting

#1

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

Our 2023 rankings named University of Notre Dame the best school in the Great Lakes Region for accounting students. Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

On average, accounting graduates from Notre Dame take out $19,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a great place for accounting students. Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, accounting graduates from UIUC carry an average student debtload of $18,854. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $318.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public college with a very large student population.

Full Accounting at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Report

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#4

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, IL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Illinois Wesleyan University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois Wesleyan is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Bloomington.

While working on their degree, accounting majors at Illinois Wesleyan accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $232.

Full Accounting at Illinois Wesleyan University Report

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The excellent programs at Indiana University - Bloomington helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best accounting schools in the Great Lakes Region . IU Bloomington is a very large public school located in the small city of Bloomington.

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University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, accounting graduates from UW - Madison take out $19,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Madison Area Technical College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best accounting programs. Madison College is a large public school located in the large city of Madison.

Accounting majors at Madison College take out an average of $20,076 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Accounting at Madison Area Technical College Report

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#8

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for accounting students. It came in at #8 on the list. Michigan State is a fairly large public school located in the city of East Lansing.

Accounting majors at Michigan State take out an average of $23,250 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $454.

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#9

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for accounting students. It came in at #9 on the list. Marquette is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.

While working on their degree, accounting majors at Marquette accumulate an average of around $24,141 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $401, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#10

Saint Mary's College

Notre Dame, IN

With a ranking of #10, Saint Mary’s College did quite well on this year’s best schools for accounting students. Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, St. Mary's College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Accounting majors at St. Mary's College take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#11

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

With a ranking of #11, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for accounting students. Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that accounting majors at Purdue take out is $20,500. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $302, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best accounting programs. Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Accounting majors at Ohio State take out an average of $22,882 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $225, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Fox Valley Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Appleton, FVTC is a public college with a large student population.

On average, accounting graduates from FVTC take out $15,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

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With a ranking of #14, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for accounting students. Located in the medium-sized city of Green Bay, NWTC is a public college with a large student population.

Accounting majors at NWTC take out an average of $17,417 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#15

Augustana College

Rock Island, IL

Augustana College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Augustana is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Rock Island.

After completing their degree, accounting graduates from Augustana carry an average student debtload of $27,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $319, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#16

Hope College

Holland, MI

Hope College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Hope is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Holland.

The average amount in student loans that accounting majors at Hope take out is $27,000.

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#17

Western Technical College

La Crosse, WI

Western Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best accounting programs. Western Technical College is a small public school located in the city of La Crosse.

Accounting majors at Western Technical College take out an average of $17,574 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#18

John Carroll University

University Heights, OH

John Carroll University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best accounting programs. Located in the large suburb of University Heights, John Carroll is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that accounting majors at John Carroll take out is $26,921.

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#19

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, MI

With a ranking of #19, Calvin University did quite well on this year’s best schools for accounting students. Calvin is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Grand Rapids.

On average, accounting graduates from Calvin take out $22,750 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#20

Butler University

Indianapolis, IN

Butler University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best accounting programs. Butler is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis.

Full Accounting at Butler University Report

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#21

Walsh College

Troy, MI

Walsh College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Walsh is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy.

After completing their degree, accounting graduates from Walsh carry an average student debtload of $21,498.

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University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school located in the small city of La Crosse.

On average, accounting graduates from UW - La Crosse take out $19,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#23

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH

University of Dayton ranked #23 on this year’s Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Dayton, UDayton is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, accounting graduates from UDayton carry an average student debtload of $27,000.

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With a ranking of #24, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on this year’s best schools for accounting students. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, accounting graduates from Loyola Chicago carry an average student debtload of $25,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $629.

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Miami University - Oxford came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the fringe town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public school with a large student population.

On average, accounting graduates from Miami University - Oxford take out $24,250 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $336.

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Rest of the Top Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region

#27

Bradley University

Peoria, IL
#28

Saint Norbert College

De Pere, WI
#31

DePaul University

Chicago, IL
#32

Northwood University

Midland, MI
#33

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Accounting students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Best Accounting Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
39 Taylor University Upland, IN
40 McKendree University Lebanon, IL
41 Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
42 Carthage College Kenosha, WI
43 Franklin University Columbus, OH
44 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL
45 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH
46 Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OH
47 Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses Fort Wayne, IN
48 Carroll University Waukesha, WI
49 Rasmussen University - Wisconsin Green Bay, WI
50 Lakeland University Plymouth, WI
51 Ohio Northern University Ada, OH

Best Accounting Colleges by State

Explore the best accounting schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 2,435
Ohio 3,278
Illinois 3,151
Indiana 1,707
Wisconsin 1,606

One of 21 majors within the area of study, accounting has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Business Administration & Management 416,590
Finance & Financial Management 57,778
General Business/Commerce 56,042
Marketing 52,916
Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods 43,382

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Pixabay.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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