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Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region

219 Colleges
$29,228 Avg Salary
$24,399 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best History School for You

Out of all the majors we analyze each year, history was ranked #31 in the country. In fact 32,731 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.

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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 219 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the History program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for history majors pursuing a .

Our analysis found University of Michigan - Ann Arbor to be the most popular school for history students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at U-M take out is $19,169. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $334, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on History at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, history majors at Ohio State accumulate an average of around $24,188 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $215, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full History at Ohio State University - Main Campus Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, history graduates from UW - Madison carry an average student debt load of $20,500.

Read full report on History at University of Wisconsin - Madison

Out of the 219 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, history graduates from UIUC take out $20,991 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $434.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Normal.

On average, history graduates from Illinois State take out $21,741 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $294.

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#6

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

University of Chicago ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

History majors at UChicago take out an average of $13,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Grand Valley State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at GVSU take out is $21,668.

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Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #8 on the list. IU Bloomington is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bloomington.

After completing their degree, history graduates from IU Bloomington carry an average student debt load of $25,240.

Read full report on History at Indiana University - Bloomington

#9

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Northwestern University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at Northwestern take out is $17,200.

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#10

Ashland University

Ashland, OH

Ashland University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the fringe town of Ashland, Ashland is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

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

Full History at Ashland University Report

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, history graduates from UWM take out $28,750 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full History at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Report

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a fairly large student population.

History majors at OHIO Athens take out an average of $24,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full History at Ohio University - Athens Campus Report

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular history programs. UC is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati.

After completing their degree, history graduates from UC carry an average student debt load of $24,323.

Full History at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Report

#13

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

With a ranking of #13, Ball State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for history students. Located in the small city of Muncie, Ball State is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at Ball State take out is $27,000.

Full History at Ball State University Report

Northern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is a large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.

After completing their degree, history graduates from NIU carry an average student debt load of $22,500.

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#15

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI

Oakland University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular history programs. Located in the large suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, history graduates from Oakland take out $27,481 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full History at Oakland University Report

#17

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at Notre Dame take out is $22,048.

Read full report on History at University of Notre Dame

#18

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular history programs. Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public school with a fairly large student population.

History majors at Purdue take out an average of $19,330 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full History at Purdue University - Main Campus Report

#18

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #18 on the list. Michigan State is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at Michigan State take out is $26,800. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $424, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UIC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Chicago.

After completing their degree, history graduates from UIC carry an average student debt load of $20,081.

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Kent State University at Kent did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for history students. It came in at #21 on the list. Kent State is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Kent.

The average amount in student loans that history majors at Kent State take out is $28,512.

Full History at Kent State University at Kent Report

Miami University - Oxford ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public school with a large student population.

History majors at Miami University - Oxford take out an average of $23,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full History at Miami University - Oxford Report

Loyola University Chicago ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Chicago, Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

On average, history graduates from Loyola Chicago take out $24,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on History at Loyola University Chicago

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Whitewater is a large public school located in the distant town of Whitewater.

History majors at UW - Whitewater take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Indianapolis, IUPUI is a public college with a very large student population.

History majors at IUPUI take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full History at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Report

#27

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI
#27

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI
#27

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI
#32

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular History Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
33 Oberlin College Oberlin, OH
33 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
35 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI
36 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL
37 Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI
38 Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL
38 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
40 Wright State University - Main Campus Dayton, OH
40 University of Illinois at Springfield Springfield, IL
42 Wayne State University Detroit, MI
42 Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN

Best History Colleges by State

Explore the best history colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 614
Ohio 986
Illinois 974
Indiana 533
Wisconsin 561

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 26 schools only.

  • 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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