2023 Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Finding the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School for You
In 2020-2021, 556,813 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #3 most popular in the country.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 172 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Colleges.
Top 25 Top Great Lakes Region Schools in Liberal Arts & Humanities
Our 2023 rankings named Northwestern University the best school in the Great Lakes Region for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Northwestern accumulate an average of around $17,905 in student debt.
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The excellent programs at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from UWM Flexible Option carry an average student debtload of $11,000.
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The excellent programs at University of Notre Dame helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Notre Dame take out is $22,824.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a great place for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Oshkosh.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from UW Oshkosh carry an average student debtload of $19,875.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means DePaul University is a great place for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at DePaul take out an average of $41,162 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Macomb Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #6 on the list. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Warren.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Macomb Community College take out an average of $8,250 in student loans while working on their egree.
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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public school with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at UWM accumulate an average of around $22,893 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $222.
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Western Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from WIU carry an average student debtload of $30,684. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $216.
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Vincennes University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Vincennes University is a large public school located in the remote town of Vincennes.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Vincennes University carry an average student debtload of $12,644. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $105.
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University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at UW - Eau Claire take out is $17,949.
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Lincoln Land Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. LLCC is a small public school located in the city of Springfield.
On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from LLCC take out $11,055 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Cleveland.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Cuyahoga Community College District take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #13, Xavier University did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Xavier is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati.
On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Xavier take out $26,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
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University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a very large student population.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at U-M take out an average of $16,607 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Grand Rapids Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #15 on the list. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Grand Rapids Community College carry an average student debtload of $12,500.
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William Rainey Harper College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the large suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public school with a large student population.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Harper College take out an average of $7,684 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Cincinnati State carry an average student debtload of $14,666.
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With a ranking of #18, Delta College did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Delta College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of University Center.
The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Delta College take out is $11,250.
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University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #19 on the list. UW - Green Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize city of Green Bay.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at UW - Green Bay take out an average of $18,493 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Owens Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #20 on the list. Owens State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Owens State Community College carry an average student debtload of $20,000.
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Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global ranked #21 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from IWU carry an average student debtload of $25,511.
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Waubonsee Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Waubonsee is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Waubonsee carry an average student debtload of $7,250.
Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Waubonsee Community College Report
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Ball State University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Ball State take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $151.
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With a ranking of #24, University of Chicago did quite well on this year’s best schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.
After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from UChicago carry an average student debtload of $14,000.
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Ivy Tech Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out is $10,905.
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Request InformationAdditional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Liberal Arts & Humanities students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Joliet Junior College | Joliet, IL |
| 27 | Baker College | Owosso, MI |
| 28 | Lakeland Community College | Kirtland, OH |
| 29 | Stark State College | North Canton, OH |
| 30 | Madison Area Technical College | Madison, WI |
| 30 | Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville, IL |
| 32 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI |
| 33 | University of Southern Indiana | Evansville, IN |
| 34 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Colleges by State
Explore the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 3,815 |
| Michigan | 9,711 |
| Ohio | 11,432 |
| Illinois | 18,292 |
| Wisconsin | 2,376 |
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Rankings in Majors Related to Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts General Studies | 556,813 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Visual & Performing Arts | 149,215 |
| English Language & Literature | 54,635 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 33,333 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 27,459 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 19,993 |
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 Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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