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Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region

151 Colleges
$48,027 Avg Salary
$23,639 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Economics School for You

Economics is the #19 most popular major in the country with 49,055 degrees and certificates awarded 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 151 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 Economics program at each school on the list.

Check out the economics programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Great Lakes Region .

Our analysis found University of Wisconsin - Madison to be the most popular school for economics students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from UW - Madison carry an average student debt load of $21,549. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $202.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a great place for economics students. Located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at U-M accumulate an average of around $18,742 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $481, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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

#3

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of Chicago is a great place for economics students. UChicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from UChicago carry an average student debt load of $16,256. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $708, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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The excellent programs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best economics schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, economics graduates from UIUC take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $392.

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#5

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Northwestern accumulate an average of around $15,500 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $456.

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#6

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State is a fairly large public school located in the small city of East Lansing.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Michigan State accumulate an average of around $24,125 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 $341.

Full Economics at Michigan State University Report

With a ranking of #7, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for economics students. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, economics graduates from Ohio State take out $23,000 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $278, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Economics at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#8

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

With a ranking of #8, University of Notre Dame did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for economics students. 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 economics majors at Notre Dame take out is $19,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $593, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Economics at University of Notre Dame Report

#9

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for economics students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Economics majors at Purdue take out an average of $21,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Economics at Purdue University - Main Campus

Miami University - Oxford came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the fringe town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Miami University - Oxford carry an average student debt load of $25,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $900.

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With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for economics students. IU Bloomington is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Bloomington.

On average, economics graduates from IU Bloomington take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Economics at Indiana University - Bloomington

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Chicago.

While working on their degree, economics majors at UIC accumulate an average of around $21,233 in student debt.

Full Economics at University of Illinois at Chicago Report

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

Economics majors at UC take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $364, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#14

DePauw University

Greencastle, IN

DePauw University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for economics students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the town of Greencastle, DePauw is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at DePauw accumulate an average of around $26,814 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $789.

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#15

Denison University

Granville, OH

Denison University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for economics students. It came in at #15 on the list. Denison is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville.

Economics majors at Denison take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Economics at Denison University

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a very large student population.

Full Economics at Ohio University - Athens Campus Report

Case Western Reserve University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular economics programs. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland.

Economics majors at Case Western take out an average of $21,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Economics at Case Western Reserve University

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular economics programs. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, economics graduates from UWM take out $26,500 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $178.

Full Economics at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Report

#19

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI

Wayne State University ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Wayne State is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Wayne State carry an average student debt load of $25,500.

Full Economics at Wayne State University Report

#20

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular economics programs. Marquette is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Marquette accumulate an average of around $22,500 in student debt.

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Kent State University at Kent landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular economics programs. Kent State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent.

Full Economics at Kent State University at Kent Report

With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for economics students. UW Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh.

Economics majors at UW Oshkosh take out an average of $23,375 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Economics at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Report

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 Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
23 DePaul University Chicago, IL
23 Illinois State University Normal, IL
25 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
26 Ball State University Muncie, IN
27 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
28 Wheaton College Illinois Wheaton, IL
29 Albion College Albion, MI
29 Oberlin College Oberlin, OH
29 Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI

Best Economics Colleges by State

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

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 1,496
Ohio 1,136
Illinois 2,155
Indiana 889
Wisconsin 1,225

Economics is one of 12 different types of programs to choose from.

Majors Similar to Economics

Related Major Annual Graduates
Political Science & Government 49,282
Sociology 38,475
General Social Sciences 18,997
International Relations & National Security 14,306
Anthropology 11,415

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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