2023 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamp with offerings that you might find attractive.
The Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 197 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Notre Dame to be the best school for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region .
Notre Dame does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $58,843. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Notre Dame accumulate an average of $19,395 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Notre Dame. In fact, around 53% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
UChicago does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $60,963. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UChicago accumulate an average of $15,217 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Northwestern University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Northwestern does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $60,768. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $18,404 in loans while pursuing their degree.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $17,193 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend U-M. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $55,097. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,457 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that U-M does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Wisconsin - Madison helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Great Lakes Region .
Students from Wisconsin who attend UW - Madison full time pay an average of $10,720 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $38,608. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $20,865 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that UW - Madison does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #6, DePauw University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average tuition and fees at DePauw is $53,896. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,975 in student loans.
Denison University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $20,039 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Denison does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 16% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Students from Indiana who attend Purdue full time pay an average of $9,992 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $28,794. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Purdue accumulate an average of $19,133 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Purdue does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UIUC is $17,634. Out-of-state students pay an average of $37,632. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $18,891 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UIUC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #10, Illinois Wesleyan University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average tuition and fees at Illinois Wesleyan is $52,512. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,212 in student loans.
Marquette University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
If you want to attend Marquette, expect to pay an average of $45,766 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,711 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Marquette does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #12, Michigan Technological University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
In-state students pay an average of $18,215 in tuition and fees if they attend Michigan Tech full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $39,723. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,177 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Michigan Tech. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #13, Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Trine accumulate an average of $26,884 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Trine does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Students from Wisconsin who attend UW - La Crosse full time pay an average of $9,195 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $18,014. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UW - La Crosse accumulate an average of $22,366 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UW - La Crosse does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Students from Indiana who attend IU Bloomington full time pay an average of $11,333 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $38,352. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,912 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at IU Bloomington. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Students from Wisconsin who attend UW - River Falls full time pay an average of $8,088 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,661. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UW - River Falls accumulate an average of $24,659 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that UW - River Falls does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Michigan State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,867 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Michigan State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UW - Stout is $9,553. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,820. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UW - Stout accumulate an average of $24,863 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at UW - Stout, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 86% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Kenyon College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Kenyon does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $63,310. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Kenyon does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 77% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Wisconsin - Platteville landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $7,844 in tuition and fees if they attend UW - Platteville full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $16,483. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UW - Platteville accumulate an average of $22,551 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UW - Platteville does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 93% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of Dayton ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,966 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UDayton does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 22% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Illinois State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $13,968 in tuition and fees if they attend Illinois State full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $24,172. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Illinois State accumulate an average of $21,109 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Illinois State. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Saint Mary’s College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
St. Mary’s College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $48,010. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,729 in loans while pursuing their degree.
St. Mary’s College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #24, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
In-state students pay an average of $8,874 in tuition and fees if they attend UW - Eau Claire full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,149. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UW - Eau Claire accumulate an average of $22,216 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
UW - Eau Claire does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 81% took at least some of their classes online.
Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #25 on the list.
If you want to attend MSOE, expect to pay an average of $45,099 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,296 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since MSOE does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 8% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 15% Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 30 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Bachelor’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Saint Norbert College | De Pere, WI |
| 32 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH |
| 33 | Wheaton College Illinois | Wheaton, IL |
| 34 | Ohio State University - Main Campus | Columbus, OH |
| 35 | John Carroll University | University Heights, OH |
| 36 | Miami University - Hamilton | Hamilton, OH |
| 37 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater | Whitewater, WI |
| 38 | Hanover College | Hanover, IN |
| 39 | Miami University - Oxford | Oxford, OH |
| 40 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee, WI |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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