2023 Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region
A student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 262 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones had the most popular online programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our 2023 rankings named Purdue University Global the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for students working on their degree. Purdue University Global is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13,709 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $36,097 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $133, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Purdue University Global graduates make an average of $43,154 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means DeVry University - Illinois is a great place for students. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large private for-profit school handed out 6,865 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $40,148 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $163 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, DeVry University - Illinois graduates make an average of $48,020 annually. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Cuyahoga Community College District helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Great Lakes Region . Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,371 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $17,069 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Cuyahoga Community College District, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,886 during the early years of their career. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sinclair Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 9,757 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Sinclair Community College accumulate an average of $15,593 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Sinclair Community College graduates make an average of $32,938 annually. Around 39% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 262 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Gateway Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Eastern Gateway Community College is a public institution located in Steubenville, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,930 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Eastern Gateway Community College accumulate an average of $18,095 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Eastern Gateway Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,112 during the early year of their career. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
William Rainey Harper College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Palatine, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,517 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,850 in student loans.After graduating from Harper College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,420 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Macomb Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Located in Warren, Michigan, the fairly large public school awarded 2,648 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Macomb Community College accumulate an average of $11,351 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Macomb Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,546 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Ball State University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ball State is located in Muncie, Indiana and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6,756 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $23,205 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $267 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Ball State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,329 during the early years of their career. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Franklin University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,846 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Franklin University accumulate an average of $36,125 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Franklin University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,081 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Davenport University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #10 on the list. Davenport University is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,579 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,211 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $189 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Davenport University graduates make an average of $49,918 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
With a ranking of #11, Columbus State Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working. Located in Columbus, Ohio, the large public school awarded 5,856 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $19,473 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Northcentral Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Wausau, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,435 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,759 in student loans. During the early years of their career, North Central Technical College graduates make an average of $33,732 annually. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Baker College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Baker College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Owosso, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,905 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,021 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $86 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Baker College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,022 during the early years of their career. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Waubonsee Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Sugar Grove, Illinois, and it awarded 1,602 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Waubonsee accumulate an average of $13,413 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Waubonsee, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,527 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
University of Michigan - Flint came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,674 students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $31,408 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, UM Flint graduates make an average of $46,976 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 69% were women.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2,139 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $9,601 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Harold Washington College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $25,960 during the early year of their career. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Report
Northwood University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwood University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Midland, Michigan that handed out 1,007 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,445 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $284, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Northwood, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,505 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 50% were women.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. NWTC is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,027 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $17,377 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, NWTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,536 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 3,453 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from SIUC accumulate an average of $23,594 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $165, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from SIUC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,413 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,599 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,930 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $652. During the early years of their career, Loyola Chicago graduates make an average of $47,459 annually. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. This fairly large public school is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and it awarded 2,682 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,848 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $161. Once they receive their degree, UW Oshkosh graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,232 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
Heartland Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular programs. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,191 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,312 in student loans.After graduating from Heartland Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,516 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Western Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,171 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from WIU accumulate an average of $28,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $266.After graduating from WIU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,708 during the early years of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Owens Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Perrysburg, Ohio, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,847 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Owens State Community College accumulate an average of $22,602 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Owens State Community College graduates make an average of $36,221 annually. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
National Louis University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. NLU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2,175 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from NLU accumulate an average of $28,209 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $479, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, NLU graduates make an average of $48,291 annually. Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Online Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top most popular online list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Most Popular Online Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular online schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Schoolcraft College | Livonia, MI |
| 42 | Lakeland University | Plymouth, WI |
| 43 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati, OH |
| 44 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH |
| 45 | Northern Michigan University | Marquette, MI |
| 46 | Lewis University | Romeoville, IL |
| 46 | Concordia University, Wisconsin | Mequon, WI |
| 48 | Stark State College | North Canton, OH |
| 49 | Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 50 | Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI |
| 51 | Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI |
| 52 | Ross College-Sylvania | Sylvania, OH |
| 53 | Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac, WI |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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