2023 Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region
A student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 205 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which graduate certificate programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named DeVry University - Illinois the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large private for-profit school awarded 821 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
One thing to take note of is that DeVry University - Illinois does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 97% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UC is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 671 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,388 in student loans. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at UC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 82% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of Chicago is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 561 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
The excellent graduate certificate programs at Ball State University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Great Lakes Region . Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 548 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Ball State does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 205 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University Global landed the # 5 spot on the list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 402 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,486 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 78% were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Purdue University Global. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
With a ranking of #6, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 336 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
Loyola Chicago does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.
Benedictine University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Benedictine U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lisle, Illinois. It awarded 326 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
Benedictine U does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
American College of Education did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. American College of Education is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 293 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.
Since the graduate programs at American College of Education are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #8, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 293 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $20,014 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
One thing to take note of is that U-M does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 74% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Viterbo University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. Viterbo is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 285 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Viterbo accumulate an average of $24,230 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Viterbo, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 283 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 45% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UW - Madison. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Illinois State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large public school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 278 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Illinois 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 81% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Michigan State University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan State University is a large public school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 257 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Michigan State. In 2019-2020 about 65% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management
Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small public school is located in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and it awarded 247 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 19% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at AFIT Graduate School of Engineering & Management. In 2019-2020 about 96% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 245 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at IU Bloomington. In 2019-2020 about 74% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school awarded 241 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at IUPUI. In 2019-2020 about 71% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
University of Dayton landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. UDayton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 231 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UDayton does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 45% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Northwestern University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 226 graduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,679 in student loans. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Northwestern, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 2% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 202 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that OHIO Athens does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 70% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Wayne State University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the large public school awarded 199 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Wayne State. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #21, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 169 students in 2020-2021.
Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Purdue does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 149 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Ohio State. During the 2019-2020 year, about 76% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. IWU is located in Marion, Indiana and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 135 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
IWU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 90% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
National Louis University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate programs. National Louis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 134 graduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NLU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #25, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their graduate certificate. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 133 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
EIU does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 75% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Most Popular Graduate Certificate Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Michigan Technological University | Houghton, MI |
| 32 | Butler University | Indianapolis, IN |
| 34 | Davenport University | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 35 | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, IL |
| 36 | Oakland University | Rochester Hills, MI |
| 37 | University of St Francis | Joliet, IL |
| 37 | Concordia University, Chicago | River Forest, IL |
| 37 | Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, IN |
| 40 | Concordia University, Wisconsin | Mequon, WI |
| 41 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH |
| 41 | Alverno College | Milwaukee, 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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