Superior, Erie, Michigan, Huron, and Ontario make up the 5 Great Lakes that border the United States and Canada. While the region is well-known for its mighty bodies of water, the colleges in the area are equally impressive. The best colleges Great Lakes list encompass the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Top 25 Best Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
The University of Chicago receives around 38,600 applications annually though only 5% are accepted. Most often, accepted students have test scores in the range of 34 - 35 for ACT or 1,510 - 1,560 for SAT. The school is made up of their undergraduate college and five graduate research divisions. They also have campuses all over the world from Hong Kong to Paris.
Location
Chicago, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
18,339
Top majors at Northwestern University are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia, and Biology/Biological Sciences. A founding member of the Big Ten Conference, top sports for the Wildcats include Football, Basketball, and Swimming and Diving (combined). Willie the Wildcat cheers them on and the colors are purple and white.
Location
Evanston, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
23,161
Edward Sorin founded the University of Notre Dame in 1842 as a private Catholic research University. Their motto is, “Vita Dulcedo Spes” or “Life, Sweetness, Hope” – referencing the Virgin Mary. The school’s teams are known as the Fighting Irish and wear the colors blue and gold. Their mascot is the very iconic leprechaun.
Location
Notre Dame, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
13,105
Hillsdale’s motto is “Virtus Tentamine Gaudet” or “Strength Rejoices in the Challenge.” The school has a high 96% first year retention rate and a low 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. All students who attend are required to take courses on the “Great Books,” the United States Constitution, and Science courses. 72% of students will graduate within 4 years.
Location
Hillsdale, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,678
Accepting just 18% of applicants, 47% of students accepted to decide to attend the University of Michigan. Computer and Information Sciences, Business Administration and Management, and Economics are the most pursued majors. U of M Ann Arbor is home of the “Big House” – the biggest college football stadium in the US.
Location
Ann Arbor, MI
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
51,225
Case Western Reserve University has slightly more graduate students (50.7%) than undergraduate students (49.3%). The school is known as the “Yale of the West” since its campus imitated Yale’s. Computer Science is the most popular major, followed by Biology, Nursing and Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering.
Location
Cleveland, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
12,201
The University of Wisconsin - Madison was the first public university in the state as it was founded when Wisconsin received statehood in 1848. Their motto is “Numen Lumen” or “Divine Light.” It’s also the largest employer in the state as it has over 24,200 faculty and staff. There are more than 140 undergraduate majors available to those attending.
Location
Madison, WI
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
48,956
A land-grant research university, Ohio State is known as a Public Ivy. Getting its start in 1870, it was originally known as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College. The Buckeyes take part in the Big Ten Conference and are well known for their football program. With 989 athletes, other popular sports at the school include track, baseball, ice hockey, and fencing.
Location
Columbus, OH
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
60,540
Wheaton College was founded by evangelical abolitionists in 1860 and would become a stop on the Underground Railroad. Business is by far the most popular major at the school. Athletic teams are known as The Thunder. They wear blue and orange and compete in the NCAA Division III in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Location
Wheaton, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,885
The University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign is a public land-grant research university. It was one of 37 universities that came out of the Morrill Land-Grant Act. When the school opened, there were only 77 students and 2 faculty members. Today, 67,400 apply each year to Urbana, 44% of which are accepted.
Location
Champaign, IL
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
56,916
Denison University only offers an undergraduate program. The school accepts 22% of around 12,000 applicants that apply each year. With a 90% first year retention rate, 82% of students graduate within four years. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Mass Communication/Media Studies, and International Business are popular areas of study.
Location
Granville, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,416
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology focuses on math, science, and engineering. It was originally founded as the Terre Haute School of Industrial Science in 1874 in an effort to teach technical training to assist with railroad construction. It would get its current name in 1971 after financial support from the Hulman family. The top major is Mechanical Engineering followed by Computer Science.
Location
Terre Haute, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,188
Kenyon College has produced Rhodes Scholars, Truman Scholarship winners, Fulbright recipients, and Marshall Scholarship winners. Famous alumni have included former United States President Rutherford B. Hayes, actor Paul Newman, and Calvin and Hobbes creator, Bill Watterson. The school has a 34% acceptance rate and it is free to apply.
Location
Gambier, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,885
Located in Greencastle, Indiana, DePauw University was founded in 1837 as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw’s motto is “Decus lumenque reipublicae collegium” in Latin, which means “the college is the splendor and light of the common good.” Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, and Computer Science are the three most popular majors.
Location
Greencastle, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,752
Bloomington is the flagship and largest campus of Indiana University. Past students have included former Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, Hunger Games author, Suzanne Collins, and the co-founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales. The school receives over 50,000 applications a year and has an 83% acceptance rate.
Location
Bloomington, IN
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
47,005
Oberlin College is the oldest coeducational liberal arts college in the country, and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music is also the oldest operating conservatory within the United States. The school accepts only about 35% of students. 72% will graduate within 4 years (83% within 6). Oberlin College’s motto is “Learning and Labor.”
Location
Oberlin, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,992
Purdue University is a public land-grant research university. Alumni include Neil Armstrong, Orville Redenbacher, and Drew Brees. The university accepts about 53% of students. The most popular majors are Computer Science, followed by Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.
Location
West Lafayette, IN
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
51,528
Miami University - Oxford’s motto is “Prodesse Quam Conspici” in Latin, which means “To accomplish without being conspicuous.” The 10th oldest public university in the United States (1809), they accept 88% of applicants. Athletes, known as the Miami RedHawks, compete in the Mid-American Conference and National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
Location
Oxford, OH
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
19,107
Michigan State University is one of the largest universities when it comes to enrollment. Some alumni have included Magic Johnson, Le’Veon Bell, Dan Gilbert, and Sam Raimi. Athletes are known as Spartans and they compete in the Big 10 conference wearing green and white. The school accepts about 88% of around 53,000 applicants each year.
Location
Lansing, MI
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
50,023
Founded in 1881, the school would become the first coeducational Catholic university in the world in 1909. Eleven schools and colleges can be found at the Milwaukee campus, but the school also features more than 68 doctoral and master’s degree programs. Top areas of study include Biomedical Sciences, Registered Nursing, and Finance.
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
11,167
Butler University receives around 9,400 applications each year and about 86% of those applicants are accepted. The most popular majors among students are Pharmacy, Marketing/Marketing Management, and Finance. The Bulldogs compete in the Pioneer Football League and Big East Conference. Butler Blue IV, a bulldog, is the school’s official live mascot.
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
5,525
Wabash College is a small undergraduate men’s school. The college receives around 1,900 applications each year and accepts 63% of applicants. The student paper, 'The Bachelor,' has been in publication since the early 1900’s. Rhetoric and Composition is the most popular major among students.
Location
Crawfordsville, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
835
Also known as K College, Kalamazoo College is the leading producer of Peace Corps members out of small liberal arts colleges. Their motto is “Lux Esto,” which is Latin for “Be Light.” The most popular major is Biology, followed by Business/Commerce, and Psychology. Kalamazoo College has a high first year retention rate at 86%.
Location
Kalamazoo, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,210
The University of Dayton receives approximately 18,900 applications each year, accepts almost 75% of applicants, and it’s free to apply. Most student (96%) receive institutional or grant aid. Mechanical Engineering is the most popular major at UD, but Finance and Marketing are also highly sought after.
Location
Dayton, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
11,674
25
Hope College
25
Hope College
Student athletes at Hope College are known as the Flying Dutchman. The school’s logo also features an anchor, a nod to the famous ship, a Bible verse, and the campus’s location by Lake Michigan. The school boasts an impressive 89% first year retention rate and a six year graduation rate of 82%.
Location
Holland, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,251
Why is the Great Lakes Region a Great Place to Go to School?
If you love the outdoors, the Great Lakes region is for you. The area offers fishing, hiking, and tons of outdoor adventures. Of course, you’ll need to be okay with the cold in these states – they have some of the coldest temperatures in the country – and they get a lot of snow too!
The Great Lakes Region is home to some amazing national and state parks, lakes, rivers, and more that are well worth exploring. From the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan to the Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana, there are plenty that you will want to return to again and again.
Many of the colleges and universities in this region have unique traditions that take advantage of the cold, too. And, the region is home to five of the biggest college football stadiums in the country. That means excellent tailgating and athletics!
So if you love the outdoors and wintertime, the Great Lakes region may be perfect for you and your education.
State Grant Aid in the Great Lakes Region
Did you know that many states offer grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid to make college more affordable for its students? Higher education departments in each state have resources students need to locate and apply for these awards. To learn more about what may be offered in your state, use our handy State Grants Guide to get started.
College Raptor is uniquely qualified to estimate college affordability as we are a leading provider of net price calculators to colleges across the U.S. Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if your favorite college is affordable for you.
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
