Great Lakes Colleges: Costs & Outcomes (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Great Lakes shows: median public in-state tuition $13,875 (+151.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $54,738 (+0.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $13,583 (+1.1% vs U.S.) 1,803,741 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 926 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 1,803,741 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $13,875 (+151.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,738 (+0.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 92.0% (+4.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,487 (+75.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $13,583 (+1.1% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $13,583. Debt rank: #2 nationally of 4 (lower debt = better rank)
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 53.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 75.7%
- Student debt rank: #2 nationally of 4 (lower debt = better rank)
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data aggregates College Scorecard campus data across Great Lakes (Census region)—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and top institutions—vs U.S. benchmarks.
Great Lakes vs national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes (region) | $13,875 | $17,487 | $13,583 | 53.8% | 1,803,741 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Great Lakes vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $54,738 | 92.0% | 75.7% | 4.7% | — | 73.8% | 0.44 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
States in Great Lakes
Member states in this Census region (by enrollment).
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes | $13,875 | $17,487 | $13,583 | 53.8% | 1,803,741 | $54,738 | 92.0% |
| Illinois | $4,788 | $7,399 | $10,929 | 55.2% | 467,912 | $57,988 | 92.5% |
| Ohio | $7,491 | $12,090 | $14,004 | 46.4% | 429,559 | $52,581 | 91.0% |
| Michigan | $5,445 | $7,368 | $13,000 | 55.5% | 368,899 | $55,123 | 91.3% |
| Indiana | $6,518 | $9,763 | $16,712 | 53.4% | 309,215 | $51,943 | 91.8% |
| Wisconsin | $5,112 | $12,252 | $20,492 | 55.6% | 228,156 | $55,173 | 94.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Great Lakes
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private for-profit | 7 | $92,405 | 86.5% | 60.0% | 3.9% | — | 66.5% |
| Private nonprofit | 167 | $54,947 | 92.3% | 77.1% | 4.0% | — | 75.8% |
| Public | 74 | $53,442 | 91.4% | 74.8% | 6.6% | — | 70.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 100.0%, Chamberlain University-Michigan
Chamberlain University-Michigan
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 95.9%, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 95.2%, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 95.1%, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 93.2%, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rank 6, Graduation Rate, 89.7%, Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
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Rank 7, Graduation Rate, 89.5%, University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Rank 8, Graduation Rate, 87.7%, Ohio State University-Main Campus
Ohio State University-Main Campus
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Rank 9, Graduation Rate, 87.2%, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 10, Graduation Rate, 85.1%, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 96.4%, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 96.1%, Carroll University
Carroll University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 96.0%, Marian University
Marian University
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 95.9%, Viterbo University
Viterbo University
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Rank 5, Employment Outcome, 95.8%, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering
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Rank 6, Employment Outcome, 95.7%, Walsh University
Walsh University
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Rank 7, Employment Outcome, 95.7%, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
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Rank 8, Employment Outcome, 95.6%, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wisconsin Lutheran College
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Rank 9, Employment Outcome, 95.5%, Albion College
Albion College
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Rank 10, Employment Outcome, 95.5%, Eureka College
Eureka College
Top 10 most selective colleges in Great Lakes (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 4.5%, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 7.7%, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 11.3%, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 15.6%, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 17.4%, Denison University
Denison University
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Rank 6, Admission Rate, 20.7%, Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
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Rank 7, Admission Rate, 31.0%, Kenyon College
Kenyon College
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Rank 8, Admission Rate, 34.2%, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
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Rank 9, Admission Rate, 36.5%, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 10, Admission Rate, 38.0%, Ohio Christian University
Ohio Christian University
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $124,530, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $117,578, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $113,634, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $106,833, John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
John Patrick University of Health and Applied Sciences
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Rank 5, Entry-Level Earnings, $104,017, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
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Rank 6, Entry-Level Earnings, $102,998, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
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Rank 7, Entry-Level Earnings, $100,294, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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Rank 8, Entry-Level Earnings, $99,222, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 9, Entry-Level Earnings, $95,688, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 10, Entry-Level Earnings, $94,786, Purdue University-Main Campus
Purdue University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $181,981, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $178,068, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $172,904, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $163,740, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
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Rank 5, Early-Career Earnings, $160,313, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 6, Early-Career Earnings, $146,685, Purdue University-Main Campus
Purdue University-Main Campus
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Rank 7, Early-Career Earnings, $143,580, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 8, Early-Career Earnings, $129,395, Oberlin College
Oberlin College
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Rank 9, Early-Career Earnings, $123,753, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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Rank 10, Early-Career Earnings, $123,731, Ohio State University-Main Campus
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $86,210, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $85,935, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $84,533, Chamberlain University-Michigan
Chamberlain University-Michigan
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $84,533, Chamberlain University-Illinois
Chamberlain University-Illinois
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Rank 5, Mid-Career Earnings, $80,870, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 6, Mid-Career Earnings, $80,275, Kettering University
Kettering University
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Rank 7, Mid-Career Earnings, $76,844, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
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Rank 8, Mid-Career Earnings, $75,613, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 9, Mid-Career Earnings, $75,114, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering
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Rank 10, Mid-Career Earnings, $73,762, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $94,844, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $93,607, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $88,361, Chamberlain University-Michigan
Chamberlain University-Michigan
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $88,361, Chamberlain University-Illinois
Chamberlain University-Illinois
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Rank 5, 8-Yr Earnings, $87,164, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 6, 8-Yr Earnings, $85,240, Kettering University
Kettering University
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Rank 7, 8-Yr Earnings, $83,487, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
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Rank 8, 8-Yr Earnings, $81,364, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering
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Rank 9, 8-Yr Earnings, $78,273, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rank 10, 8-Yr Earnings, $77,640, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $101,253, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $99,980, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $94,823, Kettering University
Kettering University
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $92,405, Chamberlain University-Michigan
Chamberlain University-Michigan
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Rank 5, 10-Yr Earnings, $92,405, Chamberlain University-Illinois
Chamberlain University-Illinois
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Rank 6, 10-Yr Earnings, $91,885, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 7, 10-Yr Earnings, $89,363, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
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Rank 8, 10-Yr Earnings, $89,070, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering
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Rank 9, 10-Yr Earnings, $87,989, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 10, 10-Yr Earnings, $83,648, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $338,626, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $329,858, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $318,501, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rank 4, 10-Yr ROI, $307,779, Chamberlain University-Michigan
Chamberlain University-Michigan
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Rank 5, 10-Yr ROI, $307,464, Chamberlain University-Illinois
Chamberlain University-Illinois
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Rank 6, 10-Yr ROI, $294,418, Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University
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Rank 7, 10-Yr ROI, $293,821, Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
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Rank 8, 10-Yr ROI, $290,837, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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Rank 9, 10-Yr ROI, $288,899, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering
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Rank 10, 10-Yr ROI, $287,892, Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Great Lakes (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $3,968, Indiana University-Kokomo
Indiana University-Kokomo
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Rank 2, Net Price, $7,007, University of Michigan-Flint
University of Michigan-Flint
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Rank 3, Net Price, $5,755, Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
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Rank 4, Net Price, $13,138, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rank 5, Net Price, $5,130, Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Northwest
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Rank 6, Net Price, $5,746, Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
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Rank 7, Net Price, $5,567, Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University
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Rank 8, Net Price, $14,182, Michigan Technological University
Michigan Technological University
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Rank 9, Net Price, $6,032, University of Akron Wayne College
University of Akron Wayne College
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Rank 10, Net Price, $9,120, Oakland University
Oakland University
Top 10 colleges in Great Lakes by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 100.0%, Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses
Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 99.3%, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 99.1%, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 98.1%, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 97.5%, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Rank 6, First-Year Retention, 96.6%, Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
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Rank 7, First-Year Retention, 96.2%, University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Rank 8, First-Year Retention, 94.8%, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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Rank 9, First-Year Retention, 94.3%, Kettering University
Kettering University
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Rank 10, First-Year Retention, 94.2%, Ohio State University-Main Campus
Ohio State University-Main Campus
In-state tuition: Great Lakes vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Great Lakes median in-state tuition is $13,875, +151.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Great Lakes vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Great Lakes is $13,583 (+1.1% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $13,583. Rank: #2 nationally of 4 (lower debt = better rank).
Median earnings (10 years out): Great Lakes vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Great Lakes center around $54,738 (+0.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Great Lakes vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.0% at the median Great Lakes campus (+4.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Great Lakes median public in-state tuition is $13,875, about +151.7% vs the national median.
Median graduate debt is $13,583 (+1.1% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #2 nationally of 4 (lower debt = better rank) (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Great Lakes are $54,738, about +0.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 92.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+4.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 75.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 73.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (96.4%), Carroll University (96.1%), Marian University (96.0%), Viterbo University (95.9%), Milwaukee School of Engineering (95.8%), Walsh University (95.7%), University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (95.7%), Wisconsin Lutheran College (95.6%), Albion College (95.5%), Eureka College (95.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Great Lakes, sector medians diverge: Private for-profit median 10-yr earnings $92,405 (7 campuses); Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $54,947 (167 campuses); Public median 10-yr earnings $53,442 (74 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Great Lakes is 53.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in the Great Lakes region?
EDsmart Data analysis: the Great Lakes regional profile aggregates 926 campuses and about 1,803,741 reported enrollment across member states.
What does college cost in the Great Lakes region?
EDsmart Data analysis: regional median in-state tuition is $13,875 and median net price is $17,487 (+151.7% vs U.S. tuition median). National medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in the Great Lakes region?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings across Great Lakes campuses is $54,738 vs $54,323 nationally.
What is typical student debt in the Great Lakes region?
EDsmart Data analysis: regional median completer debt is $13,583 vs $13,432 nationally.
Which states are in the Great Lakes region?
EDsmart Data analysis: member states in this Census region include Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin.
How many public vs. private colleges are in the Great Lakes region?
EDsmart Data analysis: among reporting campuses: 74 public, 167 private nonprofit, and 7 private for-profit.
What are the top colleges in the Great Lakes region?
EDsmart Data analysis: standouts in regional Top 10 lists include Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Chamberlain University-Michigan.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in the Great Lakes region?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 926 campuses in the Great Lakes region, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Central State University and Wilberforce University; 5 tribal colleges (IPEDS TRIBAL flag), including Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, Bay Mills Community College, and College of Menominee Nation; 93 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Aurora University, Cannella School of Hair Design-Villa Park, and Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago; 152 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (51), United Methodist (11), Presbyterian Church (USA) (8).
Sources & related
- All college profiles
- All regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON