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Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region

151 Colleges
$48,027 Avg Salary
$22,451 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Economics School for You

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for business students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one of many tools that Business Degree Central has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 151 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs were the most popular for business students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Economics program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for economics majors pursuing a .

Our 2023 rankings named University of Wisconsin - Madison the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for economics students. Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from UW - Madison carry an average student debt load of $20,500. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $345, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a great place for economics students. Located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at U-M take out is $18,750. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $853, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Economics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#3

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means University of Chicago is a great place for economics students. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

Economics majors at UChicago take out an average of $13,395 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Economics at University of Chicago

The excellent programs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best economics schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from UIUC carry an average student debt load of $19,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $488.

Full Economics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report

#5

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

On average, economics graduates from Northwestern take out $15,250 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $546, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#6

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State is a very large public school located in the small city of East Lansing.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Michigan State accumulate an average of around $22,231 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $393.

Read full report on Economics at Michigan State University

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Ohio State accumulate an average of around $21,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $289.

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#8

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Notre Dame accumulate an average of around $19,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $666, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Economics at University of Notre Dame

#9

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

With a ranking of #9, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for economics students. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Purdue take out is $23,099.

Full Economics at Purdue University - Main Campus Report

Miami University - Oxford came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the fringe town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Economics majors at Miami University - Oxford take out an average of $24,625 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $772.

Read full report on Economics at Miami University - Oxford

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for economics students. It came in at #11 on the list. IU Bloomington is a very large public school located in the small city of Bloomington.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from IU Bloomington carry an average student debt load of $19,500.

Read full report on Economics at Indiana University - Bloomington

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular economics programs. UIC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Chicago.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at UIC take out is $17,500.

Read full report on Economics at University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for economics students. It came in at #13 on the list. UC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Cincinnati.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at UC take out is $18,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $440.

Read full report on Economics at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#14

DePauw University

Greencastle, IN

DePauw University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for economics students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the distant town of Greencastle, DePauw is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at DePauw take out is $26,932. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $935.

Read full report on Economics at DePauw University

#15

Denison University

Granville, OH

Denison University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Denison is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small suburb of Granville.

Economics majors at Denison take out an average of $22,375 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Economics at Denison University

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular economics programs. Located in the distant town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, economics graduates from OHIO Athens take out $30,300 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Economics at Ohio University - Athens Campus Report

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, economics graduates from UWM take out $25,125 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Case Western Reserve University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular economics programs. Case Western is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland.

Economics majors at Case Western take out an average of $23,883 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Economics at Case Western Reserve University Report

#19

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI

With a ranking of #19, Wayne State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for economics students. Wayne State is a very large public school located in the large city of Detroit.

Economics majors at Wayne State take out an average of $19,374 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#20

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for economics students. It came in at #20 on the list. Marquette is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Marquette accumulate an average of around $22,437 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $570.

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Kent State University at Kent did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for economics students. It came in at #21 on the list. Kent State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Kent State carry an average student debt load of $23,812.

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University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Oshkosh.

On average, economics graduates from UW Oshkosh take out $24,114 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Economics Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
23 Illinois State University Normal, IL
23 DePaul University Chicago, IL
25 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
26 Ball State University Muncie, IN
27 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
28 Wheaton College Illinois Wheaton, IL
29 Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI
29 Oberlin College Oberlin, OH
29 Albion College Albion, MI

Best Economics Colleges by State

Explore the best economics schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 1,493
Ohio 1,134
Illinois 2,131
Indiana 880
Wisconsin 1,225

Economics Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Economics 25,066
Econometrics & Quantitative Economics 21,078
Applied Economics 550
Development Economics & International Development 535
International Economics 305
Other Economics 275

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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