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Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region

224 Schools Ranked
$42,985 Average Earnings
$28,480 Avg Student Debt

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 224 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Miami University - Hamilton

Hamilton, Ohio
524 Total Awards

Our 2023 rankings named Miami University - Hamilton the best school in the Great Lakes Region for trade school students working on their degree. Miami University - Hamilton is a small public school situated in Hamilton, Ohio. It awarded 524 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Miami University - Hamilton Report

#2

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
980 Total Awards

The excellent programs at University of St Francis helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in Joliet, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 980 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full University of St Francis Report

#3

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
9,725 Total Awards

Out of the 224 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 9,725 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Northwestern University Report

405 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in Angola, Indiana, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 405 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
13,356 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Purdue University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, the large public school handed out 13,356 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Report

#6

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
1,737 Total Awards

With a ranking of #6, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,737 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Wisconsin - Stout

132 Total Awards

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex ranked #7 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This very small public school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 132 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex Report

#8

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
3,030 Total Awards

With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 3,030 degrees in 2021-2022.

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637 Total Awards

Ohio Northern University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #9 on the list. ONU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ada, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 637 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Ohio Northern University

#10

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
1,817 Total Awards

Concordia University, Chicago landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in River Forest, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,817 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Concordia University, Chicago

#11

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin
2,551 Total Awards

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 2,551 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#12

Miami University - Middletown

Middletown, Ohio
216 Total Awards

Miami University - Middletown landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Miami University - Middletown is a small public school located in Middletown, Ohio that handed out 216 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#13

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
13,090 Total Awards

Michigan State University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 13,090 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Michigan State University

#14

Marietta College

Marietta, Ohio
315 Total Awards

Marietta College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Marietta is located in Marietta, Ohio and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 315 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Marietta College

#15

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
3,280 Total Awards

With a ranking of #15, Madison Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Madison College is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,280 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Madison Area Technical College

#16

Viterbo University

La Crosse, Wisconsin
951 Total Awards

Viterbo University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Viterbo is a small private not-for-profit school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 951 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Viterbo University Report

#17

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, Michigan
1,754 Total Awards

With a ranking of #17, Michigan Technological University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,754 degrees to qualified students.

Full Michigan Technological University Report

#18

DeVry University - Illinois

Naperville, Illinois
9,399 Total Awards

DeVry University - Illinois ranked #18 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 9,399 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on DeVry University - Illinois

#19

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
3,757 Total Awards

Marquette University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Marquette is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,757 degrees to qualified students.

Full Marquette University Report

185 Total Awards

Herzing University - Akron came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Akron, Ohio, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 185 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

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#21

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
1,719 Total Awards

Moraine Park Technical College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school situated in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,719 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Moraine Park Technical College Report

#22

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin
3,648 Total Awards

Fox Valley Technical College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. FVTC is a public institution located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,648 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#23

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois
1,312 Total Awards

Rasmussen University - Illinois ranked #23 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Rockford, Illinois, the small private for-profit school handed out 1,312 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Rasmussen University - Illinois

#24

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
2,576 Total Awards

Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,576 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Chippewa Valley Technical College

#25

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana
31,118 Total Awards

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 31,118 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Ivy Tech Community College

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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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