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Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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 analysis found Miami University - Hamilton to be the best school for trade school students in the Great Lakes Region . This small public school is located in Hamilton, Ohio, and it awarded 524 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Miami University - Hamilton

#2

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
980 Total Awards

Out of the 224 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of St Francis landed the # 2 spot on the list. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 980 students 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. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 9,725 degrees in 2021-2022.

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405 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Trine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Angola, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 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

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Purdue University - Main Campus is a great place for trade school students. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 13,356 degrees to qualified students.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Report

#6

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie, Wisconsin
1,737 Total Awards

University of Wisconsin - Stout ranked #6 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stout is a medium-sized public school situated in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It awarded 1,737 degrees in 2021-2022.

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132 Total Awards

With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the very small public school awarded 132 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex Report

#8

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
3,030 Total Awards

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,030 degrees to qualified students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Report

637 Total Awards

Ohio Northern University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ada, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 637 students in 2021-2022.

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#10

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
1,817 Total Awards

With a ranking of #10, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 1,817 degrees 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 ranked #11 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 2,551 degrees 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.

Read full report on Miami University - Middletown

#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. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 13,090 students in 2021-2022.

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#14

Marietta College

Marietta, Ohio
315 Total Awards

Marietta College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in Marietta, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 315 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Marietta College Report

#15

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
3,280 Total Awards

Madison Area Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,280 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Madison Area Technical College

#16

Viterbo University

La Crosse, Wisconsin
951 Total Awards

Viterbo University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Viterbo is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 951 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Viterbo University

#17

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, Michigan
1,754 Total Awards

Michigan Technological University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Houghton, Michigan, and it awarded 1,754 degrees in 2021-2022.

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. Located in Naperville, Illinois, the large private for-profit school awarded 9,399 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full DeVry University - Illinois Report

#19

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
3,757 Total Awards

Marquette University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. 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.

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185 Total Awards

With a ranking of #20, Herzing University - Akron did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 185 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Herzing University - Akron

#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.

Read full report on Moraine Park Technical College

#22

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin
3,648 Total Awards

Fox Valley Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #22 on the list. 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.

Full Fox Valley Technical College Report

#23

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois
1,312 Total Awards

With a ranking of #23, Rasmussen University - Illinois did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit institution located in Rockford, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,312 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#24

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
2,576 Total Awards

Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 2,576 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Chippewa Valley Technical College Report

#25

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana
31,118 Total Awards

Ivy Tech Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school awarded 31,118 diplomas to qualifed students 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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