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2023 Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region
With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 225 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones were the most popular bachelor's degree programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Out of the 225 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the # 2 spot on the list. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,676 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Indiana pay an average of $9,992 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Purdue. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $28,794. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,439 in student loans. Around 44% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Purdue. In fact, around 49% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Ohio State University - Main Campus is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 11,957 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Ohio State is $12,485. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $36,742. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $20,464 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Online courses are available at Ohio State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Southern Illinois University Carbondale helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in the Great Lakes Region . SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,016 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
If you want to attend SIUC, expect to pay an average of $15,416 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,422 in student loans. Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that SIUC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 46% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 4,359 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Indiana pay an average of $10,144 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend IUPUI. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $32,582. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from IUPUI accumulate an average of $21,363 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at IUPUI, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 62% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Western Michigan University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 3,833 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $14,623 in tuition and fees if they attend WMU full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $18,254. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,387 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
One thing to take note of is that WMU does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 76% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,665 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Ohio pay an average of $12,334 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $27,668. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,272 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
UC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 66% took at least some of their classes online.
Indiana State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,922 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Indiana State is $9,732. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $21,160. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,012 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Indiana State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Ferris State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,912 students in 2021-2022.
Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Ferris accumulate an average of $23,359 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Ferris. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Michigan State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, the large public school handed out 9,247 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Michigan pay an average of $16,617 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Michigan State. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $42,607. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,426 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Michigan State does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree trade school programs. This large public school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 5,850 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,622 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
OHIO Athens does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 82% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #12, Cleveland State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. This fairly large public school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 2,464 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Ohio who attend Cleveland State University full time pay an average of $12,254 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,469. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,630 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Cleveland State University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree trade school programs. BGSU is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 3,036 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at BGSU is $13,639. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $21,132. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,159 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since BGSU does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 34% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
University of Southern Indiana landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Located in Evansville, Indiana, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,485 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Indiana who attend USI full time pay an average of $9,695 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $21,740. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,342 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
Some students may be able to take online classes at USI. In fact, around 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the fairly large public school handed out 3,098 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Eastern Michigan, expect to pay an average of $16,410 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,636 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Eastern Michigan does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Toledo ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Toledo is a public institution located in Toledo, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,940 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at University of Toledo is $11,311. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $20,671. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,058 in student loans. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Toledo does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 73% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large public school awarded 5,250 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $15,472 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UIC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $30,841. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,464 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.
Online courses are available at UIC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 97% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Siena Heights University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Adrian, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 550 students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Siena Heights University, expect to pay an average of $29,044 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $18,973 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Siena Heights University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 62% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the large public school awarded 3,936 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UWM is $9,620. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $21,485. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UWM accumulate an average of $24,040 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that UWM does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 68% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
DePaul University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 3,047 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at DePaul is $43,100. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,664 in student loans. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
DePaul does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Wayne State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in Detroit, Michigan, the large public school awarded 4,132 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Wayne State is $15,882. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $34,199. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,277 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Wayne State does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 88% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Purdue University Northwest came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Hammond, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,580 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Purdue Northwest is $7,803. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,478. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,913 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Purdue Northwest does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 42% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #23, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 2,480 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $12,427 in tuition and fees if they attend University of Akron Main Campus full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,500. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from University of Akron Main Campus accumulate an average of $24,562 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at University of Akron Main Campus. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Grand Valley State University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree trade school programs. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,413 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,627 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
GVSU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 46% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
University of Dayton did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #25 on the list. UDayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,118 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,743 in student loans. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at UDayton, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 23% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 34 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Most Popular Trade School Bachelor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Davenport University | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 35 | University of Michigan - Flint | Flint, MI |
| 35 | Indiana University - South Bend | South Bend, IN |
| 38 | Michigan Technological University | Houghton, MI |
| 39 | Baker College | Owosso, MI |
| 39 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH |
| 41 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville | Platteville, WI |
| 42 | Oakland University | Rochester Hills, MI |
| 43 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 43 | University of St Francis | Joliet, IL |
| 45 | Indiana University - Northwest | Gary, IN |
| 46 | Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global | Marion, IN |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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