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Best Doctor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Doctor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

117 Schools Ranked

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Grad Degree Search has created the Best Doctor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 117 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best doctor's degree programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Doctor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
$56,567 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Northwestern University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a doctor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region .

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Northwestern. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 2% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Northwestern University Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
$63,936 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Read full report on University of Chicago

#3

Union Institute & University

Cincinnati, Ohio
$16,211 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent doctor’s degree programs at Union Institute & University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Great Lakes Region .

If you are interested in distance education, Union is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

Read full report on Union Institute & University

#4

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
$58,662 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent doctor’s degree programs at University of Notre Dame helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Great Lakes Region .

One thing to take note of is that Notre Dame does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 45% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full University of Notre Dame Report

#5

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
$13,839 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 117 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of St Francis landed the # 5 spot on the list.

One thing to take note of is that University of Saint Francis does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 89% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#6

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
$25,230 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their doctor’s degree.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at U-M. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 74% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#7

Saint Mary's College

Notre Dame, Indiana

Saint Mary’s College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

Since the graduate programs at St. Mary’s College are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Read full report on Saint Mary’s College

#8

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, Michigan
$22,981 Average Tuition & Fees

Michigan Technological University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best doctor’s degree programs.

Michigan Tech does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 30% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Michigan Technological University

#9

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Olivet Nazarene does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 97% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Report

#10

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
$9,992 Average Tuition & Fees

Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Purdue. During the 2019-2020 year, about 60% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

$17,823 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UIUC. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#12

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin
$10,087 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their doctor’s degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UW - La Crosse. During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

#13

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin
$12,175 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #13 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UW - Madison does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 75% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Report

#14

Edgewood College

Madison, Wisconsin

Edgewood College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Edgewood. In fact, around 58% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Edgewood College

#15

Otterbein University

Westerville, Ohio
$14,392 Average Tuition & Fees

Otterbein University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Otterbein. In 2019-2020 about 55% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#16

Manchester University

North Manchester, Indiana
$24,950 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #16, Manchester University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their doctor’s degree.

If you are interested in distance education, Manchester University is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

Full Manchester University Report

#17

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

One thing to take note of is that Michigan State does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 65% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Michigan State University

#18

Carroll University

Waukesha, Wisconsin
$13,719 Average Tuition & Fees

Carroll University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list.

Online graduate courses are available at Carroll U, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 32% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Carroll University Report

#19

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
$9,378 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their doctor’s degree.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Concordia University, Chicago. In fact, around 98% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#20

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best doctor’s degree programs.

Online graduate courses are available at Ferris, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 67% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#21

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Aurora. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 87% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Aurora University Report

#22

Lawrence Technological University

Southfield, Michigan
$18,436 Average Tuition & Fees

Lawrence Technological University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Online graduate courses are available at Lawrence Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Lawrence Technological University Report

#23

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
$17,400 Average Tuition & Fees

Bradley University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

Online graduate courses are available at Bradley, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Bradley University

#24

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
$9,773 Average Tuition & Fees

Illinois State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Illinois State does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 81% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Illinois State University Report

#25

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
$14,960 Average Tuition & Fees

Lewis University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Lewis. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Lewis University Report

View Best Doctor’s Degree Doctor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

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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