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Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region

114 Schools Ranked
$24,846 Avg Student Debt

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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Grad Degree Search has created its Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 114 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Graduate Certificate 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
$21,679 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Northwestern University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the Great Lakes Region .

On average, graduate certificate students take out $21,679 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Northwestern 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. In fact, around 2% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Northwestern University

#2

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, Michigan
$22,981 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan Technological University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 30% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Michigan Technological University

#3

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
$63,936 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of Chicago helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Great Lakes Region .

Read full report on University of Chicago

#4

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Wisconsin Lutheran College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at WLC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 75% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Wisconsin Lutheran College Report

#5

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin
$12,175 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Graduate Certificate 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. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on University of Wisconsin - Madison

#6

Purdue University - Main Campus

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

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Purdue. In fact, around 60% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Purdue University - Main Campus

#7

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
$25,230 Average Tuition & Fees
$20,014 Avg Student Debt

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list.

Graduate Certificate recipients from U-M accumulate an average of $20,014 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online graduate courses are available at U-M, 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, 74% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Report

#8

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
$24,917 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

Online graduate courses are available at MSOE, 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 31% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#9

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
$10,144 Average Tuition & Fees

Ball State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

Ball State does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 91% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Ball State University

#10

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
$13,839 Average Tuition & Fees

University of St Francis came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

University of Saint Francis does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 89% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on University of St Francis

#11

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs.

Olivet Nazarene 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 97% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#12

Cedarville University

Cedarville, Ohio

With a ranking of #12, Cedarville University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

Cedarville 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. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Cedarville University Report

#13

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
$9,400 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UW - Eau Claire does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 90% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Report

#14

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
$11,329 Average Tuition & Fees

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #14 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since IU Bloomington does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 74% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Indiana University - Bloomington

#15

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Michigan State 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, 65% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#16

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan
$29,630 Average Tuition & Fees

Andrews University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Andrews. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 36% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Andrews University

#17

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
$17,277 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #17 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UIC. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Report

#18

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
$17,400 Average Tuition & Fees

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

Bradley does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Bradley University Report

#19

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
$32,800 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, Elmhurst University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

One thing to take note of is that Elmhurst does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 64% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#20

Adrian College

Adrian, Michigan
$19,525 Average Tuition & Fees

Adrian College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

Adrian 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. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#21

Viterbo University

La Crosse, Wisconsin
$24,230 Avg Student Debt

Viterbo University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,230 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Viterbo does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 72% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#22

Concordia University, Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin
$11,760 Average Tuition & Fees

Concordia University, Wisconsin ranked #22 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Concordia University, Wisconsin does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 67% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Concordia University, Wisconsin

$49,398 Average Tuition & Fees
$20,683 Avg Student Debt

Case Western Reserve University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,683 in student loans.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Case Western. In fact, around 17% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Case Western Reserve University

#24

Herzing University - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin
$11,680 Average Tuition & Fees

Herzing University - Madison did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #24 on the list.

Since the graduate programs at Herzing University - Madison are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Full Herzing University - Madison Report

#25

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, Indiana
$12,220 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #25, Valparaiso University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate.

Valpo 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. In fact, around 61% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Valparaiso University

View Best Graduate Certificate Graduate Certificate 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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