Overview

Colleges in the Great Lakes regions are pretty impressive, with states such as Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin offering some powerhouse schools worth visiting. Think of Purdue, the University of Ohio, Michigan State and so many more. These Great Lakes towns are home to some of America’s best colleges offering students a fun environment with extensive recreational activities, facilities, boat houses to beaches, trails to arboretums these college states have it all. The best college towns in America offer endless options from eating, drinking, sightseeing, sports, and embracing local culture. There are many charming college towns on the shores of the beautiful Great Lakes region, a great place to find your dream college, and many cities on the shores strive to retain their alumni.

Northwestern University

Northwestern University is known for many things; as a founder of the Big Ten Conference, a highly regarded private research university located in Evanston, Illinois, and offering additional campuses in Chicago, and Doha, Qatar. The university is known for its strong academic programs that include highly-ranked sciences, engineering, and business programs. Northwestern is unique for its commitment to interdisciplinary education, encouraging students to combine multiple areas of study and collaborate across fields. They offer state-of-the-art facilities and extensive funding for research projects and have a commitment to diversity, innovation, and social impact. The vibrant campus offers many extracurricular activities that include athletics, music, theater, and community service. Over 40,000 students apply each year to Northwestern and only 8.5% of them receive an acceptance letter. In 2023 Northwestern University ranked the best school in the Great Lakes region in terms of quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. The university was founded in 1851, it was established to serve the former Northwest Territory and is the oldest charter school in Illinois.

The University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is a comprehensive Roman Catholic university set on 1,250 acres of campus in Notre Dame, Indiana, just five miles from South Bend. Notre Dame boasts two bodies of water; Saint Mary’s and Saint Joseph’s Lakes that offer unique opportunities for students to jog the shores, paddleboard across campus, and enjoy wildlife. The university offers 75 undergraduate degrees and more than 50 graduate programs to over 8,874 students. The university offers a sprawling campus and has academic centers all over the world. It is regularly ranked as one of teh top private research universities in the world, known for its exceptional undergraduate academic programs, its influential research, and one of the most legendary football programs in American history. It was founded in 1942 and was a powerful influence in the Midwest, setting the standard for education in the same way the Ivy League set the standard for New England. Notre Dame is known for its diversity and has long been ranked as a “dream college” for students, and its famously tight-knit campus life.

The University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, it is the oldest university in Michigan and is known today as a research powerhouse. Ann Arbor has been ranked as one of the best places to live, so it's no surprise that over 65,000 students apply to the university each year, however, only 22% get accepted. Ann Arbor is a quaint little college town rich in culture, residents and students can enjoy the outdoors with dining and drinking establishments to visit. The city’s natural setting gives it a unique charm with an abundance of trees and outdoor activities. There are several art galleries, museums, and fun things to do in Ann Arbor. The town is also home to the most educated people in the United States, many of them alumni of the University of Michigan, the town is rich in education. The university was founded in 1817, before Michigan even became a state, it moved from Detroit to what is now its Central campus in Ann Arbor in 1837. Michigan University spans 780 acres and is made up of the Central and North campuses, two regional campuses, and a center in Detroit. The student body count is high around 46,000, with undergraduates numbering two-thirds of that number. There are more than half a million people living that are part of the university’s alumni, which makes it one of the largest alumni bases of any university in the world.

The University of Ohio

The University of Ohio is located in Athens, OH it was established in 1804 solely on agriculture and mechanics, and with a push from Rutherford Hays, the university expanded its academic program. OSU is the third largest campus in the U.S., and some of the most popular majors here include Psychology, Finance, and Speech Communication. The university connects with the Hocking River and was named “Harvard on the Hocking” in the past. Athens, OH is one of the best small college towns in America and has developed a reputation for the community, and character which has remained even with over 36,000 students. It is regularly ranked as one of the Midwest’s best public research institutions, a top-tier national university. The Hocking River features the recreational Hockhocking Adena Bikeway and the river offers plenty of water activities such as fishing, kayaking, and more. The peaceful forests maintained along the university’s shoreline give students a place to escape to nature. Athens is also known as Tree City, USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation, the town is surrounded by hills and offers many trails for people to go hiking and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Ohio State University ranked #15 in the 2023 Best Colleges in the Great Lakes Region. The comprehensive public university sits on a 1,800-acre campus, named “the best college town in Ohio”. The campus features its own golf course.

Michigan State University

Michigan State University is located in East Lansing established initially as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan with a focus on agricultural science. Michigan State was founded in 1855 and is one of the most influential, but unsung, public research universities in the US. Some of the university's popular majors include Advertising, Logistics, Materials, Supply Chain Managemen, and Economics. The university has the largest student body and the largest residence hall system. MSU became the model for the land-grant research university system, the prototype of virtually every public university with “State” or “A&M” in the name. East Lansing is considered to be one of the best college towns in America, the city hosts a number of art and music festivals. The Red Cedar River runs straight through MSU’s campus, making river activities one of the most popular aspects of campus life. There are opportunities for fishing, and swimming, kayaking, and ice skating in the winter. MSU was ranked #14 on the 2023 Best Colleges in the Great Lakes Region. The small college town offers tree-lined streets that lead to the main downtown street where bookstores, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are. MSU students also cheer for their beloved “Spartans” in basketball, in the IZ-ONE, and at MSU football games.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public land grant research university located in the capital city of Wisconsin. The university was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved its statehood, UW-Madison is the official state university of Wisconsin and the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It was the first public q established in the state and it remains the oldest and largest public university in the state. The main campus sits on 933 acres on the shores of Lake Mendota, it includes four National Historic Landmarks and also owns and operates the 1,200 acres of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum which is 4 miles south of the main campus. The city of Madison is historically significant in that it became home to the Union Army during the Civil War, it was used as a center for wounded soldiers and as a training camp. The city is situated between four lakes which lead to stunning natural beauty, serene lakeside views, and plenty of outdoor recreation. There are restaurants, shops, a farmer’s market, and a growing business district in the city, it is also another great college town. The city offers a vibrant arts scene that attracts world top talent, and on campus, there is an active Greek life and social scene, UW-Madison has a reputation as one of the top party schools in the country.

Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo College is a private liberal arts college located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A highly selective, nationally ranked, and globally orientated college and home of the K-Plan, a personalized and integrated approach to liberal arts and sciences. The college was founded in 1833 by Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute operated as the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan. Kalamazoo College is among the 100 oldest colleges and universities in the nation. Kalamazoo College is also known as K College, or even just K, a hilltop campus set on 60 acres in southwest Michigan, around 140 miles from Detroit and Chicago. The college’s K-Plan flexible curriculum offers students the opportunity to explore their curiosities, the tools to challenge themselves, and the power to shape their future. They have the chance to travel and study abroad, intern at a world-class company, perform hands-on research with our distinguished faculty, or discover new passions, and pursuits. K offers over 25 undergraduate liberal arts fields, students can learn through immersive, career-related programs, and through the Discovery Externship Program, freshman and sophomores can spend two weeks living and working with alumni who work in the student’s areas of interest. K College students can join over 60 organizations or participate in stress-relieving activities such as concerts, craft projects, and massages through the Wind Down Wednesday series.

Purdue University

Purdue University is a public land-grant research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana, it is the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and money to establish a college of Science, and technology, and agriculture in his name. Purdue is a Big Ten school providing “a world-class education”, and is “known for being a great engineering school”. Purdue encompasses four other campuses throughout the state, it is made up of 13 schools and colleges, a wide range of activities and organizations, and about 20% of the students here are affiliated with Greek life. The college has many performance groups that include the “All American” Marching Band, six jazz bands, and two symphony orchestras. The Boilermakers, Purdue’s athletic teams, compete in the Division I Big Ten Conference and are well known for their dominant men’s and woman’s basketball teams. The Boilermaker Special, Purdue’s official mascot, is a railroad locomotive cared for and maintained by the student-run Purdue Reamer Club. Professional and graduate programs include the well-ranked College of Engineering, Krannert School of Management, College of Education, and College of Pharmacy. Purdue’s esteemed School of Aeronautics and Astronautics within the College of Engineering has acquired the nickname "Cradle of Astronauts."

Marquette University

Marquette University is a private Jesuit research university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges in the Great Lakes region list. The university was established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28th, 1881, by John Martin Henni, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Set near the heart of downtown Milwaukee, students can cultivate their knowledge, skills, and sense of community to build meaningful careers, that lead to purposeful lives and reshape the world around them. Marquette officially became a college in 1907, Johnston Hall now houses the university’s College of Communication, which was the first building to be constructed on the new campus grounds. The college opened an engineering college and purchased two law schools, that would ultimately become the foundation of its current law program. Marquette acquired the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1913, leading to the formation of the Marquette University School of Medicine. During the 1920’s the college rapidly expanded adding a new library, athletics facilities, and classroom buildings for the schools of law, business, dentistry, and liberal arts. The college was credited with offering the first-degree program specializing in hospital administration in the U.S. and graduated the first two students in 1927.