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Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

156 Colleges
$64,824 Avg Salary
$25,910 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Computer Science School for You

With 59,565 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, computer science is the #2 most popular major in the United States.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which computer science program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Computer Science Degree Search has created its Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 156 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs were the most popular for computer science students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Computer Science program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for compsci majors pursuing a .

Our 2023 rankings named University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for computer science students. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a very large student population.

CompSci majors at UIUC take out an average of $18,500 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $477.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#2

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, compsci majors at Purdue accumulate an average of around $17,571 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $391.

Full Computer Science at Purdue University - Main Campus Report

Out of the 156 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the # 3 spot on the list. UIC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Chicago.

After completing their degree, compsci graduates from UIC carry an average student debt load of $19,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $280.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Illinois at Chicago

#4

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

CompSci majors at UChicago take out an average of $15,833 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Computer Science at University of Chicago Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Illinois Institute of Technology is a great place for computer science students. Located in the large city of Chicago, Illinois Tech is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at Illinois Tech take out is $26,000.

Read full report on Computer Science at Illinois Institute of Technology

#6

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH

University of Dayton ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Dayton, UDayton is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Full Computer Science at University of Dayton Report

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular computer science programs. IU Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington.

After completing their degree, compsci graduates from IU Bloomington carry an average student debt load of $23,590. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $321.

Read More…

#8

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

With a ranking of #8, Northwestern University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for computer science students. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at Northwestern take out is $14,600.

Full Computer Science at Northwestern University Report

University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIS is a small public school located in the midsize city of Springfield.

After completing their degree, compsci graduates from UIS carry an average student debt load of $27,689.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Illinois at Springfield

Case Western Reserve University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland.

The average amount in student loans that compsci majors at Case Western take out is $25,973. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $439.

Read full report on Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University

Northern Illinois University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.

While working on their degree, compsci majors at NIU accumulate an average of around $23,759 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $205.

Read More…

#12

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL

Lewis University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular computer science programs. Lewis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville.

After completing their degree, compsci graduates from Lewis carry an average student debt load of $26,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $349, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for computer science students. It came in at #13 on the list. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Chicago.

On average, compsci graduates from Northeastern Illinois University take out $15,900 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Kent State University at Kent came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kent State is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Kent.

CompSci majors at Kent State take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Computer Science at Kent State University at Kent

#15

Governors State University

University Park, IL

Governors State University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the rural area of University Park, GSU is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, compsci graduates from GSU carry an average student debt load of $22,178.

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With a ranking of #16, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for computer science students. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public college with a fairly large student population.

On average, compsci graduates from UWM take out $30,125 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

With a ranking of #17, Michigan Technological University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for computer science students. Michigan Tech is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Houghton.

On average, compsci graduates from Michigan Tech take out $21,500 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $333.

Read full report on Computer Science at Michigan Technological University

#18

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI

Eastern Michigan University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti.

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Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for computer science students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, IUPUI is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, compsci graduates from IUPUI carry an average student debt load of $25,112.

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular computer science programs. SIUE is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Edwardsville.

CompSci majors at SIUE take out an average of $24,429 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, compsci graduates from Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology take out $24,500 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $687.

Full Computer Science at Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology Report

#22

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Ball State University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular computer science programs. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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#23

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular computer science programs. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant.

While working on their degree, compsci majors at Central Michigan accumulate an average of around $31,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $222, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Computer Science at Central Michigan University Report

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Computer Science students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Most Popular Computer Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
24 Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI
24 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
26 Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN
27 Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH
28 Ohio University - Athens Campus Athens, OH
28 Bradley University Peoria, IL
30 Illinois State University Normal, IL
31 Purdue University Northwest Hammond, IN
31 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, IL

Best Computer Science Colleges by State

Explore the best computer science schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 623
Ohio 1,016
Illinois 3,680
Indiana 1,471
Wisconsin 248

One of 10 majors within the computer science area of study, computer science has other similar majors worth exploring.

CompSci Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Computer Science 59,565

Related Major Annual Graduates
Computer Information Systems 88,434
Information Technology 40,555
Information Science 18,325
Computer Systems Networking 14,700
Computer Software & Applications 14,336

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Negative Space.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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