Compare 25 Education, General. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $36,777.
With top graduates earning $58,769, Education, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $22K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities leads with Education graduates earning $58,769, significantly above the $36,777 regional average. Michigan State follows at $46,050, demonstrating how public universities dominate this field. These outcomes reflect program strength, not overall institutional rankings.
Highest program earnings: $58,769
Strong outcomes with 77% acceptance
7.4% payment burden | Excellent
18.6% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $58,769 | 231 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $46,050 | 157 | $23,250 | Manageable | $37,401 | High | |
| #3 | John Carroll UniversityPrivate | $45,762 | 27 | $26,000 | Manageable | $39,285 | High |
| #4 | Midland UniversityPrivate | $44,888 | 44 | $26,134 | Manageable | $26,370 | High |
| #5 | $44,161 | 153 | $23,000 | Manageable | $16,149 | High | |
| #6 | $43,969 | 70 | $22,024 | Manageable | $22,127 | High | |
| #7 | $43,291 | 221 | $24,500 | Manageable | $26,392 | High | |
| #8 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | $40,192 | 31 | $25,000 | Challenging | $34,177 | High |
| #9 | $39,768 | 74 | $18,500 | Manageable | $13,480 | High | |
| #10 | Denison UniversityPrivate | $39,480 | 22 | $26,000 | Challenging | $45,521 | High |
| #11 | Webster UniversityPrivate | $38,697 | 21 | $23,000 | Challenging | $13,587 | High |
| #12 | $38,464 | 155 | $25,000 | Challenging | $25,947 | High | |
| #13 | Hamline UniversityPrivate | $36,976 | 27 | $23,770 | Challenging | $22,739 | High |
| #14 | $36,833 | 95 | $24,500 | Challenging | $21,394 | High | |
| #15 | Beloit CollegePrivate | $35,797 | 16 | $25,738 | High | $32,004 | High |
| #16 | $35,784 | 18 | $25,930 | High | $12,500 | High | |
| #17 | Wilmington CollegePrivate | $35,768 | 30 | $24,208 | High | $27,288 | High |
| #18 | Macalester CollegePrivate | $33,281 | 14 | $23,000 | High | $36,129 | High |
| #19 | $32,110 | 24 | $21,000 | High | $14,000 | High | |
| #20 | Lindenwood UniversityPrivate | $31,593 | 13 | $26,000 | High | $18,445 | High |
| #21 | $28,577 | 24 | $20,000 | High | $15,027 | High | |
| #22 | Baker CollegePrivate | $26,353 | 9 | $25,000 | High | $9,540 | High |
| #23 | Roosevelt UniversityPrivate | $25,194 | 9 | $22,000 | High | $27,213 | High |
| #24 | Edgewood CollegePrivate | $22,578 | 18 | $24,424 | High | $20,000 | High |
| #25 | Depauw UniversityPrivate | $22,192 | 16 | $27,000 | High | $35,134 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →