The Best Value Midwestern Colleges

Best Value Colleges in Midwest for 2025

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the Midwest based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2025 as the overall best value college in the Midwest is Northwestern University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $23,341 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
Midwest Public Private 4 year

254 results

Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 23,203enrollment
  • $23,341net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Washington University in St Louis
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W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 16,500enrollment
  • $22,440net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $27,979net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Michigan
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M
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 52,065enrollment
  • $19,005net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Notre Dame
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N
Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#5 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 13,174enrollment
  • $29,083net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Carleton College
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C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 2,069enrollment
  • $29,434net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Minnesota Morris
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M
Morris, MN

University of Minnesota Morris

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,020enrollment
  • $9,539net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Grinnell College
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G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,775enrollment
  • $33,446net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1418-1550SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Albion College
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A
Albion, MI

Albion College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,354enrollment
  • $18,470net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#10 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 56,563enrollment
  • $14,297net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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DePauw University
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D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,819enrollment
  • $30,507net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Purdue University Main Campus
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P
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#12 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 52,905enrollment
  • $12,421net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1460SAT range
  • 27-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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University of Illinois at Chicago
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I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 33,522enrollment
  • $11,499net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Roosevelt University
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R
Chicago, IL

Roosevelt University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 4,015enrollment
  • $21,503net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 820-1090SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

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Coe College
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C
Cedar Rapids, IA

Coe College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,278enrollment
  • $20,940net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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St Olaf College
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S
Northfield, MN

St Olaf College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#16 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 3,074enrollment
  • $27,282net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1470SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Missouri University of Science and Technology
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M
Rolla, MO

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 7,156enrollment
  • $14,414net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1378SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Illinois Institute of Technology
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I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 8,563enrollment
  • $25,001net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1410SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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