Best Value Midwestern Colleges

There are 252 colleges in the Midwest ranked by value using the same methodology as our national list. Rankings balance academic quality with the net price students typically pay.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor leads Midwest value rankings for 2027 with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $17,574. The top value public university is also University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Also high value: Washington University in St Louis, Northwestern University and University of Chicago.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states.

252 Results
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Midwest Public Private 4 Year

Eastern Michigan University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Ypsilanti, MI
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews

EMU is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The campus is in Ypsilanti, just east of Ann Arbor.

#181 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $15,742
Details

Ferris State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Big Rapids, MI
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Ferris State is a public university known for undergraduate pharmacy, optometry, and applied technology programs. The main campus is in the small city of Big Rapids in western Michigan.

#182 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $10,825
Details

Cornerstone University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Cornerstone is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and business. Students live on a compact residential campus in Grand Rapids.

#183 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $21,335
Details

Lake Superior State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Sault Ste Marie, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Lake Superior State is a small public university known for undergraduate fisheries and wildlife management and criminal justice. The campus sits along the St. Marys River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula near the Canadian border.

#184 Best Value in the Midwest
  • SAT Range 1000-1225
  • Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $12,339
Details

Madonna University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Livonia, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Madonna is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The suburban campus sits in Livonia in the Detroit metro area.

#185 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.35
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $18,373
Details
Rochester University Campus
 

Rochester University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Rochester Hills, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Rochester University is a private Christian university with undergraduate programs in business, nursing, and education. The suburban campus is in Rochester Hills in metro Detroit.

#186 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1060
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.13
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $21,611
Details

University of Michigan Flint

  • Public 4 Year
  • Flint, MI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 22 application deadline

UM-Flint is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The urban campus is located in downtown Flint.

#187 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1243
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $7,852
Details

Northwood University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Midland, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Northwood is a private university known for undergraduate business, management, and automotive marketing. The Midland campus centers on a specialized free-enterprise business curriculum in central Michigan.

#188 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $25,549
Details

Oakland University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Rochester Hills, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Oakland University is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The suburban campus sits in Rochester Hills northeast of Detroit.

#189 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.51
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $12,208
Details

Saginaw Valley State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • University Center, MI
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saginaw Valley State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus is in University Center between Saginaw and Bay City.

#190 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 920-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $11,546
Details

Siena Heights University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Adrian, MI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Siena Heights is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. Students attend a compact campus in the small city of Adrian in southeast Michigan.

#191 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 806-1073
  • Avg GPA 3.32
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $17,520
Details

Western Michigan University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Kalamazoo, MI
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews

Western Michigan is a large public university known for undergraduate aviation, engineering, and education. The residential campus sits on a hillside overlooking Kalamazoo in southwestern Michigan.

#192 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $17,331
Details

Bemidji State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bemidji, MN
  • | 0 reviews

Bemidji State is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus sits on the shore of Lake Bemidji in northern Minnesota.

#193 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $14,859
Details

Minnesota State University Mankato

  • Public 4 Year
  • Mankato, MN
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews

Minnesota State Mankato is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Minnesota River valley in southern Minnesota.

#194 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $18,861
Details

Minnesota State University Moorhead

  • Public 4 Year
  • Moorhead, MN
  • | 0 reviews

Minnesota State Moorhead is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, fine arts, and mass communications. The campus sits in Moorhead across the Red River from Fargo, North Dakota.

#195 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 59%
  • Net Price $18,221
Details
University of Northwestern St Paul Campus
 

University of Northwestern St Paul

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Paul, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

A private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, communications, and education. The suburban campus sits in Roseville near St. Paul.

#196 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 868-1271
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $29,117
Details

Saint Cloud State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Saint Cloud, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Saint Cloud State is a public university known for undergraduate aviation, business, and education. The campus sits along the Mississippi River in central Minnesota.

#197 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1025-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $14,735
Details

Crown College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Bonifacius, MN
  • | 0 reviews

Crown College is a private Christian college known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and nursing. The campus is in the small town of St. Bonifacius west of the Twin Cities.

#198 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.22
  • Acceptance Rate 23%
  • Net Price $27,332
Details