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
Southwest Minnesota State University Campus
 

Southwest Minnesota State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Marshall, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 18 application deadline

SMSU is a public university known for undergraduate culinology, education, and business. The campus sits in the small city of Marshall in rural southwestern Minnesota.

#199 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 935-1102
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.21
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $15,547
Details
Avila University Campus
 

Avila University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Kansas City, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Avila is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The compact campus sits in southern Kansas City.

#200 Best Value in the Midwest 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 800-960
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $17,004
Details
Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Campus
 

Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fayette, MO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Central Methodist is a private Methodist university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and music. The historic campus sits in the small college town of Fayette.

#201 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1045
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $22,929
Details

University of Central Missouri

  • Public 4 Year
  • Warrensburg, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Central Missouri is a public university known for undergraduate aviation, criminal justice, and education. The campus sits in the college town of Warrensburg east of Kansas City.

#202 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $14,943
Details
Culver Stockton College Campus
 

Culver Stockton College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Canton, MO
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Culver-Stockton is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and equestrian studies. The campus sits on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.

#203 Best Value in the Midwest 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $21,996
Details
Evangel University Campus
 

Evangel University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Springfield, MO
  • 3.5 | 4 reviews

Evangel is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, music, and education. It is the national university of the Assemblies of God.

#204 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1260
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $19,261
Details

Lindenwood University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Charles, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Lindenwood is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and communications. The residential campus is in historic St. Charles near St. Louis.

#205 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1023-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $20,901
Details
Missouri Baptist University Campus
 

Missouri Baptist University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Missouri Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and Christian ministry. The suburban campus sits in Creve Coeur in the St. Louis metro area.

#206 Best Value in the Midwest 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $27,623
Details
Missouri Southern State University Campus
 

Missouri Southern State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Joplin, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Missouri Southern is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and health sciences. The campus is in Joplin in southwest Missouri.

#207 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $11,626
Details

Missouri Valley College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Marshall, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Missouri Valley is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the small town of Marshall in central Missouri.

#208 Best Value in the Midwest 2/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 895-1115
  • Avg GPA 3.04
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $18,923
Details

Northwest Missouri State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Maryville, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Northwest Missouri State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and agriculture. The residential campus is in the small college town of Maryville.

#209 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 976-1193
  • Avg GPA 3.45
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $16,790
Details

Southeast Missouri State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Cape Girardeau, MO
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 1 application deadline

SEMO is a public university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The campus overlooks the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau.

#210 Best Value in the Midwest 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1030
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $16,185
Details

Missouri State University Springfield

  • Public 4 Year
  • Springfield, MO
  • 4.0 | 3 reviews

Missouri State is a large public university known for undergraduate business, education, and health professions. The Springfield campus lies in the Ozarks region of southwest Missouri.

#211 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $17,181
Details

Webster University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Louis, MO
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews

Webster is a private university known for undergraduate communications, theatre, and media arts. The main campus sits in suburban Webster Groves near St. Louis.

#212 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1110-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $29,503
Details

Concordia University Nebraska

  • Private 4 Year
  • Seward, NE
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Concordia Nebraska is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and theology. Students live on a residential campus in the small college town of Seward.

#213 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1235
  • Avg GPA 3.52
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $24,158
Details

Midland University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fremont, NE
  • | 0 reviews

Midland is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. Most students live on the residential campus in Fremont, northwest of Omaha.

#214 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 963-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $26,643
Details

University of Nebraska at Omaha

  • Public 4 Year
  • Omaha, NE
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

UNO is a public university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and information technology. The urban campus sits in midtown Omaha.

#215 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $13,662
Details

University of Akron Main Campus

  • Public 4 Year
  • Akron, OH
  • 3.5 | 4 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

University of Akron is a large public university known for undergraduate polymer science and engineering. The urban campus sits near downtown Akron.

#216 Best Value in the Midwest
  • SAT Range 900-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 60%
  • Net Price $14,693
Details