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
Ashland University Campus
 

Ashland University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Ashland, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Ashland is a private university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and business. The residential campus sits in the small college city of Ashland in north-central Ohio.

#217 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1035-1208
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $22,610
Details

Bowling Green State University Main Campus

  • Public 4 Year
  • Bowling Green, OH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

BGSU is a large public university known for undergraduate education, aviation, and popular culture studies. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Bowling Green.

#218 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $24,283
Details

Central State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Wilberforce, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Central State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate education and manufacturing engineering. The residential campus sits in the small town of Wilberforce.

#219 Best Value in the Midwest 1/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 770-950
  • Avg GPA 2.8
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $11,398
Details

Cleveland State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Cleveland, OH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Cleveland State is a public university known for undergraduate urban affairs, engineering, and business. The urban campus sits in downtown Cleveland.

#220 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1130
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $16,230
Details
Heidelberg University Campus
 

Heidelberg University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tiffin, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Heidelberg is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate education and business. The residential campus is in the small city of Tiffin in northwest Ohio.

#221 Best Value in the Midwest
  • SAT Range 1030-1162
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $19,447
Details

Hiram College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hiram, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Hiram is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and biomedical humanities. Students follow the Hiram Plan of 12-week terms paired with intensive three-week courses.

#222 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1100
  • Avg GPA 3.28
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $21,868
Details

Kent State University at Kent

  • Public 4 Year
  • Kent, OH
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Kent State is a large public university known for undergraduate fashion design, journalism, and education. Most undergrads study on a residential campus in the college town of Kent.

#223 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $21,278
Details
Lake Erie College Campus
 

Lake Erie College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Painesville, OH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Lake Erie is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate equestrian studies and business. The compact campus sits in Painesville, a small city east of Cleveland.

#224 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 945-1115
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.19
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $22,892
Details
Malone University Campus
 

Malone University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Canton, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Malone is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The suburban campus sits in Canton in northeastern Ohio.

#225 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $22,390
Details
Mercy College of Ohio Campus
 

Mercy College of Ohio

  • Private 4 Year
  • Toledo, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Mercy College of Ohio is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate nursing and allied health programs. The urban Toledo campus is tied to the Mercy Health system and the Sisters of Mercy tradition.

#226 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1010
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $15,311
Details

University of Mount Union

  • Private 4 Year
  • Alliance, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Union is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the small city of Alliance in northeastern Ohio.

#227 Best Value in the Midwest 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1240
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $23,616
Details
Muskingum University Campus
 

Muskingum University

  • Private 4 Year
  • New Concord, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Muskingum is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate education and the sciences. Most students live on a residential campus in the small town of New Concord.

#228 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1105
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $19,695
Details
Tiffin University Campus
 

Tiffin University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tiffin, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Tiffin is a private university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and sports management. Students study on a compact residential campus in the small city of Tiffin in northwest Ohio.

#229 Best Value in the Midwest 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 910-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.11
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $26,068
Details
Wilmington College Campus
 

Wilmington College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Wilmington, OH
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

A private Quaker liberal arts college known for undergraduate agriculture and peace studies. Students live on a residential campus in the small city of Wilmington in southwestern Ohio.

#230 Best Value in the Midwest 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 850-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.47
  • Acceptance Rate 92%
  • Net Price $26,548
Details

Wright State University Main Campus

  • Public 4 Year
  • Dayton, OH
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews
  • Aug 23 application deadline

Wright State is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and computer science. The suburban campus sits near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Dayton area.

#231 Best Value in the Midwest
  • SAT Range 913-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.41
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $15,254
Details
Wright State University Lake Campus Campus
 

Wright State University Lake Campus

  • Public 4 Year
  • Celina, OH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 26 application deadline

Wright State Lake Campus is a public regional campus known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The lakeside campus sits on the northern shore of Grand Lake St. Marys.

#232 Best Value in the Midwest
  • SAT Range 790-890
  • Avg GPA 3.27
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $11,008
Details

Youngstown State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Youngstown, OH
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Youngstown State is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and education. The urban campus sits in Youngstown in northeastern Ohio.

#233 Best Value in the Midwest
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.51
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $12,757
Details

Black Hills State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Spearfish, SD
  • | 0 reviews

Black Hills State is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and outdoor education. The campus sits in Spearfich at the northern edge of South Dakota's Black Hills.

#234 Best Value in the Midwest 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 965-1135
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.22
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $15,576
Details