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.
Baldwin Wallace University
- Private 4 Year
- Berea, OH
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
Baldwin Wallace is a private university known for undergraduate music through its conservatory, along with business and education. The suburban campus sits in Berea near Cleveland.
- SAT Range 1060-1290
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $27,991
Cedarville University
- Private 4 Year
- Cedarville, OH
-
4.0 | 4 reviews
Cedarville is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and biblical studies. Most undergrads complete required Bible coursework and live on the residential campus in a small Ohio town.
- SAT Range 1130-1360
- Avg GPA 3.9
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $27,150
Otterbein University
- Private 4 Year
- Westerville, OH
-
| 0 reviews
Otterbein is a private university known for undergraduate theatre, musical theatre, and nursing. The historic campus sits in Westerville, a suburb of Columbus.
- SAT Range 1035-1260
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $20,457
Marquette University
- Private 4 Year
- Milwaukee, WI
-
4.3 | 3 reviews
- Dec 1 application deadline
Marquette is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and communications. The urban campus sits in Milwaukee near Lake Michigan.
- SAT Range 1200-1360
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $34,322
Viterbo University
- Private 4 Year
- La Crosse, WI
-
| 0 reviews
Viterbo is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and performing arts. The campus sits in La Crosse along the Mississippi River.
- SAT Range 1040-1380
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $21,933
Saint Ambrose University
- Private 4 Year
- Davenport, IA
-
| 0 reviews
Saint Ambrose is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The residential campus sits in the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River.
- SAT Range 930-1170
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 77%
- Net Price $25,345
Grand Valley State University
- Public 4 Year
- Allendale, MI
-
3.7 | 3 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Grand Valley State is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The Allendale campus sits west of Grand Rapids along the Grand River.
- SAT Range 940-1190
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $17,198
Hope College
- Private 4 Year
- Holland, MI
-
3.8 | 4 reviews
Hope is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate chemistry, biology, and education. The residential campus sits in Holland near the Lake Michigan shore.
- SAT Range 1100-1340
- Avg GPA 3.83
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $30,700
Spring Arbor University
- Private 4 Year
- Spring Arbor, MI
-
3.2 | 4 reviews
Spring Arbor is a private Free Methodist university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and social work. The residential campus sits in the small village of Spring Arbor in south-central Michigan.
- SAT Range 1010-1240
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 52%
- Net Price $21,067
University of Nebraska Lincoln
- Public 4 Year
- Lincoln, NE
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Nebraska is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, engineering, and journalism. Students attend classes on a large campus in Lincoln, the state capital.
- SAT Range 1098-1330
- Avg GPA 3.63
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $18,322
Xavier University
- Private 4 Year
- Cincinnati, OH
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Xavier is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and nursing. The urban campus sits in Cincinnati's North Avondale neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1103-1310
- Avg GPA 3.68
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $33,623
DePaul University
- Private 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
-
3.3 | 3 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
DePaul is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, film, and theater. Its urban campuses sit in Chicago's Lincoln Park and Loop neighborhoods.
- SAT Range 1140-1330
- Avg GPA 3.8
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $34,135
Western Illinois University
- Public 4 Year
- Macomb, IL
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
Western Illinois is a public university known for undergraduate criminal justice, education, and agriculture. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Macomb.
- SAT Range 880-1090
- Avg GPA 3.45
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $14,208
Michigan State University
- Public 4 Year
- East Lansing, MI
-
4.5 | 6 reviews
Michigan State is a large public university known for undergraduate supply chain management, education, and agriculture. The campus spreads across the college town of East Lansing with the Red Cedar River running through it.
- SAT Range 1180-1360
- Avg GPA 3.72
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $23,657
Wayne State University
- Public 4 Year
- Detroit, MI
-
4.2 | 4 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Wayne State is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, pharmacy, and business. The urban campus is in Midtown Detroit near the city's cultural district.
- SAT Range 1060-1270
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $14,416
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
- Private 4 Year
- Omaha, NE
-
| 0 reviews
Nebraska Methodist College is a private college known for undergraduate nursing and allied health programs. The urban Omaha campus is affiliated with Methodist Health System.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $21,634
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
- Private 4 Year
- Mount Vernon, OH
-
3.5 | 2 reviews
Mount Vernon Nazarene is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. Most students live on the residential campus in the small city of Mount Vernon.
- SAT Range 1046-1315
- Avg GPA 3.55
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $22,961
Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Private 4 Year
- Steubenville, OH
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Franciscan is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate theology, philosophy, and catechetics. The hillside campus overlooks the Ohio River in Steubenville.
- SAT Range 1110-1350
- Avg GPA 3.78
- Acceptance Rate 58%
- Net Price $23,086