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.
Oberlin College
- Private 4 Year
- Oberlin, OH
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Oberlin is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music through its Conservatory and for the arts. Most students live on a residential campus in the small college town of Oberlin.
- SAT Range 1360-1520
- Avg GPA 3.67
- Acceptance Rate 34%
- Net Price $51,624
Carroll University
- Private 4 Year
- Waukesha, WI
-
| 0 reviews
Carroll is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The residential campus sits in suburban Waukesha west of Milwaukee.
- SAT Range 1040-1270
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 67%
- Net Price $27,031
Ohio University Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Athens, OH
-
4.5 | 4 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Ohio University is a large public university known for undergraduate journalism and communications. Athens is a classic college town built around the residential campus.
- SAT Range 1090-1290
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $21,907
University of Toledo
- Public 4 Year
- Toledo, OH
-
| 0 reviews
University of Toledo is a public university known for undergraduate engineering and pharmacy. The main campus sits in a residential section of Toledo.
- SAT Range 1100-1300
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $17,844
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Public 4 Year
- Rapid City, SD
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
South Dakota Mines is a public science and engineering university known for undergraduate mining, geological, and materials engineering. The Rapid City campus lies at the edge of the Black Hills.
- SAT Range 1140-1340
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $20,267
Concordia University Wisconsin
- Private 4 Year
- Mequon, WI
-
| 0 reviews
Concordia Wisconsin is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The suburban campus sits on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Mequon.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $31,916
Winona State University
- Public 4 Year
- Winona, MN
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Winona State is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits along the Mississippi River in Minnesota's bluff country.
- SAT Range 980-1250
- Avg GPA 3.44
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $18,289
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
- Public 4 Year
- Eau Claire, WI
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
UW-Eau Claire is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and music. The campus sits along the Chippewa River in a western Wisconsin college town.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $15,151
University of Minnesota Duluth
- Public 4 Year
- Duluth, MN
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
UMD is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and the natural sciences. The hillside campus overlooks Lake Superior above the city of Duluth.
- SAT Range 1180-1350
- Avg GPA 3.51
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $20,128
University of Cincinnati Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Cincinnati, OH
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
University of Cincinnati is a large public university known for undergraduate architecture, design, and music. The urban campus occupies a hillside site in Cincinnati's Uptown area.
- SAT Range 1160-1370
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $24,696
University of Wisconsin La Crosse
- Public 4 Year
- La Crosse, WI
-
| 0 reviews
UW-La Crosse is a public university known for undergraduate exercise science, biology, and teacher education. The campus sits along the Mississippi River at the base of wooded bluffs.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.6
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $14,712
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Private 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
-
2.0 | 1 reviews
- Nov 15 application deadline
SAIC is a private art and design college known for undergraduate fine arts, design, and contemporary art practice. The urban downtown campus is connected to the Art Institute of Chicago museum.
- SAT Range 1048-1260
- Avg GPA 3.51
- Acceptance Rate 77%
- Net Price $55,631
Aurora University
- Private 4 Year
- Aurora, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Aurora University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and social work. The suburban campus sits in Aurora, about 40 miles west of Chicago.
- SAT Range 900-1150
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $19,053
Chicago State University
- Public 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Chicago State is a public university known for undergraduate education and nursing. The urban campus is located on Chicago's South Side.
- SAT Range 750-963
- Avg GPA 3.18
- Acceptance Rate 43%
- Net Price $10,441
Concordia University Chicago
- Private 4 Year
- River Forest, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Concordia Chicago is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate education and teacher preparation. The suburban campus sits in River Forest just west of Chicago.
- SAT Range 990-1180
- Avg GPA 3.18
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $19,073
Eastern Illinois University
- Public 4 Year
- Charleston, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Eastern Illinois is a mid-sized public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the college town of Charleston in east-central Illinois.
- SAT Range 880-1090
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $13,787
Greenville University
- Private 4 Year
- Greenville, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Greenville University is a private Free Methodist university known for undergraduate teacher education and music. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Greenville.
- SAT Range 771-1230
- Avg GPA 3.23
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $20,799
Benedictine University
- Private 4 Year
- Lisle, IL
-
| 0 reviews
Benedictine is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and biology. The suburban campus is in Lisle in Chicago's western suburbs.
- SAT Range 1050-1280
- Avg GPA 3.26
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $23,139