The Best Midwestern Colleges

The Best Colleges in the Midwest for 2025

These are the top ranked public and private four-year colleges in the Midwest as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the list for 2025 as the best overall college in the Midwest is University of Chicago. The top rated public state college is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Midwest Public Private 4 year

254 results

University of Chicago
C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $27,979net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

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Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,203enrollment
  • $23,341net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Washington University in St Louis
W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in America

  • 16,500enrollment
  • $22,440net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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University of Notre Dame
N
Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#1 Best Value in Indiana

  • 13,174enrollment
  • $29,083net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Carleton College
C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,069enrollment
  • $29,434net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Michigan
M
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,065enrollment
  • $19,005net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Case Western Reserve University
C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 12,266enrollment
  • $41,351net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Grinnell College
G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Iowa

  • 1,775enrollment
  • $33,446net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1418-1550SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Kenyon College
K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,184enrollment
  • $44,470net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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DePauw University
D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,819enrollment
  • $30,507net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Denison University
D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,405enrollment
  • $42,177net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Purdue University Main Campus
P
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#15 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,905enrollment
  • $12,421net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1460SAT range
  • 27-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Macalester College
M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $38,571net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Wisconsin Madison
W
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin Madison

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Public Universities in America

  • 49,605enrollment
  • $14,216net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1510SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Creighton University
C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nebraska

  • 8,255enrollment
  • $33,364net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,250enrollment
  • $44,016net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 56,563enrollment
  • $14,297net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Drake University
D
Des Moines, IA

Drake University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Iowa

  • 4,504enrollment
  • $30,886net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1390SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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