Best Midwestern Colleges

There are 252 ranked four-year colleges in the Midwest, evaluated with the same methodology used for our national rankings. Only nonprofit, selective four-year schools are included.

Leading our 2027 rankings is University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, topping our list in the Midwest. The top rated public university is University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Also highly ranked: Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis and University of Notre Dame.

Compare tuition, acceptance rates, and enrollment across the colleges below. See how rankings 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
Carthage College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Kenosha, WI
  • 4.5 | 4 reviews

Carthage is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits on the western shore of Lake Michigan.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1205
  • Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $27,066
Details
Northeastern Illinois University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Chicago, IL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Northeastern Illinois is a public university known for undergraduate education and business programs. The urban campus sits on Chicago's Northwest Side.

#9 Best Public Universities in Illinois 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 810-1010
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 75%
  • Net Price $14,140
Details
University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fort Wayne, IN
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

University of Saint Francis is a private Franciscan university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and education. The residential campus in Fort Wayne centers Catholic and Franciscan campus life.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 870-1070
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $18,654
Details
University of Dubuque Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Dubuque, IA
  • | 0 reviews

University of Dubuque is a private Presbyterian university known for undergraduate aviation and nursing. Most students live on the residential campus near the Mississippi River.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $26,067
Details
Eastern Illinois University Campus

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  • 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.

#10 Best Public Universities in Illinois 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $13,787
Details
Madonna University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Livonia, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Madonna is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The suburban campus sits in Livonia in the Detroit metro area.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.35
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $18,373
Details
Bowling Green State University Main Campus Campus

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  • 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.

#6 Best Public Universities in Ohio 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $24,283
Details
Mercy College of Ohio Campus
 

  • 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.

#26 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1010
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $15,311
Details
Saint Cloud State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Saint Cloud, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Saint Cloud State is a public university known for undergraduate aviation, business, and education. The campus sits along the Mississippi River in central Minnesota.

#5 Best Public Universities in Minnesota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1025-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $14,735
Details
Greenville University Campus

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  • 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.

#25 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 771-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $20,799
Details
Mount Mary University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Mary is a private Catholic women's university known for undergraduate fashion design, dietetics, and art. The campus sits in a residential neighborhood on Milwaukee's northwest side.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 866-1123
  • Avg GPA 3.13
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $20,390
Details
Dakota State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Madison, SD
  • 4.3 | 7 reviews

Dakota State is a public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity, computer science, and information systems. Most students live on a residential campus in the small college town of Madison.

#4 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $20,438
Details
Trine University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Angola, IN
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Trine is a private university known for undergraduate engineering and business. Most students live on a residential campus in the small town of Angola.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.51
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $25,355
Details
University of Michigan Flint Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Flint, MI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 22 application deadline

UM-Flint is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The urban campus is located in downtown Flint.

#8 Best Public Universities in Michigan 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1243
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $7,852
Details
University of Central Missouri Campus

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  • 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.

#6 Best Public Universities in Missouri 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $14,943
Details
Siena Heights University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Adrian, MI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Siena Heights is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. Students attend a compact campus in the small city of Adrian in southeast Michigan.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 806-1073
  • Avg GPA 3.32
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $17,520
Details
Lindenwood University Campus

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  • 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.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1023-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $20,901
Details
Missouri Southern State University Campus
 

  • 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.

#7 Best Public Universities in Missouri 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $11,626
Details