Top Rated Midwest Private Colleges
These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the Midwest. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the highest ranked private college in the Midwest is University of Chicago. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Saint Louis University
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Louis, MO
-
| 0 reviews
SLU is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate health sciences, nursing, and aviation. The urban campus sits in Midtown St. Louis.
- SAT Range 1200-1410
- Avg GPA 3.95
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $27,749
Saint Mary's College
- Private 4 Year
- Notre Dame, IN
-
3.8 | 5 reviews
Saint Mary's is a private Catholic women's college known for undergraduate nursing, education, and the liberal arts. The campus adjoins the University of Notre Dame in northern Indiana.
- SAT Range 1130-1325
- Avg GPA 3.83
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $27,865
The College of Wooster
- Private 4 Year
- Wooster, OH
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2.3 | 3 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
The College of Wooster is a private liberal arts college known for a required senior Independent Study thesis. Most undergrads live on a residential campus in a small Ohio college town.
- SAT Range 1220-1460
- Avg GPA 3.76
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $28,004
Bradley University
- Private 4 Year
- Peoria, IL
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
Bradley is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, business, and health sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in Peoria.
- SAT Range 1090-1300
- Avg GPA 3.83
- Acceptance Rate 77%
- Net Price $23,787
Lawrence University
- Private 4 Year
- Appleton, WI
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Lawrence is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music through its Conservatory of Music. The residential campus sits along the Fox River in Appleton.
- SAT Range 1200-1420
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 64%
- Net Price $27,161
University of Dayton
- Private 4 Year
- Dayton, OH
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4.5 | 2 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
University of Dayton is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate engineering and business. The Marianist campus sits in an urban neighborhood of Dayton.
- SAT Range 1200-1380
- Avg GPA 3.77
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $32,794
Butler University
- Private 4 Year
- Indianapolis, IN
-
3.8 | 4 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Butler is a private university known for undergraduate pharmacy, business, and communication. Most students live on a residential campus on Indianapolis's north side.
- SAT Range 1160-1350
- Avg GPA 3.92
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $38,438
Loyola University Chicago
- Private 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
-
4.3 | 6 reviews
Loyola Chicago is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and communications. The urban campus sits along Lake Michigan on Chicago's North Side.
- SAT Range 1170-1360
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 82%
- Net Price $39,147
University of St Thomas
- Private 4 Year
- Saint Paul, MN
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business. The urban campus sits along Summit Avenue in St. Paul.
- SAT Range 1260-1423
- Avg GPA 3.63
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $31,250
Marquette University
- Private 4 Year
- Milwaukee, WI
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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
John Carroll University
- Private 4 Year
- University Heights, OH
-
| 0 reviews
John Carroll is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and the sciences. The suburban campus sits in University Heights near Cleveland.
- SAT Range 1180-1330
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $30,030
Ohio Northern University
- Private 4 Year
- Ada, OH
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 15 application deadline
Ohio Northern is a private university known for undergraduate pharmacy and engineering. The residential campus anchors the small college town of Ada in northwest Ohio.
- SAT Range 1175-1400
- Avg GPA 3.78
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $25,941
Milwaukee School of Engineering
- Private 4 Year
- Milwaukee, WI
-
| 0 reviews
- Sep 1 application deadline
MSOE is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and nursing. The urban campus is located in downtown Milwaukee.
- SAT Range 1160-1405
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 59%
- Net Price $25,669
Kalamazoo College
- Private 4 Year
- Kalamazoo, MI
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Kalamazoo is a private liberal arts college known for the K-Plan curriculum, extensive undergraduate study abroad, and a required senior individualized project. Most undergrads complete an extended off-campus study experience before graduation.
- SAT Range 1170-1380
- Avg GPA 3.73
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $26,956
Kettering University
- Private 4 Year
- Flint, MI
-
| 0 reviews
Kettering is a private university known for undergraduate mechanical, electrical, and industrial engineering. The campus sits in Flint, a mid-sized Michigan city long tied to the auto industry.
- SAT Range 1160-1330
- Avg GPA 3.77
- Acceptance Rate 79%
- Net Price $35,609
Luther College
- Private 4 Year
- Decorah, IA
-
| 0 reviews
Luther is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate music and the sciences. The residential campus sits among the bluffs of Decorah in northeast Iowa.
- SAT Range 1078-1406
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $24,511
Illinois Institute of Technology
- Private 4 Year
- Chicago, IL
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Illinois Tech is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and computer science. The urban Chicago campus is noted for its modernist buildings by Mies van der Rohe.
- SAT Range 1180-1440
- Avg GPA 3.84
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $24,796
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion
- Private 4 Year
- Marion, IN
-
| 0 reviews
Indiana Wesleyan is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry. The residential campus in Marion is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church.
- SAT Range 960-1180
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $23,402