Top Rated Midwest Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the Midwest for 2025

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

93 results

University of Michigan
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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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Purdue University Main Campus
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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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University of Wisconsin Madison
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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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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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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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Ohio State University
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O
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 60,046enrollment
  • $19,575net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1480SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Minnesota Twin Cities
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M
Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 54,890enrollment
  • $16,730net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Illinois at Chicago
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I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 33,522enrollment
  • $11,499net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Missouri University of Science and Technology
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M
Rolla, MO

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 7,156enrollment
  • $14,414net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1378SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Indiana University Bloomington
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I
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 47,527enrollment
  • $16,282net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

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University of Iowa
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I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 30,042enrollment
  • $20,121net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Michigan State University
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S
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Michigan

  • 51,316enrollment
  • $24,630net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Michigan Technological University
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M
Houghton, MI

Michigan Technological University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 7,313enrollment
  • $17,928net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.78Avg GPA

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University of Minnesota Morris
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M
Morris, MN

University of Minnesota Morris

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,020enrollment
  • $9,539net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Missouri Columbia
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M
Columbia, MO

University of Missouri Columbia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 31,013enrollment
  • $20,006net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.61Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Missouri Kansas City
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M
Kansas City, MO

University of Missouri Kansas City

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 15,277enrollment
  • $14,201net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1540SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 15

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Miami University
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M
Oxford, OH

Miami University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 18,618enrollment
  • $27,928net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1380SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.85Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Truman State University
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T
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Missouri

  • 3,636enrollment
  • $12,798net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1126-1318SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

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University of Nebraska Lincoln
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N
Lincoln, NE

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Nebraska

  • 23,986enrollment
  • $18,029net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1330SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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