Top Rated Midwest Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the Midwest for 2024

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the Midwest as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2024 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.


93 results

Iowa State University
I
Ames, IA

Iowa State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 29,969enrollment
  • $15,310net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1350SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
S
Rapid City, SD

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in South Dakota

  • 2,492enrollment
  • $21,124net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1378SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

University of Illinois at Springfield
I
Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 4,198enrollment
  • $11,733net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 988-1220SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

University of Cincinnati Main Campus
C
Cincinnati, OH

University of Cincinnati Main Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 41,155enrollment
  • $20,149net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

University of Northern Iowa
N
Cedar Falls, IA

University of Northern Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 8,945enrollment
  • $15,782net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1330SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

University of Missouri St Louis
M
Saint Louis, MO

University of Missouri St Louis

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 15,181enrollment
  • $13,211net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1210SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

University of Michigan Dearborn
M
Dearborn, MI

University of Michigan Dearborn

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 8,223enrollment
  • $12,444net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1290SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

Northern Illinois University
N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 15,649enrollment
  • $13,884net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 11,107enrollment
  • $16,990net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 900-1140SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
I
Indianapolis, IN

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 25,979enrollment
  • $11,462net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1250SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due May 15

Illinois State University
I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 20,683enrollment
  • $20,551net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1210SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
S
Edwardsville, IL

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 12,519enrollment
  • $13,586net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Ohio University Main Campus
O
Athens, OH

Ohio University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 24,145enrollment
  • $20,207net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1270SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Minnesota Duluth
M
Duluth, MN

University of Minnesota Duluth

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 9,675enrollment
  • $18,031net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1350SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Winona State University
W
Winona, MN

Winona State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 6,154enrollment
  • $18,187net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1270SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

University of Toledo
T
Toledo, OH

University of Toledo

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 15,545enrollment
  • $17,654net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1280SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Ball State University
B
Muncie, IN

Ball State University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 19,777enrollment
  • $12,615net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1260SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

University of Wisconsin La Crosse
W
La Crosse, WI

University of Wisconsin La Crosse

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Wisconsin

  • 10,274enrollment
  • $13,130net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA