The Best Midwestern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the Midwest for 2023

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the Midwest as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2023 is Carleton College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


110 results

Carleton College
C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,044enrollment
  • $30,843net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1408-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Grinnell College
G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,748enrollment
  • $32,091net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Kenyon College
K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,875enrollment
  • $40,862net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

DePauw University
D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,724enrollment
  • $30,183net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Denison University
D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,321enrollment
  • $39,808net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Macalester College
M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,244enrollment
  • $35,589net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1515SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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

  • 2,101enrollment
  • $43,606net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Oberlin College
O
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,953enrollment
  • $42,745net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1338-1460SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

St Olaf College
S
Northfield, MN

St Olaf College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,988enrollment
  • $27,838net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1430SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Illinois Wesleyan University
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,653enrollment
  • $32,545net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

The College of Wooster
W
Wooster, OH

The College of Wooster

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,968enrollment
  • $27,923net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1430SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Saint Mary's College
S
Notre Dame, IN

Saint Mary's College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $27,121net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1055-1265SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Lawrence University
L
Appleton, WI

Lawrence University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Wisconsin

  • 1,483enrollment
  • $26,594net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Milwaukee School of Engineering
M
Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,747enrollment
  • $26,541net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1405SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

Kalamazoo College
K
Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,241enrollment
  • $27,596net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Saint Johns University
S
Collegeville, MN

Saint Johns University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,643enrollment
  • $28,128net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1085-1240SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Kettering University
K
Flint, MI

Kettering University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,858enrollment
  • $34,713net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Lake Forest College
L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,690enrollment
  • $26,968net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1345SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15