The Best Midwestern Small Colleges
These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the Midwest as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have total 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 2027 is Carleton College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Missouri Valley College
- Private 4 Year
- Marshall, MO
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- 1,770 total enrollment
Missouri Valley is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the small town of Marshall in central Missouri.
- SAT Range 895-1115
- Avg GPA 3.04
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $18,923
Central State University
- Public 4 Year
- Wilberforce, OH
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- 2,708 total enrollment
Central State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate education and manufacturing engineering. The residential campus sits in the small town of Wilberforce.
- SAT Range 770-950
- Avg GPA 2.8
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $11,398
Lake Superior State University
- Public 4 Year
- Sault Ste Marie, MI
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- 1,567 total enrollment
Lake Superior State is a small public university known for undergraduate fisheries and wildlife management and criminal justice. The campus sits along the St. Marys River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula near the Canadian border.
- SAT Range 1000-1225
- Avg GPA 3.2
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $12,339
Wright State University Lake Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Celina, OH
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- 1,356 total enrollment
Wright State Lake Campus is a public regional campus known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The lakeside campus sits on the northern shore of Grand Lake St. Marys.
- SAT Range 790-890
- Avg GPA 3.27
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,008