Best Test-Optional Midwestern Colleges

There are 249 test-optional colleges in the Midwest, ranked using the same methodology as our national list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application.

University of Chicago leads Midwest test-optional rankings for 2027. The top rated public option is University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Also highly ranked: Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis and University of Notre Dame.

Without test scores, your GPA, activities, recommendation letters, and essays carry more weight. Compare acceptance rates, tuition, and enrollment across the colleges below. Explore the regional list below or browse individual states. See our ranking methodology for how schools are scored.

249 Results
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Midwest Test Optional Public Private 4 Year
University of Dubuque Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Dubuque, IA
  • | 0 reviews

University of Dubuque is a private Presbyterian university known for undergraduate aviation and nursing. Most students live on the residential campus near the Mississippi River.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $26,067
Details
Eastern Illinois University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Charleston, IL
  • | 0 reviews

Eastern Illinois is a mid-sized public university known for undergraduate teacher education and business. The residential campus sits in the college town of Charleston in east-central Illinois.

#10 Best Public Universities in Illinois 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $13,787
Details
Madonna University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Livonia, MI
  • | 0 reviews

Madonna is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The suburban campus sits in Livonia in the Detroit metro area.

#10 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1080
  • Avg GPA 3.35
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $18,373
Details
Bowling Green State University Main Campus Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Bowling Green, OH
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 15 application deadline

BGSU is a large public university known for undergraduate education, aviation, and popular culture studies. Most students live on a residential campus in the college town of Bowling Green.

#6 Best Public Universities in Ohio 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1210
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $24,283
Details
Mercy College of Ohio Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Toledo, OH
  • | 0 reviews

Mercy College of Ohio is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate nursing and allied health programs. The urban Toledo campus is tied to the Mercy Health system and the Sisters of Mercy tradition.

#26 Best Private Colleges in Ohio 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1010
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $15,311
Details
Saint Cloud State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Saint Cloud, MN
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Saint Cloud State is a public university known for undergraduate aviation, business, and education. The campus sits along the Mississippi River in central Minnesota.

#5 Best Public Universities in Minnesota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1025-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $14,735
Details
Greenville University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Greenville, IL
  • | 0 reviews

Greenville University is a private Free Methodist university known for undergraduate teacher education and music. Most students live on the residential campus in the small town of Greenville.

#25 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 771-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.23
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $20,799
Details
Mount Mary University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Mary is a private Catholic women's university known for undergraduate fashion design, dietetics, and art. The campus sits in a residential neighborhood on Milwaukee's northwest side.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 866-1123
  • Avg GPA 3.13
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $20,390
Details
Dakota State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Madison, SD
  • 4.3 | 7 reviews

Dakota State is a public university known for undergraduate cybersecurity, computer science, and information systems. Most students live on a residential campus in the small college town of Madison.

#4 Best Public Universities in South Dakota 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1190-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $20,438
Details
Trine University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Angola, IN
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Trine is a private university known for undergraduate engineering and business. Most students live on a residential campus in the small town of Angola.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Indiana 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.51
  • Acceptance Rate 85%
  • Net Price $25,355
Details
University of Michigan Flint Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Flint, MI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 22 application deadline

UM-Flint is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and business. The urban campus is located in downtown Flint.

#8 Best Public Universities in Michigan 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1243
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 70%
  • Net Price $7,852
Details
University of Central Missouri Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Warrensburg, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Central Missouri is a public university known for undergraduate aviation, criminal justice, and education. The campus sits in the college town of Warrensburg east of Kansas City.

#6 Best Public Universities in Missouri 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $14,943
Details
Siena Heights University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Adrian, MI
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Siena Heights is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. Students attend a compact campus in the small city of Adrian in southeast Michigan.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Michigan 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 806-1073
  • Avg GPA 3.32
  • Acceptance Rate 69%
  • Net Price $17,520
Details
Lindenwood University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Charles, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Lindenwood is a private university known for undergraduate business, education, and communications. The residential campus is in historic St. Charles near St. Louis.

#9 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1023-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $20,901
Details
Missouri Southern State University Campus
 

  • Public 4 Year
  • Joplin, MO
  • | 0 reviews

Missouri Southern is a public university known for undergraduate teacher education, business, and health sciences. The campus is in Joplin in southwest Missouri.

#7 Best Public Universities in Missouri 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1420
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $11,626
Details
Saint Xavier University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Chicago, IL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Xavier is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and education. The campus is in Chicago's Mount Greenwood neighborhood on the Southwest Side.

#26 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1120
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $11,318
Details
Aurora University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Aurora, IL
  • | 0 reviews

Aurora University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and social work. The suburban campus sits in Aurora, about 40 miles west of Chicago.

#27 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $19,053
Details
Buena Vista University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Storm Lake, IA
  • | 0 reviews

Buena Vista is a private university known for undergraduate education and business. The residential campus sits beside Storm Lake in northwest Iowa.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Iowa 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.49
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $19,704
Details