Best Midwestern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the Midwest for 2024

There are 914 colleges and universities in the Midwest enrolling 3,718,606 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the Midwest below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Midwest offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  Midwest is home to nationally ranked institutions like University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis and University of Notre Dame. The highest ranked college in the Midwest is University of Chicago and the top rated public state college is University of Michigan.

Midwest Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

914 results

List of the Best Midwest Colleges

University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $36,991net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

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Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 23,161enrollment
  • $22,095net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Washington University in St Louis
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W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 17,012enrollment
  • $23,432net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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University of Notre Dame
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N
Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 13,105enrollment
  • $28,474net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Carleton College
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C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,059enrollment
  • $31,494net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Case Western Reserve University
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C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 12,201enrollment
  • $38,279net price
  • 27%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Michigan
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M
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 51,225enrollment
  • $19,318net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Grinnell College
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G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,759enrollment
  • $33,467net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Kenyon College
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K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,885enrollment
  • $43,044net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1515SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Macalester College
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M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,175enrollment
  • $36,095net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Denison University
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D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,416enrollment
  • $38,267net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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DePauw University
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D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,752enrollment
  • $29,486net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg 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

#13 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 51,528enrollment
  • $12,576net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1470SAT 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

#14 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 48,956enrollment
  • $13,376net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1510SAT range
  • 26-32ACT 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

#15 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 56,916enrollment
  • $14,544net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Creighton University
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C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 8,397enrollment
  • $32,877net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1206-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
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R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,188enrollment
  • $41,678net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1483SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Ohio State University
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O
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 60,540enrollment
  • $19,582net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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