Best Midwestern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the Midwest for 2025

There are 907 colleges and universities in the Midwest enrolling 3,765,831 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.


907 results

List of the Best Midwest Colleges

University of Chicago
C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $27,979net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 23,203enrollment
  • $23,341net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Washington University in St Louis
W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 16,500enrollment
  • $22,440net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

University of Notre Dame
N
Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 13,174enrollment
  • $29,083net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Carleton College
C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,069enrollment
  • $29,434net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Michigan
M
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 52,065enrollment
  • $19,005net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Case Western Reserve University
C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 12,266enrollment
  • $41,351net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Grinnell College
G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,775enrollment
  • $33,446net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1418-1550SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Kenyon College
K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,184enrollment
  • $44,470net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

DePauw University
D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,819enrollment
  • $30,507net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Denison University
D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,405enrollment
  • $42,177net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Purdue University Main Campus
P
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 52,905enrollment
  • $12,421net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1460SAT range
  • 27-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Macalester College
M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $38,571net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of Wisconsin Madison
W
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin Madison

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 49,605enrollment
  • $14,216net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1510SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Creighton University
C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 8,255enrollment
  • $33,364net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,250enrollment
  • $44,016net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 56,563enrollment
  • $14,297net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Drake University
D
Des Moines, IA

Drake University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 4,504enrollment
  • $30,886net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1390SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA