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.

Midwest Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

907 results

List of the Best Midwest Colleges

Ohio State University
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O
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 60,046enrollment
  • $19,575net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1480SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Saint Louis University Main Campus
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S
Saint Louis, MO

Saint Louis University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 17,202enrollment
  • $30,911net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

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University of Minnesota Twin Cities
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M
Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 54,890enrollment
  • $16,730net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Oberlin College
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O
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,976enrollment
  • $50,484net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Wheaton College
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W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,799enrollment
  • $31,346net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1440SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Illinois Wesleyan University
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I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,576enrollment
  • $31,310net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

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St Olaf College
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S
Northfield, MN

St Olaf College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 3,074enrollment
  • $27,282net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1470SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Saint Mary's College
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S
Notre Dame, IN

Saint Mary's College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,518enrollment
  • $30,389net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1310SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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The College of Wooster
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W
Wooster, OH

The College of Wooster

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,876enrollment
  • $29,529net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Lawrence University
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L
Appleton, WI

Lawrence University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,410enrollment
  • $27,393net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Bradley University
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B
Peoria, IL

Bradley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 5,217enrollment
  • $24,703net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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University of St Thomas
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S
Saint Paul, MN

University of St Thomas

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 9,121enrollment
  • $32,637net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1223-1416SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Illinois at Chicago
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I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 33,522enrollment
  • $11,499net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Butler University
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B
Indianapolis, IN

Butler University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 5,763enrollment
  • $40,140net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Dayton
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D
Dayton, OH

University of Dayton

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 11,304enrollment
  • $31,551net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1195-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Missouri University of Science and Technology
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M
Rolla, MO

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 7,156enrollment
  • $14,414net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1378SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Indiana University Bloomington
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I
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 47,527enrollment
  • $16,282net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

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Marquette University
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M
Milwaukee, WI

Marquette University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 11,373enrollment
  • $32,031net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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