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

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#109 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 11,359enrollment
  • $16,131net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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Ohio University Main Campus
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O
Athens, OH

Ohio University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#110 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 24,937enrollment
  • $20,550net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1290SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Olivet Nazarene University
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O
Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#111 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 3,275enrollment
  • $22,707net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 960-1190SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

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Illinois State University
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I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#112 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 20,989enrollment
  • $20,871net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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University of Mount Union
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M
Alliance, OH

University of Mount Union

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#113 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,169enrollment
  • $22,835net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.33Estimated Avg GPA

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The University of Findlay
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F
Findlay, OH

The University of Findlay

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#114 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 5,057enrollment
  • $26,215net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1213SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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University of Northern Iowa
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N
Cedar Falls, IA

University of Northern Iowa

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#115 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 9,013enrollment
  • $15,931net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 860-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Ball State University
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B
Muncie, IN

Ball State University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#116 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 20,440enrollment
  • $13,017net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1250SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

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University of St Francis
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S
Joliet, IL

University of St Francis

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#117 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 3,185enrollment
  • $16,455net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 900-1170SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Millikin University
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M
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#118 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,659enrollment
  • $10,078net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 860-1170SAT range
  • 14-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Nebraska Wesleyan University
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N
Lincoln, NE

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#119 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,690enrollment
  • $24,863net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Viterbo University
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V
La Crosse, WI

Viterbo University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#120 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,301enrollment
  • $23,901net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1380SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Drury University
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D
Springfield, MO
 

Drury University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#121 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,596enrollment
  • $22,194net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1310SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 30

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Malone University
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M
Canton, OH
 

Malone University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#122 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 1,205enrollment
  • $23,362net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 885-1236SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

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Winona State University
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W
Winona, MN

Winona State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#123 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 6,058enrollment
  • $18,919net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 980-1250SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Carroll University
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C
Waukesha, WI
 

Carroll University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#124 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 3,176enrollment
  • $25,171net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.39Estimated Avg GPA

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Otterbein University
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O
Westerville, OH

Otterbein University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#125 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,357enrollment
  • $22,242net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1035-1260SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Capital University
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C
Columbus, OH

Capital University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#126 Best Colleges in the Midwest

  • 2,388enrollment
  • $22,480net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 980-1190SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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