The Best Value Midwestern Colleges

Best Value Colleges in Midwest for 2025

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the Midwest based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2025 as the overall best value college in the Midwest is Northwestern University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $23,341 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
Midwest Public Private 4 year

254 results

Saint Mary's College
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S
Notre Dame, IN

Saint Mary's College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#37 Best Value in the Midwest

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

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Drake University
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D
Des Moines, IA

Drake University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#38 Best Value in the Midwest

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

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Case Western Reserve University
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C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#39 Best Value 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

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Marietta College
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M
Marietta, OH

Marietta College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,171enrollment
  • $21,333net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 990-1295SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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Ohio Wesleyan University
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O
Delaware, OH

Ohio Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#41 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,452enrollment
  • $23,826net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1105-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Milwaukee School of Engineering
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M
Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#42 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 2,834enrollment
  • $26,122net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1405SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

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Augustana College
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A
Rock Island, IL

Augustana College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#43 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 2,484enrollment
  • $24,695net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of St Francis
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S
Joliet, IL

University of St Francis

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#44 Best Value 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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Hanover College
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H
Hanover, IN

Hanover College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#45 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,157enrollment
  • $22,929net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

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Simpson College
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S
Indianola, IA

Simpson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#46 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 1,163enrollment
  • $23,637net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 890-1280SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Hamline University
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H
Saint Paul, MN

Hamline University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#47 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 2,432enrollment
  • $22,759net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1146-1393SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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The College of Saint Scholastica
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S
Duluth, MN

The College of Saint Scholastica

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#48 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 2,979enrollment
  • $23,913net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Northern Illinois University
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N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#49 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 15,504enrollment
  • $13,533net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Indiana Wesleyan University
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I
Marion, IN

Indiana Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 2,207enrollment
  • $23,364net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 970-1180SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Valparaiso University
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V
Valparaiso, IN

Valparaiso University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#51 Best Value in the Midwest

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $23,168net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1310SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

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Macalester College
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M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#52 Best Value 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

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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

#53 Best Value 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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Creighton University
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C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#54 Best Value in the Midwest

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

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