Midwest Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Midwest for 2024

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in Midwest. The list is ranked by acceptance rate, lowest to highest and limited to schools which reject at least half of all applicants. Leading the list is University of Chicago which sent acceptance letters to only 5% of the 37,522 students who applied and rejected 95%.

Not all schools on the most selective list are overly academically challenging. Some schools with less rigorous test and high school GPA requirements may receive a large numbers of qualified applicants and the school does not have space to admit them all.

If you're looking for challenging colleges, explore rankings of Midwest colleges with the highest SAT scores, highest ACT scores and highest GPA's.
Midwest Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

36 results

University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

5% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Colleges in America

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

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The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL
 

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,296enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Colleges in America

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

Applications Due Jan 1

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Grinnell College
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G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

11% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Iowa

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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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

12% Acceptance Rate

#20 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,012enrollment
  • $23,432net price
  • 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

13% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Indiana

  • 13,105enrollment
  • $28,474net price
  • 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

17% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,059enrollment
  • $31,494net price
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated 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

18% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in America

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

Applications Due Feb 1

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Hillsdale College
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H
Hillsdale, Michigan
 

Hillsdale College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,678enrollment
  • $24,196net price
  • 1360-1520SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.93Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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College of the Ozarks
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O
Point Lookout, MO

College of the Ozarks

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,487enrollment
  • $12,611net price
  • 1065-1234SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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Denison University
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D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

22% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Trine University Regional/Non Traditional Campuses
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T
Fort Wayne, IN
 

Trine University Regional/Non Traditional Campuses

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 4,344enrollment
  • $19,616net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg 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

27% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 12,201enrollment
  • $38,279net price
  • 1410-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated 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

28% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Methodist College of Nursing
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M
Peoria, IL
 

Methodist College of Nursing

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 456enrollment
  • $35,578net price
  • 800-1160SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 23

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Cox College
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C
Springfield, MO
 

Cox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 852enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Kenyon College
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K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Kettering College
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K
Kettering, OH
 

Kettering College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 832enrollment
  • $16,398net price
  • -SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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