Midwest Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Midwest for 2025

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 38,631 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

44 results

Oberlin College
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O
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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Kuyper College
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K
Grand Rapids, MI
 

Kuyper College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 153enrollment
  • $27,708net price
  • 935-1170SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.34Estimated Avg GPA

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William Jewell College
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W
Liberty, MO

William Jewell College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 886enrollment
  • $17,408net price
  • 960-1120SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Spring Arbor University
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S
Spring Arbor, MI
 

Spring Arbor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,390enrollment
  • $21,720net price
  • 935-1165SAT range
  • 17-25ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Cleveland Institute of Music
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C
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Institute of Music

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 350enrollment
  • $36,001net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Ohio Christian University
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O
Circleville, OH

Ohio Christian University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,483enrollment
  • $21,092net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Chicago State University
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C
Chicago, IL

Chicago State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 2,324enrollment
  • $9,852net price
  • 750-963SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

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AIB College of Business
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A
Des Moines, IA
 

AIB College of Business

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 348enrollment
  • $12,440net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Defiance College
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D
Defiance, OH
 

Defiance College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 511enrollment
  • $24,098net price
  • 860-1110SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.12Avg GPA

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Mercy College of Ohio
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M
Toledo, OH
 

Mercy College of Ohio

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,150enrollment
  • $15,705net price
  • 850-1070SAT range
  • 15-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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University of Wisconsin Madison
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W
Madison, WI

University of Wisconsin Madison

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#17 Best Public Universities in America

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

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

#21 Best Public Universities in America

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

Applications Due Jan 5

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Principia College
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P
Elsah, Illinois
 

Principia College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 338enrollment
  • $14,904net price
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

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College of Saint Mary
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S
Omaha, NE
 

College of Saint Mary

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 733enrollment
  • $14,265net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Illinois Wesleyan University
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I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

45% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

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

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Grace University
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G
Omaha, NE
 

Grace University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 298enrollment
  • $19,798net price
  • -SAT range
  • 18-21ACT range
  • 3.08Estimated Avg GPA

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Central State University
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C
HBCU
Wilberforce, OH

Central State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 3,454enrollment
  • $14,821net price
  • 770-950SAT range
  • 14-18ACT range
  • 2.8Avg GPA

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Minneapolis College of Art and Design
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M
Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 824enrollment
  • $27,031net price
  • 1110-1430SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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