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

York College
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Y
York, NE
 

York College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 585enrollment
  • $20,163net price
  • 845-1060SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.02Avg GPA

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Mount Marty College
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M
Yankton, SD
 

Mount Marty College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in South Dakota

  • 1,314enrollment
  • $23,163net price
  • 810-1050SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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Quincy University
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Q
Quincy, IL

Quincy University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,280enrollment
  • $17,424net price
  • 1070-1250SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

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Purdue University North Central Campus
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P
Westville, IN
 

Purdue University North Central Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 6,092enrollment
  • $7,832net price
  • 950-1130SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.19Estimated Avg GPA

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Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
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F
Ankeny, IA
 

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 586enrollment
  • $18,288net price
  • 940-1180SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Cleary University
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C
Howell, MI
 

Cleary University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,040enrollment
  • $24,965net price
  • 950-1170SAT range
  • 18-19ACT range
  • 3.17Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Purdue University Main Campus
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P
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,905enrollment
  • $12,421net price
  • 1190-1460SAT range
  • 27-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Messenger College
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M
Joplin, TX
 

Messenger College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 26enrollment
  • $18,221net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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