Top Rated Midwest Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in the Midwest for 2024

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the Midwest. Leading the rankings for 2024 as the highest ranked private college in the Midwest is University of Chicago. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Midwest Private 4 year

157 results

University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $36,991net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

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Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,161enrollment
  • $22,095net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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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

#20 Best Colleges in America

  • 17,012enrollment
  • $23,432net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 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

#1 Best Value in Indiana

  • 13,105enrollment
  • $28,474net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 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

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,059enrollment
  • $31,494net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Case Western Reserve University
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C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 12,201enrollment
  • $38,279net price
  • 27%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Grinnell College
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G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Iowa

  • 1,759enrollment
  • $33,467net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Kenyon College
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K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

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

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,175enrollment
  • $36,095net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Denison University
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D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,416enrollment
  • $38,267net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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DePauw University
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D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,752enrollment
  • $29,486net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1360SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Creighton University
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C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nebraska

  • 8,397enrollment
  • $32,877net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1206-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

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Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
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R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,188enrollment
  • $41,678net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1483SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Illinois Wesleyan University
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I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $30,096net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

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Oberlin College
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O
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,992enrollment
  • $46,462net price
  • 35%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1530SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Drake University
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D
Des Moines, IA

Drake University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Iowa

  • 4,685enrollment
  • $30,333net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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St Olaf College
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S
Northfield, MN

St Olaf College

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Minnesota

  • 3,046enrollment
  • $26,171net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1480SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Saint Mary's College
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S
Notre Dame, IN

Saint Mary's College

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,519enrollment
  • $27,960net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1328SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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