Top Rated Midwest Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in the Midwest for 2025

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the Midwest. Leading the rankings for 2025 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.


161 results

University of Chicago
C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $27,979net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,203enrollment
  • $23,341net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Washington University in St Louis
W
Saint Louis, MO

Washington University in St Louis

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in America

  • 16,500enrollment
  • $22,440net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

University of Notre Dame
N
Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame

Private 4 Year

7 reviews

#1 Best Value in Indiana

  • 13,174enrollment
  • $29,083net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1540SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.91Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Carleton College
C
Northfield, MN

Carleton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Minnesota

  • 2,069enrollment
  • $29,434net price
  • 22%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.9Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Case Western Reserve University
C
Cleveland, OH

Case Western Reserve University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 12,266enrollment
  • $41,351net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1430-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.86Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Grinnell College
G
Grinnell, IA

Grinnell College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in Iowa

  • 1,775enrollment
  • $33,446net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1418-1550SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Kenyon College
K
Gambier, OH

Kenyon College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,184enrollment
  • $44,470net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

DePauw University
D
Greencastle, IN

DePauw University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,819enrollment
  • $30,507net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Denison University
D
Granville, OH

Denison University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,405enrollment
  • $42,177net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1470SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Macalester College
M
Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,142enrollment
  • $38,571net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1510SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.81Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Creighton University
C
Omaha, NE

Creighton University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Nebraska

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

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology
R
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,250enrollment
  • $44,016net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1470SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Drake University
D
Des Moines, IA

Drake University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Iowa

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

Saint Louis University Main Campus
S
Saint Louis, MO

Saint Louis University Main Campus

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Missouri

  • 17,202enrollment
  • $30,911net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1430SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

Oberlin College
O
Oberlin, OH

Oberlin College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

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

Applications Due Jan 15

Wheaton College
W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,799enrollment
  • $31,346net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1440SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Illinois Wesleyan University
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,576enrollment
  • $31,310net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA