Top Rated Midwest Public Colleges

The Best Public Colleges in the Midwest for 2024

These are the top ranked public four-year colleges in the Midwest as ranked by CollegeSimply. Leading the rankings for 2024 as the best public college in the Midwest is University of Michigan. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Midwest Public 4 year

93 results

University of Michigan
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M
Ann Arbor, MI

University of Michigan

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in America

  • 51,225enrollment
  • $19,318net price
  • 18%acceptance rate
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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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

#15 Best Public Universities in America

  • 51,528enrollment
  • $12,576net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1470SAT range
  • 27-34ACT range
  • 3.67Avg 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

#17 Best Public Universities in America

  • 48,956enrollment
  • $13,376net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1510SAT range
  • 26-32ACT 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

#18 Best Public Universities in America

  • 56,916enrollment
  • $14,544net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Ohio State University
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O
Columbus, OH

Ohio State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 60,540enrollment
  • $19,582net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.76Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of Minnesota Twin Cities
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M
Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Minnesota

  • 54,955enrollment
  • $16,018net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1500SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Indiana University Bloomington
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I
Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Bloomington

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Indiana

  • 47,005enrollment
  • $16,234net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

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University of Iowa
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I
Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Iowa

  • 30,015enrollment
  • $19,587net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Missouri University of Science and Technology
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M
Rolla, MO

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 7,080enrollment
  • $14,023net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1173-1370SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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University of Illinois at Chicago
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I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 33,747enrollment
  • $10,384net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Michigan State University
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S
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Michigan

  • 50,023enrollment
  • $22,803net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Truman State University
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T
Kirksville, MO

Truman State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Missouri

  • 3,960enrollment
  • $13,993net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

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University of Missouri Kansas City
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M
Kansas City, MO

University of Missouri Kansas City

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 15,703enrollment
  • $14,739net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1245-1550SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 15

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University of Missouri Columbia
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M
Columbia, MO

University of Missouri Columbia

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Missouri

  • 31,304enrollment
  • $19,889net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.61Estimated Avg GPA

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Miami University
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M
Oxford, OH

Miami University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Ohio

  • 19,107enrollment
  • $23,031net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1390SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.85Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Michigan Technological University
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M
Houghton, MI

Michigan Technological University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 7,063enrollment
  • $18,235net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1350SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.78Avg GPA

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University of Nebraska Lincoln
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N
Lincoln, NE

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in Nebraska

  • 23,805enrollment
  • $16,805net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of Minnesota Morris
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M
Morris, MN

University of Minnesota Morris

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,068enrollment
  • $11,169net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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