The Best Midwestern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the Midwest for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the Midwest as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2025 is Carleton College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Midwest small Public Private 4 year

115 results

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

  • 1,020enrollment
  • $9,539net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Concordia College at Moorhead
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C
Moorhead, MN

Concordia College at Moorhead

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,868enrollment
  • $25,488net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

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Lake Forest College
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L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $29,894net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1365SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Saint Johns University
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S
Collegeville, MN

Saint Johns University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,624enrollment
  • $29,473net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1145-1280SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

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The College of Saint Scholastica
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S
Duluth, MN

The College of Saint Scholastica

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,979enrollment
  • $23,913net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Luther College
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L
Decorah, IA

Luther College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,463enrollment
  • $24,790net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1098-1318SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

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College of Saint Benedict
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S
Saint Joseph, MN

College of Saint Benedict

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 1,451enrollment
  • $29,720net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 950-1220SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Knox College
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K
Galesburg, IL

Knox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,001enrollment
  • $25,524net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1385SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Augustana College
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A
Rock Island, IL

Augustana College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,484enrollment
  • $24,695net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Hamline University
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H
Saint Paul, MN

Hamline University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Minnesota

  • 2,432enrollment
  • $22,759net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1146-1393SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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Augustana University
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A
Sioux Falls, SD

Augustana University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#1 Best Value in South Dakota

  • 2,158enrollment
  • $25,280net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1075-1290SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

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University of Evansville
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E
Evansville, IN

University of Evansville

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,109enrollment
  • $21,611net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1045-1300SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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North Central College
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N
Naperville, IL

North Central College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,856enrollment
  • $24,190net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1065-1280SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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Hanover College
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H
Hanover, IN

Hanover College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,157enrollment
  • $22,929net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

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Marietta College
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M
Marietta, OH

Marietta College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,171enrollment
  • $21,333net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 990-1295SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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Valparaiso University
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V
Valparaiso, IN

Valparaiso University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $23,168net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1310SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

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Ohio Wesleyan University
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O
Delaware, OH

Ohio Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,452enrollment
  • $23,826net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1105-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Andrews University
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A
Berrien Springs, MI

Andrews University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 2,837enrollment
  • $24,874net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1370SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

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