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

Taylor University
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T
Upland, IN

Taylor University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,398enrollment
  • $25,698net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1340SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

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Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
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N
Omaha, NE
 

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Nebraska

  • 1,040enrollment
  • $20,650net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

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Clarke University
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C
Dubuque, IA
 

Clarke University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,025enrollment
  • $25,692net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1045SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

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Coe College
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C
Cedar Rapids, IA

Coe College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,278enrollment
  • $20,940net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Albion College
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A
Albion, MI

Albion College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,354enrollment
  • $18,470net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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Simpson College
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S
Indianola, IA

Simpson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,163enrollment
  • $23,637net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 890-1280SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Wisconsin Lutheran College
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W
Milwaukee, WI

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,094enrollment
  • $22,809net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1300SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
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S
Rapid City, SD

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#1 Best Public Universities in South Dakota

  • 2,492enrollment
  • $20,243net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Saint Norbert College
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S
De Pere, WI

Saint Norbert College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,165enrollment
  • $27,236net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1066-1220SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

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Saint Ambrose University
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S
Davenport, IA

Saint Ambrose University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 2,703enrollment
  • $23,578net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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Cornell College
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C
Mount Vernon, IA

Cornell College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,084enrollment
  • $25,850net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1318SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

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Dordt College
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D
Sioux Center, IA

Dordt College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,929enrollment
  • $27,925net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

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Benedictine University
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B
Lisle, IL

Benedictine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,989enrollment
  • $24,570net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

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Wittenberg University
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W
Springfield, OH

Wittenberg University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,333enrollment
  • $21,457net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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University of Mount Union
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M
Alliance, OH

University of Mount Union

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 2,169enrollment
  • $22,835net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.33Estimated Avg GPA

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Millikin University
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M
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,659enrollment
  • $10,078net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 860-1170SAT range
  • 14-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Nebraska Wesleyan University
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N
Lincoln, NE

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Nebraska

  • 1,690enrollment
  • $24,863net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Viterbo University
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V
La Crosse, WI

Viterbo University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 2,301enrollment
  • $23,901net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1380SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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