The Best Midwestern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the Midwest for 2024

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 2024 is Carleton College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


110 results

Hiram College
H
Hiram, OH

Hiram College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,018enrollment
  • $19,384net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 890-1100SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

Northwestern College
N
Orange City, IA

Northwestern College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,651enrollment
  • $25,198net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 940-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Graceland University Lamoni
G
Lamoni, IA
 

Graceland University Lamoni

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,237enrollment
  • $16,627net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 880-1120SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.22Avg GPA

Greenville University
G
Greenville, IL

Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,088enrollment
  • $20,718net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 809-1209SAT range
  • 15-28ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Wartburg College
W
Waverly, IA
 

Wartburg College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,444enrollment
  • $23,683net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 970-1120SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

Mount Mary College
M
Milwaukee, WI
 

Mount Mary College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,198enrollment
  • $22,897net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 866-1123SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

Illinois College
I
Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,029enrollment
  • $16,296net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 960-1126SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne
S
Fort Wayne, IN
 

University of Saint Francis Fort Wayne

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 1,903enrollment
  • $18,162net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Avila University
A
Kansas City, MO
 

Avila University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 1,306enrollment
  • $17,210net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 933-1160SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

Buena Vista University
B
Storm Lake, IA

Buena Vista University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,973enrollment
  • $19,204net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Lake Superior State University
L
Sault Ste Marie, MI

Lake Superior State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Michigan

  • 1,655enrollment
  • $14,336net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1225SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

University of Dubuque
D
Dubuque, IA

University of Dubuque

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Iowa

  • 1,776enrollment
  • $22,879net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 828-1070SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

Concordia University Ann Arbor
C
Ann Arbor, MI

Concordia University Ann Arbor

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Michigan

  • 1,203enrollment
  • $26,353net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.19Avg GPA

Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
C
Fayette, MO
 

Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Missouri

  • 1,080enrollment
  • $24,828net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 930-1090SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Mount Marty College
M
Yankton, SD
 

Mount Marty College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in South Dakota

  • 1,252enrollment
  • $21,476net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 810-1050SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

Heidelberg University
H
Tiffin, OH
 

Heidelberg University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in Ohio

  • 1,086enrollment
  • $20,053net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1162SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

Grace College and Theological Seminary
G
Winona Lake, IN
 

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,065enrollment
  • $18,317net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 970-1190SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Marian University
M
Fond Du Lac, WI
 

Marian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Wisconsin

  • 1,340enrollment
  • $25,394net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 800-1080SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.16Estimated Avg GPA