The Midwest is home to some of the best colleges in America, from renowned research institutions to small liberal arts colleges. Check out our rankings for some of the best schools in the region (in no particular order), complete with a breakdown of what each has to offer!
Northwestern University
Location: Evanston, Illinois
Tuition: $58,701
Fast facts:
- Undergraduate students: 8,559
- Acceptance rate: 9%
- Graduation rate: 85% (4-year), 95% (6-year)
Northwestern University is a prestigious private research university that's often ranked among the best colleges in America. While the school is notoriously selective, if you are offered enrollment, you'll enjoy an outstanding 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and your choice of over 130 undergraduate majors and minors or dual degrees.
Northwest also offers a full range of graduate programs, not to mention 90 university research centers. An impressive number of the university's programs are consistently ranked among the nation's best, from Law and Medicine to Business, Education, and Engineering.
Northwestern is also a great place for artistic and creative students. Just a few of the school's notable alumni include Stephen Colbert, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Meghan Markle, George R.R. Martin, and Seth Meyers.
You might also like: Illinois Wesleyan University - Bloomington, IL
The University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Tuition: $60,552
Fast facts:
- Undergraduate students: 7,056
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Graduation rate: 91% (4-year), 96% (6-year)
Founded in 1890, we've got the University of Chicago, a private research university with a gorgeous campus built in the same Gothic architectural style as Oxford University. Known for groundbreaking research, UChicago has produced no fewer than 90 Nobel Prize winners and more than a dozen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Undergraduates will enjoy a choice of 50+ majors, 350+ student organizations, and 18 varsity sports teams. UChicago is also an exceptional place for graduate and professional students to earn an MD, PhD, and more.
You might also like: Denison University - Granville, OH
Washington University in St. Louis
Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Tuition: $57,386
Fast facts:
- Number of undergraduate students: 7,653
- Acceptance rate: 16%
- Graduation rate: 88% (4-year), 94% (6-year)
Washington University in St. Louis is a private institution with outstanding research facilities, including its world-renowned School of Medicine. Washington's faculty includes four Pulitzer Prize winners, three poet laureates, and over 60 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Learn from experts in your field as you enjoy a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio with plenty of individual attention. Undergraduates enjoy a choice of over 100 areas of study, while Graduate and professional students will find plenty of great choices, including the largest Medical Scientist MD/PhD program in the world.
You might also like: Kenyon College - Gambier, OH
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
In-state Tuition: $15,948
Out-of-state Tuition: $52,266
Fast facts:
- Number of undergraduate students: 31,329
- Acceptance rate: 26%
- Graduation rate: 81% (4-year), 93% (6-year)
While the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the first public university on our list, it definitely holds its own among the top colleges in the Midwest. Home to 29 NCAA Division I athletics teams (who have racked up 400+ Big 10 Championships), the University of Michigan offers 275+ degree programs to choose from.
You'll enjoy a beautiful campus that places a strong emphasis on sustainability and the chance to get involved with literally hundreds of different student organizations, including an active Greek scene. The college also has a great financial aid department that offers free tuition for Michigan students who meet certain eligibility requirements!
You might also like: Oberlin College - Oberlin, OH
University of Notre Dame
Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
Tuition: $57,699
Fast facts:
- Number of undergraduate students: 8,874
- Acceptance rate: 19%
- Graduation rate: 93% (4-year), 97% (6-year)
The University of Notre Dame is a private Catholic research university that's home to the famous Fighting Irish sports teams. But Notre Dame's academic track record is just as strong as its prowess in athletics, with 70+ undergraduate programs in everything from architecture or humanities to engineering and science.
Notre Dame also offers great pre-professional health programs, with an 80% medical school acceptance rate for graduates. Whether you're interested in earning your bachelor's degree, master's degree, or Ph.D., Notre Dame has you covered with a strong reputation for academic excellence.
You might also like: University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign, IL
Carleton College
Location: Northfield, Minnesota
Tuition: $59,352
Fast facts:
- Number of undergraduate students: 1,940
- Acceptance rate: 21%
- Graduation rate: 88% (4-year), 94% (6-year)
Just 40 miles south of Minnesota's Twin Cities you'll find Carleton College, a private liberal arts college that offers 1,000+ courses, 33 majors, and 38 minors. Set on a gorgeous 1,040-acre campus which includes an 880-acre arboretum, Carleton offers a solid 8:1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 15 students.
Whether you choose to study in Carleton's top-ranked undergraduate Teaching program or pursue other popular subjects like business, health care, or science, you'll enjoy a top-notch education with plenty of support. Check out Carleton's handy Career Pathways tool to see how past students have put their degrees to use!
You might also like: University of Minnesota Twin Cities - Minneapolis, MN
Purdue University
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
In-state Tuition: $9,992
Out-of-state Tuition: $28,794
Fast facts:
- Number of undergraduate students: 35,706
- Acceptance rate: 67%
- Graduation rate: 60% (4-year), 83% (6-year)
Purdue University is a large public university that offers a massive choice of 6,700 courses in 200 fields of study. While Purdue is particularly well-known for its large engineering department, it also has a great writing lab and over 400 research labs.
If you're not sure where to start, check out their fun Model of Occupational Themes tool that can point you in the direction of majors that match your personality. Purdue is a highly inclusive campus where you'll find cultural, LGTBQ+, and faith-based centers, not to mention nearly 1,000 student organizations!
You might also like: Indiana University - Bloomington, IN
Case Western Reserve University
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Tuition: $52,948
Fast facts:
- Number of undergraduate students: 5,430
- Acceptance rate: 30%
- Graduation rate: 67% (4-year), 85% (6-year)
If you're into hands-on learning, then check out Case Western Reserve University, a private college where 99% of undergraduate students participate in experiential learning. CWRU offers over 100 programs for undergraduates, 150+ graduate and professional programs, and over 145 dual-degree options.
Located in Cleveland's University Circle art district, the CWRU campus offers easy access to world-class museums, orchestras, gardens, and live theater performances. Get involved with the school's 19 varsity sports teams or choose from over 200 on-campus student organizations.
You might also like: Ohio State University - Columbus, OH
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Location: Madison, WI
In-state Tuition: $10,742
Out-of-state Tuition: $38,630
Fast facts:
- Number of undergraduate students: 32,688
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Graduation rate: 66% (4-year), 88% (6-year)
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public land-grant institution and research university that's churned out 20 Nobel Prize winners and 41 Pulitzer Prize winners. With over 300 undergraduate fields of study and 273 graduate programs, UW-Madison has you covered when it comes to higher education.
You'll join a diverse student body representing over 100 different countries and enjoy nearly 1,000 student organizations to choose from. Cheer on the NCAA Division I Badgers sports teams, which have collectively racked up 226 individual NCAA championships!
You might also like: Macalester College - St. Paul, MN
Grinnell College
Location: Grinnell, Iowa
Tuition: $56,680
Fast facts:
- Number of undergraduate students: 1,493
- Acceptance rate: 19%
- Graduation rate: 81% (4-year), 87% (6-year)
Last but not least, we've got Iowa's Grinnell College, a stellar private liberal arts and sciences college. With over 40 areas of study and 500 classes, Grinnell offers an individually advised curriculum that allows students to chart unique paths to higher education.
In lieu of a Greek scene, you'll find over 100 student organizations dedicated to everything from community outreach and volunteering to pub quiz trivia and Nerf Gun shenanigans. If you're looking for a school with a tight-knit student body where creativity is encouraged to flourish, then Grinnell is a great choice for you.
You might also like: DePauw University - Greencastle, IN
Midwestern colleges FAQ
What is the Harvard of the Midwest?
"Harvard of the Midwest" is a nickname that's often applied to several top Midwestern universities including the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and Notre Dame.
What is the number one best public college in the Midwest?
The University of Michigan regularly tops college rankings as the Midwest's best public college due to its strong academic track record.
What college in the Midwest has the lowest acceptance rate?
With an acceptance rate of just 7%, the University of Chicago is one of the Midwest's most selective colleges.
Find the perfect school the Midwest with College Rover
The Midwest is home to plenty of top colleges, but the key is finding the right one for you! That's where College Rover comes in.
Use our comprehensive search tools to create your own unique methodology for finding the best colleges and programs for you!
College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.
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