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50 best colleges in the Midwest

·Isabel Sepulveda

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When you look at a ranking of the best colleges in America, you'll notice that the top schools tend to be on the East or West Coast. For example, of the top 10 schools on U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Colleges in America, six are on the East Coast, two are on the West Coast, and the South and Midwest can only claim one each. And many of these schools are hugely competitive, making admission an academic achievement. Columbia University, Yale University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology each accepted less than 5% of applicants in 2026, according to data obtained by Forbes.

However, times may be changing. Forbes' annual list of New Ivies—elite schools that fall outside of the traditional Ivy League—put five Midwest universities in the top 10 of both public and private colleges in the United States. Schools like Northwestern University in Illinois, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana are highly selective and provide a rigorous education for students.

With the Fall 2026 semester now underway, rigorous education has picked back up at college campuses across the Midwest. To showcase the institutions in the area, Stacker used Niche's 2023 Best Colleges in America list to identify the best 50 schools in the Midwest. Niche's rankings use data from the Department of Education on academics, admissions, student life, and reviews from current students and alums. Only colleges in Midwestern states—Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin—were included.

Click through our list to find which colleges made the cut, and if the top spot went to a big-name football school, a land-grant institution, or a bucolic liberal arts campus.

Exterior shot of Lake Forest College and Reid Hall.

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1 / 50

#50. Lake Forest College

- Location: Lake Forest, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 58%
- Net price: $26,968
- SAT range: 1020-1240
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $50,900
- Overall rank: #239

C. Charles Jackson Campus Center on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Gustavus Adolphus College

- Location: St. Peter, Minnesota
- Acceptance rate: 71%
- Net price: $26,701
- SAT range: 1080-1340
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $51,700
- Overall rank: #237

ChicagoPhotographer // Shutterstock

Moody Bible Institute, Crowell Hall with archway under a blue sky.

3 / 50

#48. Moody Bible Institute

- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 98%
- Net price: $18,790
- SAT range: 990-1200
- Median earnings six years after graduation: No data available
- Overall rank: #236

A sign for Hope College surrounded by flowers with historic buildings in the background.

Susan Montgomery // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Hope College

- Location: Holland, Michigan
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Net price: $30,320
- SAT range: 1130-1330
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $46,200
- Overall rank: #235

The Ohio University campus with a green lawn.

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5 / 50

#46. Ohio University

- Location: Athens, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Net price: $23,307
- SAT range: 1050-1250
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $40,500
- Overall rank: #234

A University of Illinois at Chicago blue sign.

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6 / 50

#45. University of Illinois Chicago

- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 73%
- Net price: $12,614
- SAT range: 1030-1250
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $54,300
- Overall rank: #229

An old stone church undergoing renovations on Marquette University campus.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Marquette University

- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Acceptance rate: 82%
- Net price: $34,732
- SAT range: 1160-1340
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $62,600
- Overall rank: #228

A large brick library with glass windows in the front.

EmilyMarvin // Wikimedia Commons

8 / 50

#43. Illinois Wesleyan University

- Location: Bloomington, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Net price: $32,545
- SAT range: 1100-1300
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $59,100
- Overall rank: #222

A historic brown stone ornate building.

Carlos Yudica // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. DePaul University

- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Net price: $33,319
- SAT range: 1050-1260
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $53,300
- Overall rank: #213

A stone castle-like structure.

Epiglottis // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. College of Wooster

- Location: Wooster, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 65%
- Net price: $27,923
- SAT range: 1150-1380
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $46,300
- Overall rank: #210

A gray stone round building.

PICTOR PICTURES // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Oberlin College

- Location: Oberlin, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 35%
- Net price: $42,745
- SAT range: 1270-1360
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $40,800
- Overall rank: #209

A large courtyard with university buildings lining the sides.

Sam Wagner // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. University of St. Thomas - Minnesota

- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Net price: $31,799
- SAT range: 1130-1340
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $56,800
- Overall rank: #203

A red brick building with large windows.

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

13 / 50

#38. Cedarville University

- Location: Cedarville, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 59%
- Net price: $24,965
- SAT range: 1110-1350
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $41,300
- Overall rank: #199

An aerial view of a large university campus.

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14 / 50

#37. Lawrence University

- Location: Appleton, Wisconsin
- Acceptance rate: 69%
- Net price: $26,594
- SAT range: 1190-1410
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $44,100
- Overall rank: #198

A white stone sign for College of the Ozarks.

Rosemarie Mosteller // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. College of the Ozarks

- Location: Point Lookout, Missouri
- Acceptance rate: 14%
- Net price: $7,505
- SAT range: 1090-1240
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $32,500
- Overall rank: #194

Dinosaur fossils at the museum at South Dakota School of Mines.

dinos // Wikimedia Commons

16 / 50

#35. South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

- Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
- Acceptance rate: 86%
- Net price: $19,799
- SAT range: 1150-1350
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $56,500
- Overall rank: #188

A historic white stone building.

Paperraven // Wikimedia Commons

17 / 50

#34. Kansas State University

- Location: Manhattan, Kansas
- Acceptance rate: 95%
- Net price: $18,494
- SAT range: —
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $45,600
- Overall rank: #185

A red brick entrance wall and black sign for Drake University.

Picture Des Moines // Wikimedia Commons

18 / 50

#33. Drake University

- Location: Des Moines, Iowa
- Acceptance rate: 68%
- Net price: $30,321
- SAT range: 1110-1340
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $58,300
- Overall rank: #182

College students walking together.

Canva

19 / 50

#32. Andrews University

- Location: Berrien Springs, Michigan
- Acceptance rate: 49%
- Net price: $22,850
- SAT range: 1030-1380
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $45,200
- Overall rank: #180

A historic gray stone building.

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

20 / 50

#31. DePauw University

- Location: Greencastle, Indiana
- Acceptance rate: 68%
- Net price: $30,183
- SAT range: 1110-1360
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $54,000
- Overall rank: #177

A large historic brick builing with large columns on the lawn in front and a lit stone sign and flowers in the foreground.

Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. University of Missouri

- Location: Columbia, Missouri
- Acceptance rate: 82%
- Net price: $16,930
- SAT range: 1110-1320
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $48,300
- Overall rank: #156

A rectangular stone sign for University of Kansas.

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22 / 50

#29. The University of Kansas

- Location: Lawrence, Kansas
- Acceptance rate: 91%
- Net price: $20,054
- SAT range: 1070-1320
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $48,800
- Overall rank: #155

A large green lawn with a red brick building and a tall white clocktower.

Wally // Wikimedia Commons

23 / 50

#28. Wabash College

- Location: Crawfordsville, Indiana
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Net price: $24,412
- SAT range: 1120-1320
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $56,300
- Overall rank: #153

Several large dark red brick buildings with white trim and a clocktower.

Nheyob // Wikimedia Commons

24 / 50

#27. University of Dayton

- Location: Dayton, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Net price: $32,768
- SAT range: 1080-1300
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $55,100
- Overall rank: #150

A tree-lined path leading to a red brick building with a tower.

Chamberednautilus // Wikimedia Commons

25 / 50

#26. Denison University

- Location: Granville, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 28%
- Net price: $39,808
- SAT range: 1220-1430
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $48,800
- Overall rank: #142

A historic red and black building with an American flag on top.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. St. Olaf College

- Location: Northfield, Minnesota
- Acceptance rate: 51%
- Net price: $27,838
- SAT range: 1150-1390
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $50,400
- Overall rank: #140

A large green lawn full of students with a clocktower.

EQRoy // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Iowa State University

- Location: Ames, Iowa
- Acceptance rate: 88%
- Net price: $16,105
- SAT range: 1010-1310
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $50,700
- Overall rank: #133

A large brick and iron arch sign for Saint Louis University.

STLJB // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Saint Louis University

- Location: St. Louis, Missouri
- Acceptance rate: 56%
- Net price: $27,872
- SAT range: 1160-1370
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $56,500
- Overall rank: #132

A long brick building.

Andrew Higley // Wikimedia Commons

29 / 50

#22. University of Cincinnati

- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Net price: $22,767
- SAT range: 1120-1330
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $42,300
- Overall rank: #131

Looking up at a historic building with a white ornate top.

James Casil // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Wheaton College - Illinois

- Location: Wheaton, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Net price: $27,474
- SAT range: 1210-1450
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $48,400
- Overall rank: #125

A large greek style stone building with columns.

Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

31 / 50

#20. University of Iowa

- Location: Iowa City, Iowa
- Acceptance rate: 84%
- Net price: $17,452
- SAT range: 1110-1310
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $51,900
- Overall rank: #123

A stone sign for Michigan Tech surrounded by greenery.

ehrlif // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Michigan Technological University

- Location: Houghton, Michigan
- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Net price: $17,356
- SAT range: 1160-1350
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $66,400
- Overall rank: #114

A historic stone building with a red clock in the courtyard.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Indiana University - Bloomington

- Location: Bloomington, Indiana
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Net price: $13,191
- SAT range: 1120-1350
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $47,700
- Overall rank: #113

A brick building with a modern glass front.

Waterlizard403 // Wikimedia Commons

34 / 50

#17. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

- Location: Terre Haute, Indiana
- Acceptance rate: 77%
- Net price: $43,606
- SAT range: 1260-1460
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $80,900
- Overall rank: #109

A round glass building with a Michigan State University sign in front.

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35 / 50

#16. Michigan State University

- Location: East Lansing, Michigan
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Net price: $16,655
- SAT range: 1100-1300
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $53,600
- Overall rank: #103

A brick building with a University of Minnesota sign in front.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. University of Minnesota Twin Cities

- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Net price: $17,729
- SAT range: 1240-1460
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $51,900
- Overall rank: #92

A long four story stone building with windows.

Curt Smith // Wikimedia Commons

37 / 50

#14. Kenyon College

- Location: Gambier, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 37%
- Net price: $40,862
- SAT range: 1280-1460
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $48,700
- Overall rank: #87

A brick building in the snow.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Macalester College

- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Acceptance rate: 39%
- Net price: $35,589
- SAT range: 1280-1450
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $47,600
- Overall rank: #84

A brick building with a clocktower on top.

Susan Montgomery // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. The Ohio State University

- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 68%
- Net price: $18,884
- SAT range: 1210-1430
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $46,100
- Overall rank: #80

A large archway entrance sign to Purdue University.

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40 / 50

#11. Purdue University

- Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
- Acceptance rate: 67%
- Net price: $12,294
- SAT range: 1170-1420
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $55,100
- Overall rank: #79

A brick building with a silver dome on top.

Roy Luck // Wikimedia Commons

41 / 50

#10. Carleton College

- Location: Northfield, Minnesota
- Acceptance rate: 21%
- Net price: $30,843
- SAT range: 1330-1520
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $54,200
- Overall rank: #77

The Grinnell College entrance sign.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Grinnell College

- Location: Grinnell, Iowa
- Acceptance rate: 19%
- Net price: $32,091
- SAT range: 1370-1540
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $49,100
- Overall rank: #73

A large stone building with a Case Western Reserve University sign in front.

Kim Willems // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Case Western Reserve University

- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- Acceptance rate: 30%
- Net price: $36,002
- SAT range: 1340-1520
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $74,600
- Overall rank: #65

A brick building with a large green dome on top.

tzm23 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

- Location: Urbana, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Net price: $13,517
- SAT range: 1200-1460
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $61,500
- Overall rank: #59

Tall stone steps leading up to a brick building.

Youngryand // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. University of Wisconsin

- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Net price: $14,030
- SAT range: 1260-1460
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $56,200
- Overall rank: #53

A blue sign for University of Michigan.

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Acceptance rate: 26%
- Net price: $17,832
- SAT range: 1340-1520
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $63,400
- Overall rank: #25

An aerial view of Notre Dame campus with a gold dome on top.

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47 / 50

#4. University of Notre Dame

- Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
- Acceptance rate: 19%
- Net price: $29,981
- SAT range: 1400-1550
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $78,400
- Overall rank: #19

A University of Chicago sign.

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48 / 50

#3. University of Chicago

- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Net price: $36,584
- SAT range: 1500-1570
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $68,100
- Overall rank: #16

A large historic brick building.

Unknown // Wikimedia Commons

49 / 50

#2. Washington University in St. Louis

- Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
- Acceptance rate: 16%
- Net price: $27,233
- SAT range: 1480-1560
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $70,100
- Overall rank: #15

A gothic looking stone building.

Madcoverboy // Wikimedia Commons

50 / 50

#1. Northwestern University

- Location: Evanston, Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 9%
- Net price: $28,344
- SAT range: 1430-1550
- Median earnings six years after graduation: $69,000
- Overall rank: #14

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