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Top Colleges in the Midwest

Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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Posted: November 20th, 2023

The Midwest is home to many of our country’s best colleges and universities. Many states also have thriving public school systems, and students who live in the region can take advantage of tuition discounts through the Midwest Student Exchange Program. Check out the top colleges in the region below, and compare by size, cost, and much more:

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128 colleges
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Public, City

Ann Arbor, MI

Public, City

20% acceptance rate
32,063 undergraduate students
94% graduation rate
$17,086 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

Chicago, IL

Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

6% acceptance rate
7,558 undergraduate students
96% graduation rate
$22,690 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

Evanston, IL

Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

7% acceptance rate
8,691 undergraduate students
95% graduation rate
$28,230 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

Notre Dame, IN

Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

15% acceptance rate
8,950 undergraduate students
96% graduation rate
$32,369 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN • Public, City

West Lafayette, IN

Public, City

69% acceptance rate
37,658 undergraduate students
83% graduation rate
$9,127 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Public, City

Champaign, IL

Public, City

60% acceptance rate
33,889 undergraduate students
85% graduation rate
$15,483 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI • Public, City

Madison, WI

Public, City

60% acceptance rate
33,506 undergraduate students
89% graduation rate
$16,708 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI • Public, City

East Lansing, MI

Public, City

83% acceptance rate
38,424 undergraduate students
82% graduation rate
$10,925 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Public, City

Minneapolis, MN

Public, City

73% acceptance rate
30,734 undergraduate students
84% graduation rate
$17,419 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH • Public, City

Columbus, OH

Public, City

57% acceptance rate
45,986 undergraduate students
88% graduation rate
$18,623 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Terre Haute, IN • Private, Non-Profit, City

Terre Haute, IN

Private, Non-Profit, City

77% acceptance rate
2,075 undergraduate students
87% graduation rate
$36,277 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College

Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN • Private, Non-Profit, City

Saint Paul, MN

Private, Non-Profit, City

31% acceptance rate
2,235 undergraduate students
90% graduation rate
$23,188 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN • Public, City

Bloomington, IN

Public, City

85% acceptance rate
33,995 undergraduate students
81% graduation rate
$14,216 average per year after aid
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St Olaf College

Northfield, MN • Private, Non-Profit, Town

Northfield, MN

Private, Non-Profit, Town

47% acceptance rate
2,955 undergraduate students
85% graduation rate
$22,278 average per year after aid
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Wabash College

Crawfordsville, IN • Private, Non-Profit, Town

Crawfordsville, IN

Private, Non-Profit, Town

62% acceptance rate
840 undergraduate students
83% graduation rate
$19,772 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College

Carleton College

Northfield, MN • Private, Non-Profit, Town

Northfield, MN

Private, Non-Profit, Town

18% acceptance rate
2,008 undergraduate students
91% graduation rate
$31,800 average per year after aid
Learn More
Top College Top College: Affordability

Iowa State University

Ames, IA • Public, City

Ames, IA

Public, City

91% acceptance rate
25,537 undergraduate students
76% graduation rate
$15,351 average per year after aid
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Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City

Chicago, IL

Private, Non-Profit, City

66% acceptance rate
2,889 undergraduate students
71% graduation rate
$22,166 average per year after aid
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Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI • Private, Non-Profit, City

Milwaukee, WI

Private, Non-Profit, City

86% acceptance rate
7,466 undergraduate students
81% graduation rate
$29,102 average per year after aid
Learn More
Top College Top College

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA • Private, Non-Profit, Town, Need-Blind

Grinnell, IA

Private, Non-Profit, Town, Need-Blind

11% acceptance rate
1,713 undergraduate students
87% graduation rate
$28,610 average per year after aid
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The Midwest is home to many of our country’s best colleges and universities. Many states also have thriving public school systems, and students who live in the region can take advantage of tuition discounts through the Midwest Student Exchange Program. Check out the top colleges in the region below, and compare by size, cost, and much more:

Get Started

Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.

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