Best Colleges in America: The A-List Midwest Region

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Updated by College Atlas

Thinking about going to college? Checking up on your alma mater? Find out how your school stacks up against other schools in the nation. Don’t worry, this isn’t your typical college ranking list. We’ve ranked schools based on three things that matter most to you: Affordability, Academic Quality, and Accessibility.

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  1. Iowa State University

    Iowa State University

    Ames, IA
    #1

    Iowa State University of Science and Technology is a public, research university located in Ames, Iowa. Commonly known as Iowa State University (ISU), the school is a land-grant and space-grant … read more


    • $7,726 In-State Tuition
    • $20,278 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 83% Acceptance Rate
    • 30,748 Students

  2. Univesrity of Iowa

    University of Iowa

    Iowa City, IA
    #2

    The University of Iowa is the oldest public university in the state. Commonly referred to as UI or just Iowa, it is a research university that offers undergraduate, graduate and professional … read more


    • $8,061 In-State Tuition
    • $26,931 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 78% Acceptance Rate
    • 30,119 Students

  3. Univesrity of Missouri - Columbia

    University of Missouri, Columbia

    Columbia, MO
    #3

    The University of Missouri, Columbia, is a public, research university located in Columbia, Missouri. Also known as Mizzou, Missouri or MU, it is the largest institution of higher education in the … read more


    • $9,415 In-State Tuition
    • $23,764 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 82% Acceptance Rate
    • 34,748 Students

  4. University of Northern Iowa

    University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, IA
    #4

    The University of Northern Iowa, or UNI for short, is a public university located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The University was founded in 1876 and was known as Iowa State Normal School. In 1967, after … read more


    • $7,685 In-State Tuition
    • $17,181 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 78% Acceptance Rate
    • 12,273 Students

  5. Kansas State University

    Kansas State University

    Manhattan, KS
    #5

    Kansas State University is a public university located in Manhattan, Kansas. Commonly referred to as K-State, it is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Kansas. In addition to the … read more


    • $8,585 In-State Tuition
    • $21,530 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 99% Acceptance Rate
    • 24,378 Students

  6. Truman State University

    Truman State University

    Kirksville, MO
    #6

    Founded in 1867 as the First Missouri Normal School and Commercial College, Truman State University is today a public, liberal arts and sciences university located in Kirksville, Missouri. Its … read more


    • $7,368 In-State Tuition
    • $13,240 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 74% Acceptance Rate
    • 6,237 Students

  7. University of Nebraska - Kearney

    University of Nebraska at Kearney

    Kearney, NE
    #7

    Founded in 1905 as the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney (also referred to as “UNK”), the University of Nebraska at Kearney today is a part of the University of Nebraska system. It traces … read more


    • $6,521 In-State Tuition
    • $12,349 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 85% Acceptance Rate
    • 7,199 Students

  8. Missouri State University

    Missouri State University

    Springfield, MO
    #8

    Formerly Southwest Missouri State University, and presently also known as MSU or Mo State, Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri. Founded in 1905, … read more


    • $6,908 In-State Tuition
    • $13,388 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 83% Acceptance Rate
    • 20,629 Students

  9. University of Kansas

    University of Kansas

    Lawrence, KS
    #9

    The University of Kansas is commonly referred to as KU. With a student body of more than 29,000 students, it is the largest public, research university in the state of Kansas. The main campus sits … read more


    • $10,107 In-State Tuition
    • $24,873 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 92% Acceptance Rate
    • 27,135 Students

  10. Wichita State University

    Wichita State University

    Wichita, KS
    #10

    Witchita State University, also known as WSU, is a public university in Wichita, Kansas, the third largest of the six state universities under the umbrella of the Kansas Board of Regents. … read more


    • $6,927 In-State Tuition
    • $14,961 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 95% Acceptance Rate
    • 14,893 Students

  11. Washburn University

    Washburn University

    Topeka, KS
    #11

    Washburn University (WU) is located in Topeka, Kansas. This public university has over 550 faculty members, 6,500 undergraduate students, and about 1,000 graduate students. The school also has a … read more


    • $5,774 In-State Tuition
    • $12,926 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 96% Acceptance Rate
    • 7,204 Students

  12. Wayne State College

    Wayne State College

    Wayne, NE
    #12

    Wayne State College (WSC), located in northeast Nebraska, is a four-year, public college with an enrollment of approximately 3,500 students. It went through an evolution of name changes including … read more


    • $5,574 In-State Tuition
    • $9,774 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 100% Acceptance Rate
    • 3,555 Students

  13. North Dakota State Univesrity

    North Dakota State University

    Fargo, ND
    #13

    North Dakota State University is a medium-sized university with an undergraduate population of 11,061. The graduate enrollment is currently 1,818. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, … read more


    • $7,233 In-State Tuition
    • $17,478 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 84% Acceptance Rate
    • 14,443 Students

  14. Southeast Missouri State University

    Southeast Missouri State University

    Cape Girardeau, MO
    #14

    Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is a public, liberal arts university located in rural Cape Girardeau, Missouri. SEMO offers degrees on the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ed.D. levels in over … read more


    • $6,863 In-State Tuition
    • $12,195 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 97% Acceptance Rate
    • 11,729 Students

  15. University of Nebraska - Omaha

    University of Nebraska, Omaha

    Omaha, NE
    #15

    The University of Nebraska Omaha (affectionately known as UNO) is a vibrant, exciting university with a welcoming student body. It is a … read more


    • $6,510 In-State Tuition
    • $16,520 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 80% Acceptance Rate
    • 14,786 Students

  16. Indiana University - Bloomington

    Indiana University Bloomington

    Bloomington, IN
    #16

    Indiana University Bloomington, commonly referred to as IU Bloomington, is a public, research university and the flagship campus of the eight-campus Indiana University system. Based in Bloomington, … read more


    • $10,209 In-State Tuition
    • $32,209 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 74% Acceptance Rate
    • 42,133 Students

  17. Fort Hays State University

    Fort Hays State University

    Hays, KS
    #17

    Fort Hays State University, also referred to as FHSU, is the fourth largest of the six universities that are governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. It is a public, co-educational university … read more


    • $4,320 In-State Tuition
    • $13,680 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 81% Acceptance Rate
    • 13,310 Students

  18. South Dakota State Univesrity

    South Dakota State University

    Brookings, SD
    #18

    Also known as SDSU, South Dakota State University is the state’s largest university with a student population of 12,583. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota. SDSU was founded under the … read more


    • $7,708 In-State Tuition
    • $9,790 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 92% Acceptance Rate
    • 12,583 Students

  19. St. Cloud State Univesrity

    St. Cloud State University

    St. Cloud, MN
    #19

    St. Cloud State University is a public, four-year university located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, right on the Mississippi River. St. Cloud is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities … read more


    • $7,472 In-State Tuition
    • $15,114 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 90% Acceptance Rate
    • 16,457 Students

  20. Purdue University - West Lafayette

    Purdue University

    West Lafayette, IN
    #20

    Purdue University is a world-class, research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Established as a land-grant university in 1869, the West Lafayette campus is the flagship university of … read more


    • $9,992 In-State Tuition
    • $28,794 Out-of-State Tuition
    • 61% Acceptance Rate
    • 39,256 Students

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Originally posted June 24th, 2014

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