Lens covers 18 Catholic colleges in the Midwest, all private. They range from Clarke University (742 undergraduates) to DePaul University (14,090). Acceptance rates run from 11% to 95%, and 17 of the 18 admit at least half of applicants.
Catholic colleges were founded by or are sponsored by the Catholic Church or a Catholic religious order (IPEDS, 2024). How much faith shapes campus life varies, so check each college's own site. In Lens, the Midwest means Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Open these 18 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 18 Catholic colleges in the Midwest
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avila University | Kansas City, Missouri | 1,312 | 88% | $42,000 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque, Iowa | 742 | 72% | $40,910 |
| Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska | 4,348 | 80% | $48,856 |
| DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois | 14,090 | 76% | $45,999 |
| Dominican University | River Forest, Illinois | 2,561 | 90% | $38,978 |
| John Carroll University | University Heights, Ohio | 2,274 | 81% | $50,500 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville, Illinois | 4,015 | 71% | $39,200 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 11,737 | 82% | $53,710 |
| Marian University | Indianapolis, Indiana | 2,266 | 95% | $40,664 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 7,660 | 81% | $51,170 |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, Missouri | 7,267 | 75% | $55,760 |
| Saint Norbert College | De Pere, Wisconsin | 1,662 | 86% | $45,580 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago, Illinois | 3,096 | 84% | $37,940 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton, Ohio | 7,682 | 65% | $49,140 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, Michigan | 2,438 | 75% | $32,946 |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | 8,818 | 11% | $65,025 |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 6,245 | 85% | $54,398 |
| Xavier University | Cincinnati, Ohio | 4,207 | 86% | $50,640 |
Sources: IPEDS (fall 2024 enrollment and admissions); College Scorecard (published tuition and fees before aid, about 2023–24). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Related lists
- Catholic Colleges
- Catholic Colleges in the Northeast
- Catholic Colleges in the Southeast
- Catholic Colleges on the West Coast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Midwest
- Large Public Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Private Universities in the Midwest
- Christian Colleges in the Midwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Midwest
- Division I Colleges in the Midwest
- Division II Colleges in the Midwest
FAQ
Which Catholic colleges in the Midwest admit at least half of applicants? 17 of the 18: Avila University, Clarke University, Creighton University, DePaul University, Dominican University, John Carroll University, Lewis University, Loyola University Chicago, Marian University, Marquette University, Saint Louis University, Saint Norbert College and 5 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest Catholic colleges in the Midwest? DePaul University is the largest, with 14,090 undergraduates, and Clarke University is the smallest, with 742 (fall 2024).
Where these numbers come from
Lens covers the 850 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that receive the most applications, so some smaller colleges are not listed. Enrollment, acceptance rates and degrees come from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education, fall 2024); published prices from the College Scorecard. Each college's page lists its own sources. See the data behind Lens.