Lens covers 28 colleges with big-time sports in the Midwest, 26 public and 2 private. They range from University of Notre Dame (8,818 undergraduates) to Ohio State University (45,638). Acceptance rates run from 8% to 93%, and 22 of the 28 admit at least half of applicants.
Colleges with big-time sports play NCAA Division I football in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), where game days are big campus events (Equity in Athletics, 2024–25). In Lens, the Midwest means Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
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The 28 colleges with big-time sports in the Midwest
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State University | Muncie, Indiana | 13,988 | 86% | $11,082 in-state · $29,630 out-of-state |
| Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, Ohio | 12,812 | 81% | $14,460 in-state · $22,448 out-of-state |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | 10,035 | 90% | $14,760 |
| Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, Michigan | 10,055 | 80% | $16,240 |
| Indiana University–Bloomington | Bloomington, Indiana | 37,806 | 78% | $12,144 in-state · $41,891 out-of-state |
| Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa | 25,367 | 89% | $10,787 in-state · $28,881 out-of-state |
| Kansas State University | Manhattan, Kansas | 15,142 | 82% | $11,221 in-state · $28,568 out-of-state |
| Kent State University at Kent | Kent, Ohio | 19,320 | 86% | $13,232 in-state · $23,082 out-of-state |
| Miami University–Oxford | Oxford, Ohio | 16,656 | 75% | $18,161 in-state · $41,221 out-of-state |
| Michigan State University | East Lansing, Michigan | 40,922 | 85% | $16,458 in-state · $43,842 out-of-state |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, Illinois | 11,301 | 70% | $13,248 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, Illinois | 9,201 | 8% | $68,322 |
| Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | 45,638 | 61% | $13,244 in-state · $40,022 out-of-state |
| Ohio University | Athens, Ohio | 19,633 | 85% | $14,158 in-state · $24,838 out-of-state |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | 44,503 | 50% | $9,992 in-state · $28,794 out-of-state |
| University of Akron | Akron, Ohio | 9,052 | 60% | $13,135 in-state · $20,815 out-of-state |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | 29,882 | 85% | $13,976 in-state · $29,310 out-of-state |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, Illinois | 36,258 | 42% | $16,004 in-state · $35,124 out-of-state |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa | 22,264 | 84% | $11,283 in-state · $33,371 out-of-state |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas | 21,217 | 93% | $12,102 in-state · $30,432 out-of-state |
| University of Michigan–Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 34,177 | 16% | $17,736 in-state · $60,946 out-of-state |
| University of Minnesota–Twin Cities | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 31,855 | 80% | $17,214 in-state · $38,362 out-of-state |
| University of Missouri–Columbia | Columbia, Missouri | 23,929 | 78% | $14,837 in-state · $36,056 out-of-state |
| University of Nebraska–Lincoln | Lincoln, Nebraska | 19,178 | 87% | $10,434 in-state · $28,584 out-of-state |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | 8,818 | 11% | $65,025 |
| University of Toledo | Toledo, Ohio | 9,770 | 92% | $12,744 in-state · $22,104 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | Madison, Wisconsin | 36,902 | 45% | $11,603 in-state · $42,103 out-of-state |
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, Michigan | 12,568 | 85% | $15,252 in-state · $19,034 out-of-state |
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
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Northeast
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Southeast
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the South and Southwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Mountain West
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports 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
- Catholic Colleges in the Midwest
- Christian Colleges in the Midwest
- Division I Colleges in the Midwest
- Division II Colleges in the Midwest
FAQ
Which colleges with big-time sports in the Midwest admit at least half of applicants? 22 of the 28: Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Indiana University–Bloomington, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Kent State University at Kent, Miami University–Oxford, Michigan State University, Northern Illinois University, Ohio State University and 10 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest colleges with big-time sports in the Midwest? Ohio State University is the largest, with 45,638 undergraduates, and University of Notre Dame is the smallest, with 8,818 (fall 2024).
How many colleges with big-time sports in the Midwest are public? 26 of the 28 are public and 2 are private.
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.