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Large Public Universities in the Midwest: 23 Compared

Lens covers 23 large public universities in the Midwest, all public. They range from Kansas State University (15,142 undergraduates) to Ohio State University (45,638). Acceptance rates run from 16% to 93%, and 19 of the 23 admit at least half of applicants.

Large public universities here have 15,000 or more undergraduates (IPEDS). 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 23 large public universities in the Midwest

Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.

CollegeLocationUndergraduatesAcceptance rateTuition & fees (before aid)
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale, Michigan18,85483%$15,140 in-state · $21,548 out-of-state
Illinois State UniversityNormal, Illinois19,05788%$16,144 in-state · $28,210 out-of-state
Indiana University–BloomingtonBloomington, Indiana37,80678%$12,144 in-state · $41,891 out-of-state
Iowa State UniversityAmes, Iowa25,36789%$10,787 in-state · $28,881 out-of-state
Kansas State UniversityManhattan, Kansas15,14282%$11,221 in-state · $28,568 out-of-state
Kent State University at KentKent, Ohio19,32086%$13,232 in-state · $23,082 out-of-state
Miami University–OxfordOxford, Ohio16,65675%$18,161 in-state · $41,221 out-of-state
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, Michigan40,92285%$16,458 in-state · $43,842 out-of-state
Ohio State UniversityColumbus, Ohio45,63861%$13,244 in-state · $40,022 out-of-state
Ohio UniversityAthens, Ohio19,63385%$14,158 in-state · $24,838 out-of-state
Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, Indiana44,50350%$9,992 in-state · $28,794 out-of-state
University of CincinnatiCincinnati, Ohio29,88285%$13,976 in-state · $29,310 out-of-state
University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, Illinois22,17077%$14,338 in-state · $29,884 out-of-state
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, Illinois36,25842%$16,004 in-state · $35,124 out-of-state
University of IowaIowa City, Iowa22,26484%$11,283 in-state · $33,371 out-of-state
University of KansasLawrence, Kansas21,21793%$12,102 in-state · $30,432 out-of-state
University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnn Arbor, Michigan34,17716%$17,736 in-state · $60,946 out-of-state
University of Minnesota–Twin CitiesMinneapolis, Minnesota31,85580%$17,214 in-state · $38,362 out-of-state
University of Missouri–ColumbiaColumbia, Missouri23,92978%$14,837 in-state · $36,056 out-of-state
University of Nebraska–LincolnLincoln, Nebraska19,17887%$10,434 in-state · $28,584 out-of-state
University of Wisconsin–MadisonMadison, Wisconsin36,90245%$11,603 in-state · $42,103 out-of-state
University of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin16,75891%$10,398 in-state · $22,398 out-of-state
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, Michigan15,58781%$15,190 in-state · $32,037 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.

FAQ

Which large public universities in the Midwest admit at least half of applicants? 19 of the 23: Grand Valley State University, Illinois State University, Indiana University–Bloomington, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Kent State University at Kent, Miami University–Oxford, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Ohio University, University of Cincinnati, University of Illinois Chicago and 7 more (fall 2024).

What are the largest and smallest large public universities in the Midwest? Ohio State University is the largest, with 45,638 undergraduates, and Kansas State University is the smallest, with 15,142 (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.

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