Lens covers 58 smaller private universities in the Midwest, all private. They range from Clarke University (742 undergraduates) to Northwestern University (9,201). Acceptance rates run from 4% to 98%, and 52 of the 58 admit at least half of applicants.
Smaller private universities here have fewer than 10,000 undergraduates and are not liberal arts colleges or specialized schools (IPEDS, Carnegie). In Lens, the Midwest means Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Open these 58 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 58 smaller private universities in the Midwest
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson University | Anderson, Indiana | 1,057 | 79% | $37,240 |
| Ashland University | Ashland, Ohio | 2,199 | 76% | $31,210 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 2,494 | 82% | $45,452 |
| Aurora University | Aurora, Illinois | 3,974 | 81% | $29,170 |
| Avila University | Kansas City, Missouri | 1,312 | 88% | $42,000 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, Ohio | 2,842 | 76% | $39,832 |
| Bradley University | Peoria, Illinois | 3,574 | 77% | $42,160 |
| Butler University | Indianapolis, Indiana | 4,317 | 85% | $47,560 |
| Capital University | Columbus, Ohio | 1,585 | 70% | $43,234 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha, Wisconsin | 2,523 | 67% | $38,890 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha, Wisconsin | 2,660 | 87% | $38,750 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio | 6,437 | 37% | $66,608 |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville, Ohio | 4,024 | 65% | $37,150 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque, Iowa | 742 | 72% | $40,910 |
| Concordia University–Chicago | River Forest, Illinois | 1,323 | 93% | $37,488 |
| Concordia University–Saint Paul | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 3,018 | 79% | $25,600 |
| Concordia University–Wisconsin | Mequon, Wisconsin | 2,197 | 78% | $35,470 |
| Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska | 4,348 | 80% | $48,856 |
| Davenport University | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 3,134 | 98% | $24,466 |
| Dominican University | River Forest, Illinois | 2,561 | 90% | $38,978 |
| Drake University | Des Moines, Iowa | 2,543 | 64% | $52,130 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, Illinois | 3,006 | 74% | $42,955 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake, Indiana | 1,464 | 82% | $31,200 |
| Hamline University | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 1,776 | 88% | $50,004 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 1,441 | 70% | $31,361 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University–Marion | Marion, Indiana | 1,974 | 89% | $32,352 |
| John Carroll University | University Heights, Ohio | 2,274 | 81% | $50,500 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville, Illinois | 4,015 | 71% | $39,200 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles, Missouri | 4,624 | 57% | $21,600 |
| Manchester University | North Manchester, Indiana | 936 | 71% | $37,135 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 7,660 | 81% | $51,170 |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis, Missouri | 5,658 | 95% | $27,166 |
| Millikin University | Decatur, Illinois | 1,382 | 67% | $26,892 |
| National Louis University | Chicago, Illinois | 4,406 | 95% | $12,705 |
| North Central College | Naperville, Illinois | 2,428 | 77% | $45,726 |
| North Park University | Chicago, Illinois | 1,818 | 69% | $36,710 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, Illinois | 9,201 | 8% | $68,322 |
| Ohio Northern University | Ada, Ohio | 2,489 | 74% | $39,800 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Illinois | 2,603 | 56% | $38,900 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville, Ohio | 2,157 | 85% | $35,548 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago, Illinois | 2,849 | 97% | $21,315 |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, Missouri | 7,267 | 75% | $55,760 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago, Illinois | 3,096 | 84% | $37,940 |
| The University of Findlay | Findlay, Ohio | 2,223 | 83% | $41,164 |
| Tiffin University | Tiffin, Ohio | 2,051 | 80% | $34,790 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | 7,569 | 4% | $70,662 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton, Ohio | 7,682 | 65% | $49,140 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, Michigan | 2,438 | 75% | $32,946 |
| University of Evansville | Evansville, Indiana | 1,539 | 78% | $44,172 |
| University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, Indiana | 3,005 | 66% | $37,200 |
| University of Mount Union | Alliance, Ohio | 1,995 | 78% | $36,600 |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | 8,818 | 11% | $65,025 |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, Minnesota | 6,245 | 85% | $54,398 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, Indiana | 2,083 | 89% | $48,450 |
| Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, Missouri | 7,857 | 12% | $65,790 |
| Webster University | Saint Louis, Missouri | 2,304 | 86% | $31,750 |
| Wilberforce University | Wilberforce, Ohio | 822 | 40% | $16,448 |
| 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
- Smaller Private Universities
- Smaller Private Universities in the Northeast
- Smaller Private Universities in the Southeast
- Smaller Private Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Private Universities on the West Coast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Midwest
- Large Public Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the Midwest
- Catholic Colleges 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 smaller private universities in the Midwest admit at least half of applicants? 52 of the 58: Anderson University, Ashland University, Augsburg University, Aurora University, Avila University, Baldwin Wallace University, Bradley University, Butler University, Capital University, Carroll University, Carthage College, Cedarville University and 40 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest smaller private universities in the Midwest? Northwestern University is the largest, with 9,201 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.