Lens covers 58 smaller public universities in the Midwest, all public. They range from Chicago State University (1,384 undergraduates) to Ball State University (13,988). Acceptance rates run from 43% to 99%, and 57 of the 58 admit at least half of applicants.
Smaller public universities here have fewer than 15,000 undergraduates (IPEDS). 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 public universities 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 |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji, Minnesota | 3,139 | 56% | $10,237 |
| 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 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago, Illinois | 1,384 | 43% | $12,754 |
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland, Ohio | 8,969 | 91% | $12,988 in-state · $18,510 out-of-state |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, Illinois | 4,188 | 65% | $13,679 in-state · $16,217 out-of-state |
| Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, Michigan | 10,055 | 80% | $16,240 |
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids, Michigan | 8,106 | 91% | $14,778 |
| Indiana State University | Terre Haute, Indiana | 6,188 | 81% | $10,258 in-state · $22,322 out-of-state |
| Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, Indiana | 13,830 | 76% | $10,762 in-state · $34,891 out-of-state |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Moorhead, Minnesota | 3,072 | 59% | $10,428 |
| Minnesota State University–Mankato | Mankato, Minnesota | 11,703 | 88% | $9,572 in-state · $18,942 out-of-state |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin, Missouri | 3,019 | 97% | $8,960 in-state · $17,080 out-of-state |
| Missouri State University–Springfield | Springfield, Missouri | 13,313 | 91% | $9,502 in-state · $18,770 out-of-state |
| North Dakota State University | Fargo, North Dakota | 9,471 | 95% | $11,110 in-state · $15,764 out-of-state |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago, Illinois | 3,982 | 75% | $12,383 in-state · $22,726 out-of-state |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, Illinois | 11,301 | 70% | $13,248 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette, Michigan | 6,556 | 84% | $14,277 in-state · $19,773 out-of-state |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville, Missouri | 4,378 | 86% | $10,611 in-state · $17,324 out-of-state |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills, Michigan | 12,351 | 88% | $15,262 in-state · $23,188 out-of-state |
| Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, Kansas | 4,210 | 89% | $8,400 in-state · $19,744 out-of-state |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 5,484 | 84% | $9,532 in-state · $22,887 out-of-state |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, Indiana | 5,671 | 72% | $8,675 in-state · $16,094 out-of-state |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center, Michigan | 5,989 | 72% | $12,930 in-state · $30,450 out-of-state |
| Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | 5,088 | 95% | $10,245 |
| South Dakota State University | Brookings, South Dakota | 9,198 | 98% | $9,299 in-state · $12,809 out-of-state |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | 6,373 | 74% | $9,903 |
| Southern Illinois University–Carbondale | Carbondale, Illinois | 8,494 | 87% | $13,334 |
| Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville | Edwardsville, Illinois | 8,750 | 98% | $12,922 |
| University of Akron | Akron, Ohio | 9,052 | 60% | $13,135 in-state · $20,815 out-of-state |
| University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, Missouri | 5,648 | 64% | $10,050 in-state · $18,600 out-of-state |
| University of Michigan–Dearborn | Dearborn, Michigan | 5,952 | 56% | $15,640 in-state · $32,896 out-of-state |
| University of Michigan–Flint | Flint, Michigan | 4,411 | 70% | $14,704 in-state · $28,320 out-of-state |
| University of Minnesota–Duluth | Duluth, Minnesota | 7,336 | 89% | $14,610 in-state · $20,130 out-of-state |
| University of Missouri–Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri | 6,817 | 72% | $12,587 in-state · $30,227 out-of-state |
| University of Missouri–St Louis | Saint Louis, Missouri | 5,024 | 63% | $14,112 in-state · $35,112 out-of-state |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney, Nebraska | 4,088 | 89% | $8,676 in-state · $15,284 out-of-state |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha, Nebraska | 11,488 | 87% | $8,718 in-state · $23,206 out-of-state |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, North Dakota | 9,981 | 77% | $10,951 in-state · $15,570 out-of-state |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 7,529 | 93% | $9,936 in-state · $21,712 out-of-state |
| University of South Dakota | Vermillion, South Dakota | 5,439 | 99% | $9,432 in-state · $12,942 out-of-state |
| University of Southern Indiana | Evansville, Indiana | 5,292 | 96% | $10,066 in-state · $22,907 out-of-state |
| University of Toledo | Toledo, Ohio | 9,770 | 92% | $12,744 in-state · $22,104 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | 8,895 | 82% | $9,642 in-state · $19,228 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–La Crosse | La Crosse, Wisconsin | 9,277 | 76% | $10,070 in-state · $19,517 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | 6,877 | 86% | $8,532 in-state · $16,446 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–Platteville | Platteville, Wisconsin | 5,837 | 89% | $8,644 in-state · $17,603 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–River Falls | River Falls, Wisconsin | 4,205 | 82% | $9,008 in-state · $17,470 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | 7,306 | 92% | $9,488 in-state · $18,508 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–Stout | Menomonie, Wisconsin | 5,842 | 88% | $10,701 in-state · $19,265 out-of-state |
| University of Wisconsin–Whitewater | Whitewater, Wisconsin | 9,405 | 86% | $8,616 in-state · $18,716 out-of-state |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois | 4,410 | 71% | $15,264 |
| Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, Michigan | 12,568 | 85% | $15,252 in-state · $19,034 out-of-state |
| Wichita State University | Wichita, Kansas | 10,780 | 94% | $9,684 in-state · $19,869 out-of-state |
| Winona State University | Winona, Minnesota | 5,144 | 75% | $10,576 in-state · $17,308 out-of-state |
| Wright State University | Dayton, Ohio | 6,762 | 96% | $11,522 in-state · $21,222 out-of-state |
| Youngstown State University | Youngstown, Ohio | 7,961 | 84% | $11,113 in-state · $11,473 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
- Smaller Public Universities
- Smaller Public Universities in the Northeast
- Smaller Public Universities in the Southeast
- Smaller Public Universities in the South and Southwest
- Smaller Public Universities in the Mountain West
- Smaller Public Universities on the West Coast
- Liberal Arts Colleges in the Midwest
- Large Public Universities in the Midwest
- Smaller Private 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 public universities in the Midwest admit at least half of applicants? 57 of the 58: Ball State University, Bemidji State University, Bowling Green State University, Central Michigan University, Cleveland State University, Eastern Illinois University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Indiana State University, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Minnesota State University–Mankato and 45 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest smaller public universities in the Midwest? Ball State University is the largest, with 13,988 undergraduates, and Chicago State University is the smallest, with 1,384 (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.