Lens covers 34 suburban colleges in the Midwest, 12 public and 22 private. They range from Concordia University–Chicago (1,323 undergraduates) to Kent State University at Kent (19,320). Acceptance rates run from 11% to 98%, and 31 of the 34 admit at least half of applicants.
Suburban colleges are in the suburbs of a city (NCES locale). In Lens, the Midwest means Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Open these 34 colleges in the College Filter → Narrow them by cost at your rate, majors, size and more.
The 34 suburban colleges in the Midwest
Listed A to Z. Lens never ranks colleges.
| College | Location | Undergraduates | Acceptance rate | Tuition & fees (before aid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora University | Aurora, Illinois | 3,974 | 81% | $29,170 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, Ohio | 2,842 | 76% | $39,832 |
| Capital University | Columbus, Ohio | 1,585 | 70% | $43,234 |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | Moorhead, Minnesota | 1,829 | 63% | $31,170 |
| Concordia University–Chicago | River Forest, Illinois | 1,323 | 93% | $37,488 |
| Concordia University–Wisconsin | Mequon, Wisconsin | 2,197 | 78% | $35,470 |
| Davenport University | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 3,134 | 98% | $24,466 |
| Denison University | Granville, Ohio | 2,380 | 17% | $67,000 |
| Dominican University | River Forest, Illinois | 2,561 | 90% | $38,978 |
| Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, Michigan | 10,055 | 80% | $16,240 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, Illinois | 3,006 | 74% | $42,955 |
| Illinois State University | Normal, Illinois | 19,057 | 88% | $16,144 in-state · $28,210 out-of-state |
| John Carroll University | University Heights, Ohio | 2,274 | 81% | $50,500 |
| Kent State University at Kent | Kent, Ohio | 19,320 | 86% | $13,232 in-state · $23,082 out-of-state |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest, Illinois | 1,813 | 57% | $56,402 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville, Illinois | 4,015 | 71% | $39,200 |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis, Missouri | 5,658 | 95% | $27,166 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Moorhead, Minnesota | 3,072 | 59% | $10,428 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, Illinois | 11,301 | 70% | $13,248 |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills, Michigan | 12,351 | 88% | $15,262 in-state · $23,188 out-of-state |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware, Ohio | 1,516 | 56% | $53,888 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Illinois | 2,603 | 56% | $38,900 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville, Ohio | 2,157 | 85% | $35,548 |
| 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 Norbert College | De Pere, Wisconsin | 1,662 | 86% | $45,580 |
| Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville | Edwardsville, Illinois | 8,750 | 98% | $12,922 |
| University of Missouri–St Louis | Saint Louis, Missouri | 5,024 | 63% | $14,112 in-state · $35,112 out-of-state |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Indiana | 8,818 | 11% | $65,025 |
| University of Southern Indiana | Evansville, Indiana | 5,292 | 96% | $10,066 in-state · $22,907 out-of-state |
| 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 |
| Wright State University | Dayton, Ohio | 6,762 | 96% | $11,522 in-state · $21,222 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
- Suburban Colleges
- Suburban Colleges in the Northeast
- Suburban Colleges in the Southeast
- Suburban 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
- Catholic Colleges in the Midwest
- Christian Colleges in the Midwest
- Colleges with Big-Time Sports in the Midwest
- Division I Colleges in the Midwest
FAQ
Which suburban colleges in the Midwest admit at least half of applicants? 31 of the 34: Aurora University, Baldwin Wallace University, Capital University, Concordia College at Moorhead, Concordia University–Chicago, Concordia University–Wisconsin, Davenport University, Dominican University, Eastern Michigan University, Elmhurst University, Illinois State University, John Carroll University and 19 more (fall 2024).
What are the largest and smallest suburban colleges in the Midwest? Kent State University at Kent is the largest, with 19,320 undergraduates, and Concordia University–Chicago is the smallest, with 1,323 (fall 2024).
How many suburban colleges in the Midwest are public? 12 of the 34 are public and 22 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.