The Midwest is home to many top tier universities.
Illinois#
University of Chicago The University of Chicago is a world-renowned private research university in Chicago. It is consistently ranked among the top universities globally, particularly noted for its rigorous academic environment, prestigious graduate programs, and significant contributions to the social sciences, law, and physics. It is home to the University of Chicago Press and several major research institutes.
Northwestern University Northwestern University is a premier private research university located in Evanston. It is globally recognized for its high-impact research, academic excellence, and prestigious programs in journalism, engineering, and the arts. Northwestern maintains a reputation for innovation and produces a significant number of leaders in both the private and public sectors.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) As the flagship public land-grant university of Illinois, UIUC is a powerhouse of research and innovation. It is particularly famous for its engineering programs, which are consistently ranked among the best in the nation. The university serves as a major hub for technological advancement and maintains a massive footprint in undergraduate and graduate research.
Indiana#
Purdue University Purdue University is a premier public land-grant research institution located in West Lafayette. It is globally recognized for its high-impact research in engineering, aviation, and computer science. As a top-tier land-grant school, it balances a strong commitment to public service and workforce development with elite academic prestige.
Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington is a major public research university known for its diverse academic offerings and strong presence in the humanities, business, and education. It serves as the flagship campus of the Indiana University system and is highly regarded for its research output and large-scale campus life.
Iowa#
University of Iowa The University of Iowa is a prominent public research university in Iowa City. It is highly regarded for its programs in the arts, specifically its world-renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop, as well as its strong medical and nursing schools. It maintains a significant role as a research hub for the state of Iowa.
Kansas#
Kansas State University Kansas State University is a major public land-grant research university in Manhattan. It is widely recognized for its leadership in agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine. As a land-grant institution, it focuses heavily on practical research that supports the regional and national economy.
University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university in Lawrence. It offers a prestigious academic environment with significant research output in the fields of medicine, engineering, and business. KU is known for its high-quality undergraduate education and its status as a leading public institution in the region.
Michigan#
University of Michigan The University of Michigan is one of the most prestigious public research universities in the world. It is a leader in almost every academic discipline, offering world-class research facilities and a massive endowment that fuels innovation. Its reputation for academic excellence and high-impact research makes it a top-tier global institution.
Michigan State University Michigan State University is a major public land-grant research university in East Lansing. It is particularly well-regarded for its programs in agriculture, forestry, and many of the engineering sciences. MSU serves as a vital center for research and education, balancing large-scale public service with high-level academic output.
Minnesota#
University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is a leading public land-grant research university. It is highly regarded for its research in medicine, engineering, and the sciences. With a massive research enterprise, the university is a primary driver of economic and intellectual growth in the Upper Midwest.
Missouri#
University of Missouri The University of Missouri is the state’s flagship public land-grant research university. It provides a broad range of research-driven education, with notable strengths in journalism, agriculture, and engineering. It serves as a central pillar of higher education in the state.
Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis is a premier private research university known for its elite academic reputation. It is particularly famous for its world-class medical school and its contributions to research in biological sciences, business, and social work. It holds a high level of prestige among the nation’s top private institutions.
Nebraska#
Creighton University Creighton University is a prestigious private Jesuit research university in Omaha. It is recognized for its strong commitment to the liberal arts, its high-quality nursing and pharmacy programs, and its significant contributions to healthcare research and education.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is the state’s flagship public land-grant research university. It is highly regarded for its programs in agriculture, engineering, and education. The university is a primary driver of research and economic development in Nebraska.
North Dakota#
North Dakota State University North Dakota State University is the primary public land-grant research university in the state. It is highly respected for its focus on agricultural sciences, engineering, and technology, serving as a critical research hub for the state’s agricultural and industrial sectors.
Ohio#
Ohio State University Ohio State University is one of the largest and most prestigious public land-grant research universities in the United States. It is a massive research engine with significant output in engineering, medicine, and the social sciences. Its global reputation and extensive research facilities make it a top-tier institution.
South Dakota#
South Dakota State University South Dakota State University is a prominent public land-grant research university. It is particularly well-regarded for its programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and engineering, maintaining a strong focus on practical research and state service.
Wisconsin#
Marquette University Marquette University is a prestigious private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee. It is highly regarded for its programs in nursing, business, and theology, and is well-known for its commitment to research and service in the Midwest.
University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a world-class public land-grant research university. It is renowned for its excellence in the sciences, particularly in physics, chemistry, and biology, and is consistently ranked as one of the top research universities globally.
A Big Ten Perspective#
I went to a Big Ten university here in the Midwest, and I looked at several of the schools on this list before I picked one. Once I was there, a lot of my favorite memories came from game days: packed stadiums on fall Saturdays and loud basketball arenas in the winter, cheering against many of the same universities I had once toured.
The Big Ten is one of the things that ties this list together. It started in 1896 as the Western Conference, making it the oldest Division I athletic conference in the country. The original members were Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin, all Midwest schools. The University of Chicago later left, and the conference has since grown coast to coast, adding schools like Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, and, in 2024, UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington. But its roots, and most of its rivalries, are still right here.
It’s more than sports. Big Ten universities also share research and library resources through the Big Ten Academic Alliance, which gives students and faculty access to collections far beyond their own campus.
If you’re helping someone choose a school, a few practical tips:
- Visit in person. A campus feels very different on a Tuesday in February than it does in a brochure.
- Compare in-state tuition. The flagship public universities in the Midwest offer some of the best value in the country for in-state students.
- Look into tuition exchange programs. The Midwest Student Exchange Program lets students at participating schools in member states pay reduced out-of-state tuition.
- Look past the rankings. The right fit, the right program, and graduating without crushing debt matter more than a number on a list.
