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Best Colleges in the Midwest

Some of the best colleges and universities in the US call the vast fields and prairies of the American Midwest their home, and the region’s vibrant urban centers – like Chicago and the Twin Cities – provide an attractive job market for recent graduates.

Midwestern students who want to study at a public university in a nearby state can investigate local tuition reciprocity agreements, which offer reduced tuition fees to students from the region. In America’s heartland, the Midwest Student Exchange Program regulates these agreements.

At DegreeChoices, we believe college choice should be rooted in hard economic data. To help you make a smart educational investment, we have ranked the best colleges in the Midwest according to economic value. Find out more about how we did this on our Methodology page.

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#1 in Midwestern colleges

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Economic score 1.09

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,531

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $91,885

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 96%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,792

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $83,648

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 93%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.42

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,109

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $81,054

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 87%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Midwestern colleges

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana

Economic score 1.45

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $29,974

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $99,980

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 96%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.48

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,799

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $82,957

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.49

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,768

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $86,182

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 94%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Midwestern colleges

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Economic score 1.62

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,057

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $89,363

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 95%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.69

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,139

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $68,740

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Midwestern colleges

Purdue University

West Lafayette, Indiana

Economic score 1.75

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,000

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $72,424

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 81%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.83

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,564

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,409

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 68%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Midwestern colleges

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

Economic score 1.83

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $11,780

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,971

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 76%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.91

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $28,463

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $64,080

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 82%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.91

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,834

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $73,792

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 88%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.92

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $15,776

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $75,103

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 88%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 1.97

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,283

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $78,198

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 2.07

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,196

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,030

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 77%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 2.10

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,450

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $68,303

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 75%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 2.14

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,441

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $89,070

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 2.16

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,318

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $69,020

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in Midwestern colleges
Economic score 2.24

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,173

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $63,582

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 54%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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