Top 7 Picks for the Best Colleges in the Midwest

The Midwest typically gets overlooked in listings of top colleges. That's in part because many of the best colleges in the Midwest are large, public universities that - while not as stringent in admissions requirements as "elite" colleges - nonetheless are home to some of the best faculties and students.

The bigger schools are listed first, roughly in order of prestige, followed by a couple of top liberal arts programs.

     1.     Northwestern University

Northwestern is the only private college in the Big 10 athletic conference. Located on a beautiful, traditional, big-college campus in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Northwestern is a typical choice for acedmically sucessful students who work hard and want the opportunities of a prestigious college education, but don't want to leave the Midwest. In terms of size, admissions difficulty, and overlap of applying students, Northwestern is frequently compared to Cornell.
 

     2.     University of Chicago

While known largely for its strong graduate schools, the University of Chicago also houses one of the nation's top undergraduate programs. Chicago has a reputation for its (sometimes overly?) intellectual and academically focused students which is only partially deserved. This is a great school for anyone who is willing to work hard - and can get in!
 

     3.     Washington University in St. Louis

"Wash U" is a top private university in St. Louis that has recently found itself listed among the elite of Midwestern schools. The top medical school here attracts lots of premeds, and the school is not shy about handing out scholarships to those who score well on standardized tests.
 

     4.     Notre Dame

Notre Dame is known largely for its legendary football program and largely Catholic student body. But this school is one of the strongest universities in the Midwest, with a beautiful campus, top-flight academics, and a tight-knit community that endures long after students graduate.
 

     5.     University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is without a doubt one of the nation's very finest public universities. While admissions is somewhat relaxed for in-state students, the Honors College and top-flight faculty ensures that this school is an attractive option for even the very strongest college applicants.
 

     6.     Carleton College

Minnesota's Carleton College is - along with Grinnell College in Iowa- one of the most elite liberal arts schools in the Midwest. While it's cold in Minnesota, Carleton nonetheless attracts some of most interesting and highly motivated students from throughout the country. At about 2000 students, Carleton is comparably in size to Williams College in Massachusetts.
 

     7.     Grinnell College

Grinnell is located in central Iowa, about an hour from Des Moines. Despite its somewhat rural location, this is a cosmopolitan place that attracts all types of students from throughout the country. Grinnell is diverse and progressive, and was the first school west of the Mississippi to accept women and African Americans.