Best value colleges in the Midwest

Colleges in the Midwest with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price after aid, earnings and debt.

Best value colleges in the Midwest177 schools

177 schools qualify, ranked by Value. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
In the Midwest (U.S. Census Bureau region).
Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Value, highest first.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · Public
Top 16% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $10,974 a year
2
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Illinois
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- Net price $14,860 a year
3
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Columbus, OH · Private nonprofit
Top 11% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $10,420 a year
4
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- Net price $13,138 a year
5
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll
#3 in Illinois
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- Net price $14,355 a year
6
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN · PublicHonor Roll
#2 in Indiana
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- Net price $14,600 a year
7
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI · Public
Top 9% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- Net price $14,182 a year
8
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · PublicHonor Roll
#1 in Wisconsin
- Value grade A · Top 7%
- Net price $17,354 a year
9
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL · Private nonprofit
Top 21% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $13,006 a year
9
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · Public
Top 14% for low net price
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $9,492 a year
11
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · Public
Top 7% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- Net price $16,298 a year
12
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · PublicHonor Roll
Top 7% for graduation
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- Net price $16,778 a year
13
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · Public
#19 in Missouri
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- Net price $13,310 a year
14
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Cape Girardeau, MO · Private nonprofit
Top 11% for low debt
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- Net price $19,390 a year
15
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit
Top 14% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- Net price $15,232 a year
16
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Missouri
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- Net price $21,786 a year
17
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN · Public
Top 12% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $8,837 a year
18
Indiana University-Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN · Public
Top 20% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $11,668 a year
19
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, IN · Public
#5 in Indiana
- Value grade A- · Top 13%
- Net price $16,264 a year
20
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Iowa
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- Net price $17,648 a year
21
Ranken Technical College
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit
#5 in Missouri
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- Net price $18,795 a year
22
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO · Public
#7 in Missouri
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- Net price $12,780 a year
22
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofit
Top 18% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- Net price $17,028 a year
24
St. Luke's College
Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofit
Top 1% for graduation
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- Net price $19,820 a year
25
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
Top 7% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- Net price $18,425 a year

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
University of Illinois Chicago	$10,974	$16,704	$68,740	62%
University of Chicago	$14,860	$15,000	$91,885	96%
Mount Carmel College of Nursing	$10,420	$22,082	$75,103	54%
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	$13,138	$19,500	$83,648	93%
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	$14,355	$19,500	$81,054	85%
Purdue University	$14,600	$19,500	$72,424	83%
Michigan Technological University	$14,182	$24,990	$78,198	68%
University of Wisconsin-Madison	$17,354	$20,484	$73,792	90%
University of St. Francis	$13,006	$21,079	$63,926	67%
University of Michigan-Dearborn	$9,492	$22,500	$59,649	58%
Missouri University of Science and Technology	$16,298	$23,250	$82,957	64%
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	$16,778	$19,500	$69,020	85%
University of Missouri-Kansas City	$13,310	$18,750	$59,637	55%
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences	$19,390	$11,500	$60,918	75%
University of Detroit Mercy	$15,232	$23,250	$71,030	67%
Washington University in St. Louis	$21,786	$17,500	$86,182	94%
University of Minnesota-Morris	$8,837	$18,995	$50,919	63%
Indiana University-Indianapolis	$11,668	$20,000	$55,198	54%
Indiana University-Bloomington	$16,264	$19,509	$63,742	80%
Grinnell College	$17,648	$17,500	$62,830	88%
Ranken Technical College	$18,795	$12,000	$55,955	53%
Truman State University	$12,780	$21,000	$56,280	69%
Lewis University	$17,028	$21,500	$66,099	67%
St. Luke's College	$19,820	$15,000	$61,033	100%
Illinois Institute of Technology	$18,425	$25,000	$82,592	75%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

By state

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Best value colleges in the Midwest

How this list is made

University of Illinois Chicago

University of Chicago

Mount Carmel College of Nursing

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Purdue University

Michigan Technological University

University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of St. Francis

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Missouri University of Science and Technology

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences

University of Detroit Mercy

Washington University in St. Louis

University of Minnesota-Morris

Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indiana University-Bloomington

Grinnell College

Ranken Technical College

Truman State University

Lewis University

St. Luke's College

Illinois Institute of Technology

Compare cost and outcomes

By state

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