Private Colleges in the Midwest, Ranked by Acceptance Rate

196 private colleges across 12 states in the Midwest (U.S. Census region), ranked from most to least selective. The most selective are University of Chicago (4%), Northwestern University (8%), and University of Notre Dame (11%), and the median school on the list admits 72%. Private colleges price aid individually, so a selective private school can end up costing less than an out-of-state public; the acceptance rate is the number to plan around.

Schools

196

Median acceptance

72%

Most selective

University of Chicago

4% acceptance

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Your chances at these colleges

Estimated chance of admission for three typical students, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA; 2, 4 and 7 AP courses respectively; Regular Decision; no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook.

Which of the Private Colleges in the Midwest can I get into with a 3.7 GPA and a 1300 SAT?

By CollegeCalcAI's model, a student with a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 1300 SAT has a Likely or Safety estimate (45% or higher) at 88 of the 100 colleges here, including Oberlin College, Case Western Reserve University and William Jewell College. 4 more are Target (25 to 44%), such as Hillsdale College and Crown College. The other 8 are Reach. Estimates assume Regular Decision and no hook; courses, activities and essays move them.

Estimated admission chance for three student profiles at each college: 3.3 GPA, 1150 SAT; 3.7 GPA, 1300 SAT; 4.0 GPA, 1500 SAT
College	3.3 GPA1150 SAT	3.7 GPA1300 SAT	4.0 GPA1500 SAT
University of Chicagoadmits 4%	4%Reach	6%Reach	8%Reach
Northwestern Universityadmits 8%	7%Reach	10%Reach	15%Reach
University of Notre Dameadmits 11%	9%Reach	12%Reach	21%Reach
Washington University in St. Louisadmits 12%	10%Reach	13%Reach	23%Reach
College of the Ozarksadmits 12%	15%Reach	22%Reach	28%Target
Grinnell Collegeadmits 15%	11%Reach	18%Reach	32%Target
Denison Universityadmits 17%	12%Reach	23%Reach	39%Target
Carleton Collegeadmits 20%	14%Reach	22%Reach	41%Target
Hillsdale Collegeadmits 21%	14%Reach	28%Target	48%Likely
Crown Collegeadmits 23%	30%Target	44%Target	56%Likely
Macalester Collegeadmits 29%	18%Reach	38%Target	67%Likely
Kenyon Collegeadmits 31%	20%Reach	43%Target	72%Safety
Oberlin Collegeadmits 34%	22%Reach	47%Likely	77%Safety
Case Western Reserve Universityadmits 37%	24%Reach	48%Likely	80%Safety
William Jewell Collegeadmits 38%	47%Likely	74%Safety	85%Safety
Illinois Wesleyan Universityadmits 39%	34%Target	69%Likely	87%Safety
Bethany Lutheran Collegeadmits 39%	52%Likely	76%Safety	87%Safety
Wilberforce Universityadmits 41%	62%Likely	80%Safety	89%Safety
Mount Marty Universityadmits 43%	61%Likely	83%Safety	91%Safety
College of Saint Mary (NE)admits 45%	65%Likely	86%Safety	93%Safety
St. Olaf Collegeadmits 48%	38%Target	77%Safety	95%Safety
Judson Universityadmits 48%	67%Likely	89%Safety	95%Safety
Defiance Collegeadmits 48%	71%Safety	90%Safety	95%Safety
Sterling Collegeadmits 48%	70%Safety	89%Safety	95%Safety
Quincy Universityadmits 51%	71%Safety	92%Safety	97%Safety

Show all 100 colleges

Estimated admission chance for three student profiles at each college: 3.3 GPA, 1150 SAT; 3.7 GPA, 1300 SAT; 4.0 GPA, 1500 SAT (continued)
Spring Arbor Universityadmits 52%	70%Safety	93%Safety	97%Safety
William Penn Universityadmits 52%	77%Safety	93%Safety	97%Safety
York University (NE)admits 52%	78%Safety	93%Safety	97%Safety
Central Christian College of Kansasadmits 53%	78%Safety	94%Safety	97%Safety
Illinois Institute of Technologyadmits 55%	70%Safety	95%Safety	98%Safety
Friends Universityadmits 55%	80%Safety	95%Safety	98%Safety
Ohio Wesleyan Universityadmits 56%	71%Safety	95%Safety	98%Safety
Olivet Nazarene Universityadmits 56%	75%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
Bethany College (KS)admits 56%	83%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
Lawrence Technological Universityadmits 56%	82%Safety	95%Safety	98%Safety
Lindenwood Universityadmits 57%	82%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
Alma Collegeadmits 57%	73%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
DePauw Universityadmits 57%	62%Likely	93%Safety	98%Safety
Lake Forest Collegeadmits 57%	68%Likely	95%Safety	98%Safety
Drury Universityadmits 58%	75%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
Franciscan University of Steubenvilleadmits 58%	71%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
College of Woosteradmits 60%	78%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
Gustavus Adolphus Collegeadmits 61%	71%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
Mount Mary Universityadmits 62%	90%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Augustana Collegeadmits 63%	79%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Beloit Collegeadmits 63%	80%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Wabash Collegeadmits 63%	78%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
Drake Universityadmits 64%	77%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Coe Collegeadmits 64%	84%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Lawrence Universityadmits 64%	73%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
University of Daytonadmits 65%	76%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
Cedarville Universityadmits 65%	91%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Northwood Universityadmits 65%	91%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Briar Cliff Universityadmits 65%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Central Methodist Universityadmits 65%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Hesston Collegeadmits 65%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Northwestern Ohioadmits 65%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Rochester Christian Universityadmits 65%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Saint Francis University (IL)admits 65%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Tabor Collegeadmits 65%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Midland Universityadmits 66%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Bluffton Universityadmits 67%	89%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Carroll Universityadmits 67%	89%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Millikin Universityadmits 67%	89%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
U of Indianapolisadmits 67%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Augustana Universityadmits 68%	86%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Southwest Baptist Universityadmits 68%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Dordt Universityadmits 68%	88%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Cleary Universityadmits 68%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
North Park Universityadmits 69%	91%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Concordia University Ann Arboradmits 69%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Cottey Collegeadmits 69%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Missouri Baptist Universityadmits 69%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Missouri Valley Collegeadmits 69%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Capital Universityadmits 70%	92%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Franklin Collegeadmits 70%	92%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Lake Erie Collegeadmits 70%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Rockhurst Universityadmits 70%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Indiana Techadmits 70%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Calvin Universityadmits 71%	88%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Knox Collegeadmits 71%	89%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Lewis Universityadmits 71%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Walsh Universityadmits 71%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Morningside Universityadmits 71%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
William Woods Universityadmits 71%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Luther Collegeadmits 72%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
McKendree Universityadmits 72%	96%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Wittenberg Universityadmits 72%	93%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Evangel Universityadmits 72%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Clarke Universityadmits 72%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Hastings Collegeadmits 72%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Kansas Wesleyan Universityadmits 72%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Collegeadmits 72%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Viterbo Universityadmits 72%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Adrian Collegeadmits 73%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Earlham Collegeadmits 73%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Dakota Wesleyan Universityadmits 73%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Hannibal-LaGrange Universityadmits 73%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Elmhurst Universityadmits 74%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Newman Universityadmits 74%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities or compare your own list with the free admissions API.

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CollegeCalcAI. "Private Colleges in the Midwest, Ranked by Acceptance Rate." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/private-colleges-in-the-midwest

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72%median acceptance rate, private colleges in the midwest, ranked by acceptance rate (196 schools)Source: CollegeCalcAI

<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/private-colleges-in-the-midwest?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=statcard" style="display:inline-block;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #E5E9F0;border-radius:14px;text-decoration:none;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;background:#fff">72%median acceptance rate, private colleges in the midwest, ranked by acceptance rate (196 schools)Source: CollegeCalcAI</a>

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Acceptance rates and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets) and are rounded. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.