Public Universities in the Midwest, Ranked by Acceptance Rate

117 public universities across 12 states in the Midwest (U.S. Census region), ranked from most to least selective. The most selective are University of Michigan (16%), Dickinson State University (37%), and University of Illinois (42%), and the median school on the list admits 84%. In-state tuition makes the public universities in your own state the best-value entries here, but a strong out-of-state flagship can still be worth the premium.

Schools

117

Median acceptance

84%

Most selective

University of Michigan

16% acceptance

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117 schools

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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 Public Universities 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 99 of the 100 colleges here, including Dickinson State University, University of Illinois and Chicago State University. The other 1 is a 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 Michiganadmits 16%	11%Reach	17%Reach	33%Target
Dickinson State Universityadmits 37%	51%Likely	73%Safety	84%Safety
University of Illinoisadmits 42%	28%Target	57%Likely	87%Safety
Chicago State Universityadmits 43%	67%Likely	83%Safety	91%Safety
University of Wisconsinadmits 45%	32%Target	67%Likely	92%Safety
Governors State Universityadmits 48%	71%Safety	89%Safety	95%Safety
Purdue Universityadmits 50%	37%Target	77%Safety	96%Safety
Harris-Stowe State Universityadmits 50%	78%Safety	91%Safety	96%Safety
Bemidji State Universityadmits 56%	84%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
UM Dearbornadmits 56%	84%Safety	96%Safety	98%Safety
Minnesota State Moorheadadmits 59%	89%Safety	97%Safety	98%Safety
University of Akronadmits 60%	84%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Ohio State Universityadmits 61%	57%Likely	92%Safety	98%Safety
Missouri-St. Louisadmits 63%	92%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Central Missouriadmits 64%	92%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Eastern Illinois Universityadmits 65%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Minot State Universityadmits 65%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
IU Eastadmits 67%	95%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Northern Illinois Universityadmits 70%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Western Illinois Universityadmits 71%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Mayville State Universityadmits 71%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Missouri-Kansas Cityadmits 72%	91%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Purdue Northwestadmits 72%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Saginaw Valley State Universityadmits 72%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Missouri S&Tadmits 73%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%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)
IU Northwestadmits 73%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Southeast Missouri State Universityadmits 74%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Lincoln University (MO)admits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Minnesota Crookstonadmits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Parkside University (WI)admits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Washburn Universityadmits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Winona State Universityadmits 75%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Indiana University Indianapolisadmits 76%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-La Crosseadmits 76%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of North Dakotaadmits 77%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Lake Superior State Universityadmits 77%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Indiana Universityadmits 78%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Missouriadmits 78%	94%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Bismarck State Collegeadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Peru State Collegeadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Rio Grandeadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Shawnee State Universityadmits 78%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Eastern Michigan Universityadmits 80%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Minnesotaadmits 80%	91%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Chadron State Collegeadmits 80%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Missouri Western Stateadmits 80%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
SD School of Minesadmits 80%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
SW Minnesota Stateadmits 80%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Wayne State College (NE)admits 80%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Bowling Green State Universityadmits 81%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Indiana State Universityadmits 81%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Wayne State University (MI)admits 81%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Kansas State Universityadmits 82%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-Eau Claireadmits 82%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-River Fallsadmits 82%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Grand Valley State Universityadmits 83%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Purdue University Fort Wayneadmits 84%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Iowaadmits 84%	97%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Youngstown State Universityadmits 84%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Northern Michigan Universityadmits 84%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Truman State Universityadmits 84%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
IU South Bendadmits 84%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
IU Southeastadmits 84%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Michigan State Universityadmits 85%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Cincinnatiadmits 85%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Western Michigan Universityadmits 85%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Ball State Universityadmits 86%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Illinois Springfieldadmits 86%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Northwest Missouri Stateadmits 86%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-Whitewateradmits 86%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
IU Kokomoadmits 86%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Southern Illinois Universityadmits 87%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Nebraskaadmits 87%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Nebraska Omahaadmits 87%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-Oshkoshadmits 87%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Illinois State Universityadmits 88%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Oakland Universityadmits 88%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Minnesota State Mankatoadmits 88%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-Stoutadmits 88%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Dakota State Universityadmits 88%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Iowa State Universityadmits 89%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-Green Bayadmits 89%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Wisconsin-Green Bayadmits 89%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Minnesota Duluthadmits 89%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Nebraska-Kearneyadmits 89%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Pittsburg State Universityadmits 89%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-Plattevilleadmits 89%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Central Michigan Universityadmits 90%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Fort Hays State Universityadmits 90%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Haskell Indian Nations Universityadmits 90%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Cleveland State Universityadmits 91%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Missouri State Universityadmits 91%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukeeadmits 91%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Ferris State Universityadmits 91%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Toledoadmits 92%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Michigan Techadmits 92%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
UW-Stevens Pointadmits 92%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Kansasadmits 93%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
University of Northern Iowaadmits 93%	98%Safety	98%Safety	98%Safety
Northern State Universityadmits 93%	98%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. "Public Universities in the Midwest, Ranked by Acceptance Rate." 2026. https://collegecalcai.com/data/public-universities-in-the-midwest

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84%median acceptance rate, public universities in the midwest, ranked by acceptance rate (117 schools)Source: CollegeCalcAI

<a href="https://collegecalcai.com/data/public-universities-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">84%median acceptance rate, public universities in the midwest, ranked by acceptance rate (117 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.