Butler

Best Regional Universities – Midwest
Top Consensus Ranked Schools 2019

May 29, 2019
Best Regional Universities Midwest 2019

The Consensus Best Regional Universities-Midwest ranking from College Consensus uses our exclusive method to bring students a clear and straightforward view of the Midwestern universities that have earned their reputation. That means impressing the experts, and giving students something to crow about. Our aggregate ranking gathers all of the rankings and reviews fit to print into an overall score that says once and for all which universities measure up.

How Do We Rank the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest?

The College Consensus method is refreshingly simple. We take all of the rankings published by reputable names like U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, and WalletHub, and put them together into the Publisher Rating. Then, we comb trustworthy student review sites like My Plan and Students Review to compute an overall Student Reviews rating. Those aggregate numbers come together to form the College Consensus.

Just like in entertainment and politics, in education it seems like the East Coast and the West Coast dominate everyone’s attention. But the Midwest has some of the highest-ranked, most trusted, and most-loved universities in the nation. The Best Regional Universities-Midwest ranking from College Consensus highlights those sites of excellence. The Midwest’s best regional universities are master’s-level institutions that help educate and train the region’s professionals and workers, from teachers to police officers to accountants. These are the universities that make the Midwest work.

What’s Different About the College Consensus Ranking?

Our goal with College Consensus is just as simple as our method. We intend to make sure that prospective students know exactly what they’re getting into, by giving them all the information we can in a concise, digestible form. The numbers don’t lie, and by gathering all the numbers that count, College Consensus helps ensure that students know which of their options have the stamp of approval from experts and students. Read more about our rankings methodology and sources at our about page.

The Consensus Best Regional Universities-Midwest are listed in descending order by their Consensus score. In the event of ties, schools are ranked in alphabetical order with the same rank number.

1

Butler University
Indianapolis, IN

Butler
73.4
College Consensus
72.9
Publisher Consensus
74
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

2

Creighton University
Omaha, NE

creighton
73.4
College Consensus
74.9
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

3

Drake University
Des Moines, IA

drake
71.1
College Consensus
71.6
Publisher Consensus
70.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

4

Bradley University
Peoria, IL

Bradley
70.4
College Consensus
67.8
Publisher Consensus
73
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

5

Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University Cincinnati
70.1
College Consensus
63.4
Publisher Consensus
76.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

6

Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN

valpo
68.8
College Consensus
66
Publisher Consensus
71.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

7

University of St Francis
Joliet, IL

USF Joliet
68.5
College Consensus
60.8
Publisher Consensus
76.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

8

University of Evansville
Evansville, IN

Evansville 1
68.4
College Consensus
65.5
Publisher Consensus
71.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

9

Nebraska Wesleyan University
Lincoln, NE

NWU OldMain
67.8
College Consensus
58.5
Publisher Consensus
77.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

10

Truman State University
Kirksville, MO

truman
67.4
College Consensus
61.9
Publisher Consensus
72.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

11

John Carroll University
University Heights, OH

JCU
67.1
College Consensus
66.2
Publisher Consensus
68
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

12

Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI

MSOE
66.7
College Consensus
62.6
Publisher Consensus
70.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

13

Dominican University
River Forest, IL

Dominican University
66.1
College Consensus
64.8
Publisher Consensus
67.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

14

Otterbein University
Westerville, OH

Otterbein University
66
College Consensus
57.3
Publisher Consensus
74.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

15

Bethel University (MN)
Saint Paul, MN

Bethel University
66
College Consensus
58.4
Publisher Consensus
73.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

16

University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN

University Indianapolis
65.8
College Consensus
51.2
Publisher Consensus
80.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

17

University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

U Northern Iowa
65.7
College Consensus
55.1
Publisher Consensus
76.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

18

Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Marion, IN

IWU
65.5
College Consensus
55.9
Publisher Consensus
75.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

19

MidAmerica Nazarene University
Olathe, KS

MidAmerica Nazarene University
65.5
College Consensus
48.7
Publisher Consensus
82.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

20

Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO

Rockhurst University
65.2
College Consensus
58.7
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

21

Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH

Franciscan University of Steubenville
65.1
College Consensus
55.8
Publisher Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

22

St Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN

St Catherine University
64.9
College Consensus
58.9
Publisher Consensus
70.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

23

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI

University Wisconsin La Crosse
64.8
College Consensus
52.7
Publisher Consensus
76.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

24

University of Illinois at Springfield
Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield
64.7
College Consensus
55.7
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

25

Bethel College-Indiana
Mishawaka, IN

Bethel College Indiana
64.6
College Consensus
52.7
Publisher Consensus
76.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

26

Kettering University
Flint, MI

Kettering University
64.2
College Consensus
57.9
Publisher Consensus
70.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

27

Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH

Baldwin Wallace University
64
College Consensus
61.2
Publisher Consensus
66.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

28

Augsburg University
Minneapolis, MN

Ausburg
64
College Consensus
57.4
Publisher Consensus
70.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

29

The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN

TheCSS
64
College Consensus
53
Publisher Consensus
75
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

30

Grace College and Theological Seminary
Winona Lake, IN

Grace Lakeside 1
63.9
College Consensus
47
Publisher Consensus
80.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

31

Webster University
Saint Louis, MO

Webster University
63.4
College Consensus
55.3
Publisher Consensus
71.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

32

Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA

Saint Ambrose University
63.3
College Consensus
53.2
Publisher Consensus
73.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

33

North Central College
Naperville, IL

North Central
63.2
College Consensus
57.7
Publisher Consensus
68.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

34

Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College
63.1
College Consensus
57.5
Publisher Consensus
68.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

35

University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI

University of Detroit Mercy
63
College Consensus
61.7
Publisher Consensus
64.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

36

Marian University (IN)
Indianapolis, IN

marian Indiana
62.8
College Consensus
53.8
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

37

Ursuline College
Pepper Pike, OH

Ursuline College
62.7
College Consensus
53.4
Publisher Consensus
72.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

38

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI

University Wisconsin Eau Claire
62.6
College Consensus
50.7
Publisher Consensus
74.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

39

Capital University
Columbus, OH

Capital University
62.6
College Consensus
53.9
Publisher Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

40

University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN

USF Fort Wayne
62.4
College Consensus
47.7
Publisher Consensus
77.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

41

Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University
62.2
College Consensus
52.3
Publisher Consensus
72
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

42

Anderson University (IN)
Anderson, IN

Anderson University
62
College Consensus
49.7
Publisher Consensus
74.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

43

University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI

Michigan Dearborn
62
College Consensus
53.1
Publisher Consensus
70.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

44

University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE

UNK
62
College Consensus
48.5
Publisher Consensus
75.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

45

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Winona, MN

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
61.6
College Consensus
47.9
Publisher Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

46

Hamline University
Saint Paul, MN

Hamline University
61.5
College Consensus
57
Publisher Consensus
66.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

47

Alverno College
Milwaukee, WI

AlvernoCollege
61.4
College Consensus
50.8
Publisher Consensus
72.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

48

Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI

GVSU
61.3
College Consensus
52
Publisher Consensus
70.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

49

Drury University
Springfield, MO

drury campus
61.2
College Consensus
45.9
Publisher Consensus
76.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

50

University of Northwestern-St Paul
Saint Paul, MN

University of Northwestern St Paul 1 e1524236578925
61.1
College Consensus
52
Publisher Consensus
70.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

51

The University of Findlay
Findlay, OH

The University of Findlay
61.1
College Consensus
52
Publisher Consensus
70.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

52

Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

lewis u
61.1
College Consensus
57.5
Publisher Consensus
64.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

53

Judson University
Elgin, IL

Judson University
61
College Consensus
48.3
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

54

Muskingum University
New Concord, OH

Muskingum University
60.9
College Consensus
51.6
Publisher Consensus
70.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

55

Baker University
Baldwin City, KS

Baker BaldwinCity
60.8
College Consensus
52.9
Publisher Consensus
68.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

56

Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI

Aquinas College
60.7
College Consensus
48.3
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

57

Lakeland University
Plymouth, WI

lakeland university
60.6
College Consensus
48
Publisher Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

58

Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI

LTU header
60.6
College Consensus
52.9
Publisher Consensus
68.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

59

Malone University
Canton, OH

Malone University
60.6
College Consensus
46.1
Publisher Consensus
75
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

60

Newman University
Wichita, KS

newman university
60.5
College Consensus
49.6
Publisher Consensus
71.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

61

Friends University
Wichita, KS

friends university
60.5
College Consensus
43.2
Publisher Consensus
77.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

62

Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD

northern state
60.4
College Consensus
44.7
Publisher Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

63

Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, OH

Mount Vernon Nazarene University
60.3
College Consensus
46.8
Publisher Consensus
73.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

64

Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University
60.1
College Consensus
49.5
Publisher Consensus
70.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

65

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI

University of Wisconsin Whitewater
60.1
College Consensus
47.6
Publisher Consensus
72.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

66

Evangel University
Springfield, MO

Evangel University
60.1
College Consensus
44.9
Publisher Consensus
75.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

67

Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA

Graceland University Lamoni
60.1
College Consensus
44.2
Publisher Consensus
75.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

68

Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, MI

Spring Arbor University
59.6
College Consensus
48.7
Publisher Consensus
70.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

69

Stephens College
Columbia, MO

stephens college
59.5
College Consensus
48.4
Publisher Consensus
70.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

70

Morningside College
Sioux City, IA

59.5
College Consensus
45.3
Publisher Consensus
73.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

71

Dakota State University
Madison, SD

DSU
59.4
College Consensus
42
Publisher Consensus
76.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

72

University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI

59.4
College Consensus
43.3
Publisher Consensus
75.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

73

University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN

University of Minnesota Duluth
59.3
College Consensus
49.3
Publisher Consensus
69.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

74

Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI

Viterbo University
59
College Consensus
42.2
Publisher Consensus
75.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

75

Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO

Northwest Missouri State University
59
College Consensus
42.4
Publisher Consensus
75.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

76

Concordia University-Wisconsin
Mequon, WI

concordia university wisconsin 2
58.9
College Consensus
44.3
Publisher Consensus
73.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

77

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI

University Wisconsin Stevens Point
58.9
College Consensus
44.8
Publisher Consensus
73.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

78

North Park University
Chicago, IL

North Park University
58.9
College Consensus
50.3
Publisher Consensus
67.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

79

Winona State University
Winona, MN

Winona State University
58.8
College Consensus
47.3
Publisher Consensus
70.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

80

Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL

Western Illinois University
58.8
College Consensus
49.9
Publisher Consensus
67.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

81

Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI

Northern Michigan University
58.6
College Consensus
42.5
Publisher Consensus
74.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

82

Quincy University
Quincy, IL

Quincy University
58.6
College Consensus
46.1
Publisher Consensus
71.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

83

University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI

University of Michigan Flint
58.5
College Consensus
43.8
Publisher Consensus
73.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

84

Ohio Dominican University
Columbus, OH

Ohio Dominican University
58.5
College Consensus
45.1
Publisher Consensus
71.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

85

University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD

usf campus in summer
58.3
College Consensus
41
Publisher Consensus
75.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

86

Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL

Saint Xavier University
58.2
College Consensus
49.6
Publisher Consensus
66.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

87

Heidelberg University
Tiffin, OH

Heidelberg University
58.2
College Consensus
47.9
Publisher Consensus
68.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

88

Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, MO

missouri baptist
57.8
College Consensus
40.3
Publisher Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

89

Southwestern College (KS)
Winfield, KS

Southwestern College Kansas
57.8
College Consensus
37.5
Publisher Consensus
78
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

90

William Woods University
Fulton, MO

william wood
57.8
College Consensus
43
Publisher Consensus
72.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

91

McKendree University
Lebanon, IL

Mckendree University
57.6
College Consensus
47.9
Publisher Consensus
67.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

92

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
57.5
College Consensus
43.8
Publisher Consensus
71.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

93

University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Platteville, WI

University of Wisconsin Platteville
57.3
College Consensus
38.8
Publisher Consensus
75.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

94

Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL

Roosevelt University
56.9
College Consensus
45.8
Publisher Consensus
68
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

95

Lake Erie College
Painesville, OH

56.8
College Consensus
41.2
Publisher Consensus
72.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

96

Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO

Southeast Missouri State
56.6
College Consensus
41
Publisher Consensus
72.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

97

Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead, MN

Minnesota State University Moorhead
56.5
College Consensus
41.4
Publisher Consensus
71.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

98

Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University
56.5
College Consensus
45.5
Publisher Consensus
67.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

99

Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI

Cornerstone University
56.4
College Consensus
40.4
Publisher Consensus
72.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

100

Carroll University
Waukesha, WI

Carroll University
56.4
College Consensus
49
Publisher Consensus
63.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

101

Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN

southwest minnesota state
56.1
College Consensus
41.4
Publisher Consensus
70.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

102

Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO

MSU Springfield
56.1
College Consensus
39.9
Publisher Consensus
72.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

103

Rockford University
Rockford, IL

Rockford University
56
College Consensus
47.4
Publisher Consensus
64.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

104

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI

oshkosh UW
55.7
College Consensus
40.3
Publisher Consensus
71.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

105

Wayne State College
Wayne, NE

Wayne State
55.5
College Consensus
35.9
Publisher Consensus
75.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

106

Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, KS

Pittsburg State University
55.5
College Consensus
34.9
Publisher Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

107

University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, IN

55.3
College Consensus
40
Publisher Consensus
70.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

108

Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD

55.2
College Consensus
39.4
Publisher Consensus
71.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

109

Southwest Baptist University
Bolivar, MO

southwest baptist university
55.1
College Consensus
37.8
Publisher Consensus
72.4
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

110

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, WI

University of Wisconsin Green Bay
55.1
College Consensus
35.4
Publisher Consensus
74.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

111

University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO

university central missouri
55.1
College Consensus
37.9
Publisher Consensus
72.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

112

Greenville University
Greenville, IL

Greenville College
54.9
College Consensus
45.2
Publisher Consensus
64.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

113

University of Mary
Bismarck, ND

university mary
54.2
College Consensus
44.1
Publisher Consensus
64.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

114

Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH

Youngstown State University
53.8
College Consensus
41.4
Publisher Consensus
66.2
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

115

University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI

UW river falls
53.7
College Consensus
34.4
Publisher Consensus
72.9
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

116

Bemidji State University
Bemidji, MN

bemidji state
53.4
College Consensus
35.4
Publisher Consensus
71.3
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

117

Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL

53.1
College Consensus
42.6
Publisher Consensus
63.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

118

Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Aurora University
52.9
College Consensus
42.1
Publisher Consensus
63.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

119

Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN

Saint Cloud State University
52.7
College Consensus
38.7
Publisher Consensus
66.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

120

Emporia State University
Emporia, KS

emporia
51.6
College Consensus
34.4
Publisher Consensus
68.7
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

121

Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN

51.5
College Consensus
39.2
Publisher Consensus
63.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

122

University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA

University of Dubuque
51.4
College Consensus
37.8
Publisher Consensus
65.1
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

123

Washburn University
Topeka, KS

washburn university 1
50.6
College Consensus
34.4
Publisher Consensus
66.8
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

124

Marian University (WI)
Fond Du Lac, WI

49.8
College Consensus
32.9
Publisher Consensus
66.6
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019

125

Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN

Minnesota State University Mankato
49.7
College Consensus
33.9
Publisher Consensus
65.5
Student Consensus
Accessed May, 2019