Location wasn't a factor in the ranking, but when we zoomed out on our data to look at the top-100 schools in the country, a number of them fell in the Midwest.
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (No. 12 on our overall ranking) topped the list of Midwestern schools, followed by University of Notre Dame and Washington University in St. Louis.
Continue reading to see which 14 schools not only shine as the best in the Midwest, but as some of the best in the country.
14. Gustavus Adolphus College
Location: St. Peter, Minnesota
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $50,100
Average SAT score: 1224
Student life score: A-
Founded on the principles of the Lutheran Church, Gustavus Adolphus College reflects its Christian heritage through weekly praise and worship services and 12 student-run religious organizations. On the academic side, the liberal-arts college offers 72 different majors across 25 departments, including art history, geography, and environmental studies.
13. Creighton University
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $57,800
Average SAT score: 1214
Student life score: A-
Committed to Jesuit traditions and Catholic values, Creighton University challenges students to pursue justice for those in need, respect everyone, and aim for excellence in all aspects of their lives, among other core values. This sense of community engagement stands as a major part of the Creighton experience, as evidenced by the nearly 1.25 million service hours students racked up over the 2014-2015 school year.
12. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Location: Terre Haute, Indiana
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $78,900
Average SAT score: 1310
Student life score: A-
At Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the college’s 2,100 undergraduates can choose from 24 majors focused in science, math, and technology. The average class size is about 20 students, allowing them to have a hands-on experience and one-on-one mentorships. RHIT also prepares its students for life after college with its LEAD Program, a series of workshops and speakers to help students develop leadership skills to pair with their newly learned technological skills.
11. University of Minnesota at Twin Cities
Location: Minneapolis
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $47,800
Average SAT score: 1270
Student life score: A+
As a land-grant university, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities places a strong emphasis on research for both undergraduate and graduate students, whether it’s under the mentorship of a professor, through a summer study-abroad program, or as part of a volunteering effort. Students learn from great minds as well, including MacArthur Fellows, Nobel Prize recipients, and Pulitzer winners.
10. Illinois Wesleyan University
Location: Bloomington, Illinois
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $54,600
Average SAT score: 1241
Student life score: A-
Illinois Wesleyan offers its students small classes, knowledgeable professors, and an abundance of research opportunities. Because it’s an undergraduate-only institution, students receive the full attention of professors and are encouraged to pursue research grants and independent projects.
9. Case Western Reserve University
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $67,000
Average SAT score: 1377
Student life score: B+
Even before graduation, Case Western Reserve University prepares students for the working world: 98% of students participate in experiential learning through internships, research, and community service. It pays off, too. Graduates with CWR’s class of 2015 went on to positions at top companies that include Apple, NASA, Boeing, and Morgan Stanley.
8. Carleton College
Location: Northfield, Minnesota
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $46,100
Average SAT score: 1406
Student life score: A+
Carleton College prioritizes lifelong learning skills above all else, building classes that teach students critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and communication. The small liberal-arts school also offers several opportunities to study off-campus, including a Spanish program in Spain and a studio art intensive in New York City.
7. University of Wisconsin at Madison
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $51,000
Average SAT score: 1268
Student life score: A+
Students at the University of Wisconsin at Madison can choose between a whopping 232 majors, ranging from kinesiology to nuclear engineering to human development and family studies. The 40,000-person student body is diverse as well, with students hailing from all 50 states and 124 countries.
6. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Location: Champaign, Illinois
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $56,600
Average SAT score: 1303
Student life score: A+
In keeping with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s spotlight on research, its on-campus Research Park provides a space where tech-focused companies can develop new products and student interns can gain real-world experience. The space houses more than 100 companies, including Anheuser-Busch InBev and Dow Chemical, and it also serves as an incubator for early-stage startups.
5. Northwestern University
Location: Evanston, Illinois
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $64,100
Average SAT score: 1458
Student life score: A
With more than 500 clubs and organizations to join, including a capella groups and the student-run newspaper, there's no shortage of ways for Northwestern students to get involved on campus. On the academic side, Northwestern sponsors several opportunities for innovation, including two startup incubators and a certificate program in entrepreneurship specifically targeted at undergraduates.
4. University of Chicago
Location: Chicago
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $62,800
Average SAT score: 1504
Student life score: A
Since oil magnate John D. Rockefeller founded the University of Chicago in 1890, the private school has established a global presence with international centers in Beijing, New Delhi, Paris, and Hong Kong. UChicago's undergraduate program is recognized for preparing students to continue on to graduate school, with more than 15% of undergraduates eventually earning a Ph.D.
3. Washington University in St. Louis
Location: St. Louis
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $62,300
Average SAT score: 1474
Student life score: A+
Each year, Washington University supports more than 3,000 research projects, ranging from medical and health to innovation and entrepreneurship. The majority of WashU's more than 6,800 undergraduates study in the arts and sciences school, while nearly 1,000 students enroll in the university's high-ranking undergraduate business program at Olin Business School.
2. University of Notre Dame
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $69,400
Average SAT score: 1450
Student life score: A+
University of Notre Dame students become part of a storied history, where carrying on school traditions is a built-in part of the experience: Pep rallies, homemade-boat races, and masses at chapel are among the activities available during students' four years on campus. Graduates join the ranks of notable alumni who came before them, including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, and author Nicholas Sparks.
1. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $57,900
Average SAT score: 1352
Student life score: A+
Known for a stellar undergraduate business school, the University of Michigan counts business, psychology, and economics as its most popular majors. UM also reports that about half of all students who received a bachelor's degree go on to pursue a master's within four years of graduation. The school's notable alumni include New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Google cofounder Larry Page.
