35 Best Colleges in the Midwest – 2024

Academic Highlights: A 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio means that classrooms remain very intimate, and face time with the renowned faculty is a reality. More than three-quarters of UChicago undergraduate sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students. Undergraduate research opportunities are ubiquitous as 80% of students end up working in a research capacity alongside a faculty member. A solid 60% of undergrads study abroad at one of the 77 programs offered in 31 cities around the world.

Professional Outcomes: On commencement day, 99% of the Class of 2023 were employed or continuing their education. The most popular employers for UChicago grads include Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Meta, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, and Microsoft. University of Chicago grads are highly sought after by elite graduate universities. The top destinations for recent graduates are Yale, Columbia, MIT, Stanford, and Harvard A fairly substantial 50% of graduates remain in the Midwest after finishing their degrees, 29% migrate to the Northeast, and 10% make the journey west.

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Academic Highlights: WashU admits students into four schools, many of which offer nationally recognized programs.The university has a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 66% of classes have fewer than 20 students; over one-quarter have single-digit enrollments. The Office of Undergraduate Research helps students land opportunities to research alongside faculty, primarily in the summers. A solid 60% of undergraduates report participating in a research endeavor and one-third study abroad.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2023 sent 65% of grads into the workforce and 23% into graduate and professional schools. Companies employing the highest number of WashU grads feature sought-after employers such as Boeing, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Mastercard, Capital One, and Bayer. Of the employed members of the Class of 2023 who reported their starting salaries, the median salary was $85k. The universities welcoming the largest number of Bears included the prestigious institutions of Columbia, Carnegie Mellon, UPenn, University of Michigan, Vanderbilt, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: The quarter system allows students to take four courses at a time rather than the typical five. Even so, the academic demands are intense, and Northwestern students work hard for their grades. The university has a phenomenal 6:1 student-faculty ratio, and a spectacular 39% of class sections have nine or fewer students enrolled; 76% have fewer than twenty enrollees. Faculty receive generally favorable reviews from undergraduate students and are rated as being highly accessible outside of the classroom. Fifty-eight percent of recent grads had the chance to conduct research with a faculty member at some point during their undergraduate years.

Professional Outcomes: Six months after graduating, 70% of the Class of 2023 had found employment and 25% were in graduate school. Employers include Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Deloitte, McKinsey & Co., and Salesforce. Across all majors, the average starting salary was $77k. The vast majority of Northwestern graduates can be found in Illinois, with the next largest concentration of alums living in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.

Academic Highlights: 75 majors are offered across six undergraduate colleges. A solid 61% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students, and 18% have single-digit numbers. Just 9% of courses have an enrollment of more than 50 undergrads. The Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement offers hundreds of opportunities for conducting research, both individually and alongside faculty; more than one-third of graduates ultimately partake. One of the top universities for study abroad participation, 87% of Notre Dame undergrads select one of 50+ programs in 35 countries; the satisfaction rate for study abroad experiences is above 90%.

Professional Outcomes: A spectacular 98% of 2023 Notre Dame graduates were employed, continuing their educations, volunteering, or serving in the military within six months of completing their degrees. Top companies where recent alumni set up shop included Deloitte, EY, PwC, Microsoft, Amazon, Bank of America, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and McKinsey & Co. The median starting salary across all majors is $82,000, a mark that is significantly higher than the national average for college grads. The highest concentration of recent alumni can be found in Illinois followed by New York, Indiana, California, and Texas.

Academic Highlights: Students work closely with their professors, and the college is routinely rated atop lists of best undergraduate teaching institutions. Small classes are the norm with the average being only 16 students; in 17% of your classes, you will be surrounded by no more than nine of your peers. Faculty-mentored research is embedded into many courses, independent study opportunities abound, and full-time supervised research is available during summer and winter break. Over three-quarters of the student body elect to study abroad in one of 130 programs offered in sixty countries. Furthermore, 70% of students spend a semester studying in another part of the globe.

Professional Outcomes: Target, Epic Systems, Google, Wells Fargo, and Amazon all employ large numbers of graduates. Carleton is a breeding ground for future scholars as a ridiculously high number of graduates go on to earn PhDs. In fact, by percentage, Carleton is one of the top ten producers in the country of future PhDs. Geographically, the greatest number of students remain in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, but many also head to New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, DC, Boston, and Seattle

Academic Highlights: Thanks to a 9:1 student/faculty ratio and no competition from graduate students, 65% of classes have fewer than twenty students, and roughly one-fifth of sections have single-digit student enrollments. Participating in research is a normal part of an undergraduate education at Grinnell. Overall, 58% of Grinnell undergrads participate in one on- or off-campus research experience that was not simply built into their coursework. Some entered Mentored Advanced Projects, which see faculty work closely with students on scholarly or creative works while others conducted research at another location such as Duke University, Georgetown University, or Carnegie Mellon University. International study is also a fairly common part of a Grinnell education with over 50% of students studying abroad.

Professional Outcomes: Upon graduation, 58% of Grinnell students head into the workforce, 27% to graduate school, 3% to postgraduate service, and 3% earned fellowships. Multiple grads accepted positions with Amazon, BOA, Deloitte, Epic, Google, and Microsoft. Grinnellians enrolled in graduate programs at prestigious universities like Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Duke, Harvard, and Yale; 83% of all applicants were accepted into their first or second choice program. The mean salary of those employed was $61,683. Massachusetts and Illinois attracted the highest number of graduates, slightly more than Iowa itself. New York and Minnesota were the next most popular locations for Grinnell grads.

Academic Highlights: There are 280+ undergraduate degree programs across fourteen schools and colleges. Michigan sports a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and 18% of classes contain 50 or more students, but a solid 53% of classes offer a more intimate experience with fewer than 20 students. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program draws in 1,300 participants each year who partner with 800+ research mentors. For students in all academic programs at Michigan, study abroad opportunities are taken advantage of at high rates. In fact, the university is second in the nation in the number of students it sends to study in foreign lands.

Professional Outcomes: Within three months of graduating, 89% of LSA grads are employed full-time or in graduate school. The median salary across all majors is approximately 70k. Top employers include PwC, EY, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, Citi, Bank of America, and Capital One.  Within six months, 93% of engineering grads are employed (average salary of $99k) or in grad school. General Motors, Ford, Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft employ the greatest number of alumni.

Academic Highlights: Boasting a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, face time with your professors is never hard to come by. In fact, 70% of sections contain fewer than 20 students and all students have the opportunity to engage in undergraduate research, such as through the Summer Scholar Independent Research Program, which has 130 student participants each year. Off-campus opportunities, including those in the study abroad realm, are pursued by roughly 80% of the student body at some point during their four undergraduate years.

Professional Outcomes: Denison alumni excel in the job market, with 99% employed or enrolled in graduate school, 96% within just six months of graduation. Graduates launch careers at top-tier companies like JPMorgan Chase, Google, Deloitte, Amazon, and Meta, reflecting the university’s strong preparation for professional success. An impressive 94% of alumni report satisfaction with their Denison education, and they tend to cluster in dynamic hubs such as Columbus, New York City, and Chicago, leveraging the university’s robust network in these regions.

Academic Highlights: Kenyon offers 50 majors, minors, and concentrations that allow students to complete their education with few non-departmental core requirements. The student-faculty ratio is 9-to-1, and the average class size is 15. Nineteen percent of classes are even more intimate, offering single-digit enrollments. Summer research programs available to students include the Kenyon Summer Scholars Program, a joint program with Ohio State, and the Summer Science Program that sees more than thirty student-professor pairs collaborate on research for an eight- to ten-week period. A stunning 100% of recent alumni state that they learned to write better while at Kenyon. Roughly half of each junior class packs up its bags and heads off to a distant land for a semester abroad.

Professional Outcomes: Top industries for Kenyon graduates include business development, education, media/communication, operations, and community/social services. Recent grads landed positions at major corporations Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Oracle, and Wells Fargo. Eighteen percent of grads enroll directly in graduate school, and within five years of completing their undergraduate degree at Kenyon, 60% pursue further education. Recent grads have been welcomed into top law schools at Yale, NYU, Berkeley, Stanford, UVA, Michigan, and the University of Chicago.

Academic Highlights: Eight of UIUC’s fifteen schools cater to undergraduate students. Illinois’ student-to-faculty ratio of 20:1 is high even for a public institution, but the school still manages to keep 39% of sections capped at 19 students. Further, 40% of undergraduates participate in research; over 800 students each year present at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Unique opportunities for experiential learning abound at Research Park, an on-campus technology hub and business incubator that hosts more than 120 major corporations and 800 student interns.

Professional Outcomes: 91% of recent UIUC grads landed at their next destination within six months of graduation, with 35% matriculating directly into an advanced degree program. 56% were employed full-time. Corporations landing the most recent Illinois grads were Amazon, Deloitte, Epic, KPMG, and PwC. The average salary across all majors was an extremely solid $76,000. Two-thirds of graduates remained in the Land of Lincoln; California and New York commandeer the next greatest percentages of migrating alumni.

Academic Highlights: Sporting a 9:1 faculty-to-student ratio, the university does a nice job keeping classes on the small side, with 48% of course sections capped at nineteen and only 14% of courses having fifty students or more. An exceptional 86% of students have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research as the school places heavy emphasis on experiential learning. The same goes for international experiences. Case Western has a high rate of undergraduates who elect to study abroad; 38% spend a semester in a foreign land. Unlike many schools of its ilk, CWRU has a single-door admission policy. Those accepted into the broader university are free to pursue any of the nearly one hundred areas of concentration.

Professional Outcomes: Fifty-five percent of 2023 CWRU graduates head into the world of professional employment upon receiving their diplomas; only 4% were still looking for work six months after leaving the university. More than half of the Class of 2023 enjoyed a starting salary of at least $75,000. The employers of the greatest number of graduates included Amazon, Microsoft, Deloitte, and Raytheon. In 2023, grads were accepted to continue their studies at the likes of NYU, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, WashU, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Academic Highlights: Of all the courses at the college, 76% had 19 or fewer students enrolled, and professors are generous with their time in an academic environment conducive to the formation of mentorships. Undergraduate research opportunities are not hard to locate. In fact, according to the school, “Many students coauthor articles with faculty, which are published in scholarly journals and presented at national meetings.” The Office of Study Away helps arrange for over 300 students per year to study in a foreign land. School-run opportunities such as Oberlin-in-London are on the table as are 100+ affiliated programs.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months, 74% of recent grads found employment, 17% enrolled in graduate school, and just 5% were still seeking employment. Multiple recent grads were hired by Google, Netflix, and Sony Pictures. Over the last few years, multiple students have gone on to pursue advanced degrees at Harvard, MIT, Yale, NYU, Columbia, Purdue, and the University of Michigan. Oberlin also has a reputation for churning out future PhDs and is the number one liberal arts college (per capita) across all disciplines in producing graduates who go on to earn their doctoral degrees.

Academic Highlights: St. Olaf offers 45+ majors, as well as a number of teaching majors and teaching certification programs. 40% of all course sections contain fewer than twenty students, and there are multiple avenues through which students can pursue research experiences. Graduation surveys reveal students who are immensely satisfied with the St. Olaf academic experience; 94% agreed that the faculty made them better critical thinkers. Studying abroad is a staple of life for Oles; 62% spend a semester studying off campus, the vast majority at an international locale.

Professional Outcomes: In 2023, 95% of graduates had entered the workforce or graduate school within six months of receiving their diplomas. The great majority of alumni remain in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, which impacts what companies hire the most Oles. Alumni have the largest representation at Target, Mayo Clinic, US Bank, Optum, Wells Fargo, Medtronic, UnitedHealth Group, and Best Buy. Twenty-five percent of recent grads pursued further education, attending institutions such as Yale Divinity School, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Cornell University, and the University of Chicago.

Academic Highlights: No matter which of the 75+ majors, minors, or pathways you pursue at DePauw, you will enjoy the benefits of small class sizes and face time with faculty. A 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and the fact that only eight class sections in the whole university enroll more than 29 students assures that. Even more impressive, 12% of courses enroll single-digit numbers of students, and 69% enroll fewer than 19.

Professional Outcomes: The university’s “Gold Commitment” guarantees that all grads will land at their next destination within six months or that they will be provided with an entry-level professional opportunity or an additional tuition-free semester. Ninety-two percent of the Class of 2023 reported enrolling in grad school or securing employment, with an average starting salary of $61,242. Top employers of recent DePauw grads include Eli Lilly and Company, IU Health, Teach for America, JP Morgan Chase, and the Indiana Department of Health.

Academic Highlights: Rose-Hulman offers 22 undergraduate degree programs. A student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 and a minimal presence of graduate students bodes well for both class sizesand the number of introductory classes that are taught by full-time faculty members, 96% of whom hold PhDs. The average class size is twenty, and 97% of sections are smaller than 29 students. Undergraduate research can be arranged through the Independent Project/Research Opportunities Program, which connects you to faculty mentors and sets you on the path toward presenting your work at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of exiting, an enviable 99% of 2023 grads had landed at their next destination, whether employment or graduate school. Top employers of recent graduates included Caterpillar, Texas Instruments, Amazon, Milwaukee Tool, and Epic. Raytheon, Microsoft, and Eli Lilly also have a strong alumni representation. The average first-year salary across all majors was $79k. 2023 grads immediately enrolled in graduate school at universities like Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and Duke.

Academic Highlights: There are 230+ undergraduate majors offered across eight schools and colleges, Undergrads can expect a mix of large and small classes, with 43% of sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. Undergraduate research opportunities exist, but the onus is on the student to show initiative and procure the placement. Still, 44% of recent grads engaged in research, and the school hosts an annual Undergraduate Symposium where 600 students presented in 2024. Participation is much higher when it comes to study abroad programs; 25% of students take advantage each year and there are 325 programs in 80 countries to choose from.

Professional Outcomes: In 2023, 72% of job-seeking grads graduated with an offer.  Top employers included UW-Madison, Epic, UW Health, the State of Wisconsin, Kohl’s, and Deloitte. Across all graduating years, companies employing 250+ alumni include Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Target, Apple, Meta, and Salesforce. Class of 2023 grads enrolled in graduate/professional programs at a rate of 28%; volunteering is also a popular path post-graduation for UW-Madison alumni as the university is the #1 producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

Academic Highlights: Gustavus Adolphus College offers students a comprehensive liberal arts education through 73 majors, all supported by an excellent 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This personalized learning environment shines in the classroom—67% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students—while the innovative Gustavus Signature Experience (SigX) ensures every student completes meaningful experiential learning through internships, research, study away, or community engagement. The college’s global perspective is enriched by students from 40 states and 34 countries, with 83% of the Class of 2023 participating in internships, research, or study abroad.

Professional Outcomes: Gustavus graduates achieve impressive career success, with 71% employed and 19% enrolled in graduate programs shortly after graduation. Alumni lead at top employers, including the Mayo Clinic, 3M, and Deloitte, while others pursue advanced degrees at elite institutions like Northwestern, Duke, and Yale. These outstanding outcomes demonstrate the power of Gustavus’s combination of rigorous academics, hands-on learning through SigX, and global engagement in preparing graduates for both immediate career impact and long-term professional growth.

Academic Highlights: There are 250+ undergraduate majors and 18 schools and colleges housed within OSU. A 17-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio leads to fairly large classes as only 40% of sections enroll fewer than 20 students, so expect a fair number of courses in a large lecture hall setting. Still, aggressive students can find opportunities to work closely with faculty. The Office of Undergraduate Research & Inquiry helps approximately 600 students per year participate in undergraduate research forums. All told, approximately 20% of students gain research experience. Last year, nearly 1,800 undergraduates elected to study abroad in one of 350+ short- and long-term programs spread across 70 countries; OSU has the third-highest study abroad enrollment numbers in the Big 10.

Professional Outcomes: Upon receiving their diplomas, 64% of Class of 2023 graduates entered the world of employment while 14% were already accepted into graduate or professional school.  Hordes of Buckeyes can be found at many of the nation’s leading companies. More than 2,000 alumni work for JPMorgan Chase, and more than 500 work for Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. Of the grads who directly matriculate into graduate or professional school, many continue in one of OSU’s own programs.

Academic Highlights: The College of Wooster receives high marks across the board in undergraduate teaching, senior capstone, undergraduate research, innovation, and value. With no graduate students, the faculty is wholly committed to undergraduate education and has a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can easily from mentoring relationships via the Independent Study Program. A solid 64% of course sections enroll fewer than students, and only 9% contain more than 30 students. Wooster is one of the few schools that can genuinely state that every graduate is afforded a supervised research experience. In addition, 35% of Scots participate in an international experience.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of leaving Wooster, 78% of job-seeking individuals had landed a job. Organizations hiring at least one recent grad include Apple, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, and the NIH. Nineteen percent of the Class of 2023 enrolled in grad school, with alums attending universities such as Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Duke, and Yale. Most alums settle in the Greater Cleveland area, with the Washington DC-Baltimore area proving popular amongst the Fighting Scots.

Academic Highlights: Purdue offers over 200 majors at ten discipline-specific colleges, and 37% of course sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer. Undergraduates conduct more than 2,000 research projects per year; they can connect with professors during the academic year or apply to participate in a Summer Research Fellowship. Discipline-specific research programs, a research pitch competition, research conferences & symposiums, and publishing opportunities abound. 1,300 students per year elect to study abroad at one of 400 programs in 50 countries.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after receiving their diplomas, 65% of 2023 grads headed to the world of employment while 25% headed to graduate/professional school. Companies employing the greatest number of recent alumni were Eli Lilly & Company, Amazon, Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, PepsiCo, and Cummins, Inc. The average starting salary was $71k across all degree programs. The majority of alumni remain in Indiana with Illinois, California, Texas, New York, and Wisconsin rounding out the five next most common destinations.

Academic Highlights: For more than half a century, the “K-Plan” has maintained the same core components: career service internships, foreign study, and an individualized senior project. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1 is solid and is down from 13:1 three years prior. Regardless, plenty of opportunities exist for conducting undergraduate research in addition to the aforementioned senior project requirement, and the Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Psychology departments all provide a wealth of resources toward that aim. This institution places enormous value on international experience, and 70% of undergrads engage in an immersive experience overseas, one of the highest figures of any school in the United States.

Professional Outcomes: The employers nabbing the greatest number of Hornets included Pfizer, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Charles River Laboratories, Deloitte, and Henry Ford Health. Most grads gravitated toward the industries of business development, education, operations, healthcare, and community/social services. Alumni can be found across America, with most concentrated in the Detroit metropolitan area.

Academic Highlights: There are 150 majors available across eight freshman-admitting undergraduate colleges. A 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio is deployed effectively so that 65% of sections enroll 29 or fewer students. No matter your field of study, you can utilize UM’s well-maintained database of upcoming faculty research projects as a way to connect directly with the professor of your choice; more than 2,000 undergraduates participate in a research or creative project every year. An outstanding 30% of UMTC students study abroad during their academic career with the most popular destinations being Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Professional Outcomes: Over 1000 alumni work at Target, Medtronic, 3M, and U.S. Bank; Amazon, Google, Cargill, and Microsoft employ 500+ UMN graduates each. The average starting salary across all majors is approximately 60k and recent employers include Boeing, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Abbott, IBM, EcoLab, Boston Scientific, Wells Fargo, Google, Apple, and Microsoft and Epic. With 130 graduate programs, the University of Minnesota retains many of its graduates as they pursue their next degrees.

Academic Highlights: Illinois Wesleyan delivers an exceptional liberal arts education through its distinctive curriculum and undergraduate-focused environment. With an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an intimate average class size of 17, students benefit from close mentorship across 47 majors. The university emphasizes global engagement (offering 700+ study abroad programs) and hands-on learning—31% of undergraduates conduct research, taking full advantage of the school’s dedicated undergraduate research culture.

Professional Outcomes: IWU graduates achieve remarkable success, with 99% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation (82% employed, 17% continuing education). Alumni earn strong starting salaries ($57,162 average) and frequently pursue advanced degrees at prestigious institutions like Georgetown, Tulane, and the University of Michigan. While many build careers in the Greater Chicago area, the university’s emphasis on internships (72% participation) ensures graduates are prepared to excel wherever their ambitions take them.

Academic Highlights: Lake Forest College offers an exceptional liberal arts education through its 32 majors and features an intimate learning environment with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 19. The college’s global character shines through its diverse student body representing 43 states and 120 countries, complemented by 200+ study abroad programs in 70 nations. Lake Forest distinguishes itself through robust undergraduate research opportunities, with faculty regularly involving students in primary research projects, creating an ideal environment for intellectual growth and professional preparation.

Professional Outcomes: Lake Forest graduates achieve outstanding results, with 97% of the Class of 2024 employed, in graduate school, or pursuing other meaningful endeavors. Alumni launch careers at prestigious organizations like Citigroup, EY, and the U.S. Department of State, while 21% continue their education at top-tier institutions, including the University of Chicago and Northwestern. Most build their careers in Chicago, demonstrating how Lake Forest’s combination of global perspectives, hands-on research experience, and personalized mentorship produces graduates who thrive in competitive professional environments.

Academic Highlights: Beloit College offers students an intimate, globally engaged liberal arts experience with over 40 majors across five career-focused schools, all supported by an exceptional 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The academic environment emphasizes personalized learning, with 99% of classes enrolling fewer than 30 students; one-third of students pursue double majors. This close-knit academic community extends worldwide, with 35% of students studying abroad through 100+ programs in 60 countries, blending rigorous classroom learning with transformative global experiences.

Professional Outcomes: Beloit graduates achieve remarkable success, with 93% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. The Class of 2023 exemplifies this trajectory, with 77% entering the workforce at top employers like Microsoft, Deloitte, and Epic Systems, while 40% pursued advanced degrees immediately. The long-term impact is even more impressive—63% of alumni eventually earn graduate degrees. These academic and professional investments pay dividends, with graduates commanding median salaries of $60,400 early in their careers, growing to $107,300 at mid-career, demonstrating the enduring value of Beloit’s liberal arts foundation in an evolving job market.

Academic Highlights: As one of only 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, Creighton University offers students more than 60 distinct majors across 22 fields of study within a values-driven learning environment. The university’s exceptional 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention, with half of all class sections enrolling fewer than 20 students. Creighton’s commitment to hands-on learning shines through its robust experiential programs; an impressive 83% of undergraduates participate in internships, research projects, or other applied learning opportunities. This combination of intimate classroom settings and practical experience prepares students to think critically and engage meaningfully with complex real-world challenges.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2023 achieved outstanding post-graduation success, with 68% securing employment, 27% enrolling in graduate programs, and just 1% still seeking opportunities six months after commencement. Graduates reported a strong median starting salary of $61,000, with many joining prestigious organizations including CHI Health, KPMG, Deloitte, Mayo Clinic, and Nebraska Medicine. These outcomes reflect both the quality of Creighton’s academic programs and the strong professional network cultivated by the university’s career services and engaged alumni community.

Academic Highlights: Saint Louis University stands as one of America’s most distinguished Catholic universities, offering students 97 bachelor’s programs within a nearly 200-year tradition of academic excellence. SLU’s global mission comes alive through its diverse community representing all 50 states and 87 countries, with 600+ students annually engaging in transformative international experiences that blend intellectual growth with Jesuit values of service and leadership.

Professional Outcomes: SLU graduates achieve remarkable career success, with 48% entering the workforce at leading employers like BJC HealthCare, Boeing, and Mercy, earning strong median salaries of $64,480. Another 39% continue their education, predominantly at SLU’s own highly-ranked graduate programs, demonstrating the university’s dual strength in launching careers and advancing scholarship. These outcomes reflect SLU’s unique ability to prepare graduates who combine professional excellence with ethical leadership in their communities.

Academic Highlights: There are 65 majors and minors at LU. A 7:1 student/faculty ratio allows for extremely small class sizes—the majority of sections contain only two to nineteen students, and many independent study/1:1 instruction courses are also available. The Lawrence University Research Fellows (LURF) program offers a stipend during ten-week, research-focused terms. All told, close to two-thirds of LU students gain hands-on research experience at some point during their four years of study. The college strongly encourages students to study abroad, and roughly 40% take the plunge.

Professional Outcomes: Of the 312 graduates in one recent graduating class, an impressive 99% had already reached their next employment or postsecondary destination. Among the 75% of that group who had landed their first jobs, employers include Bloomberg LP, Epic, Facebook, PayPal, Boeing, and the Walt Disney Company. Over the last few years, graduates have gone on to master’s and doctoral programs at schools such as Boston University, Harvard, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, MIT, and Yale.

Academic Highlights: This distinguished Christian liberal arts college, affiliated with the Reformed Church in America, offers students 91 majors, minors, and pre-professional programs within an intentionally intimate learning environment. With an exceptional 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 53% of classes enrolling fewer than 20 students, the college fosters close mentorship and intellectual exploration. The campus community brings together students from 35 states and 36 countries, while global perspectives are deepened through study abroad opportunities in 60+ nations.

Professional Outcomes: The Class of 2023 achieved outstanding results, with 77% employed (86% in their field of study) and 24% enrolled in graduate programs within six months of graduation. An impressive 92% of graduate school applicants gained admission to their top-choice institutions, while alumni contribute significantly to regional industry leaders, including Corewell Health, Stryker, and Steelcase. These exceptional outcomes are fueled by the college’s emphasis on experiential learning, with 93% of students completing hands-on professional experiences – a testament to the powerful integration of faith, academics, and career preparation.

Academic Highlights: IU offers 200+ majors The university’s 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio is strong for a school of Indiana’s size, and it does make an effort to keep undergraduate classes on the small side. While there are a number of introductory courses that transpire in giant lecture halls, 35% of all sections contain no more than 19 students. Experiential learning opportunities are available to those who seize them; over one-quarter of arts and sciences students completed research with a faculty member. On the study abroad front, roughly the same percentage of A&S graduates spent a semester in a foreign country. In total, the school offers 380 programs in 70 countries and 20 languages.

Professional Outcomes: Class of 2023 grads reached their next employment or graduate school destination at a 92% rate within six months of receiving their degrees. The median starting salary for IU grads ranged between $54,000 and $60,000. Among the largest employers of Hoosier alumni are local pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, EY, Amazon, PwC, Salesforce, Deloitte, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Accenture, and Google. Indianapolis, Chicago, Bloomington, and New York City are the locales where you can find the greatest concentration of Indiana graduates.

Academic Highlights: A freshman retention rate of 90% is excellent for a public university, and the strength of undergraduate teaching gets high marks. In part, this is made possible by a reasonable 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Each year, more than 2,800 undergrads work with professors on research, and some become coauthors of academic papers and/or find themselves presenting at academic conferences. The school also ranks in the top five among public institutions for the percent of students who elect to study abroad; a phenomenal 55% of undergrads elect to study away from Oxford.

Professional Outcomes: The overall success rate for the Class of 2023 was 99%, roughly the same as for the previous two cohorts. Fifty-five percent of recent Miami grads were employed and by mid-career, alumni enjoy a median salary of $132k. Staying in Ohio is a common postgraduate choice with 46% of grads doing so, but Chicago; New York City; Washington, DC; and Denver are also popular landing spots. The companies attracting the greatest number of RedHawk alumni are Procter & Gamble, EY, Fifth Third Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, PNC, PwC, and Amazon.

Academic Highlights: Truman State University offers students a robust liberal arts foundation with 50+ undergraduate majors and 71 minors, all supported by an excellent 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This personalized learning environment (featuring an average class size of 25) serves a diverse community representing 49 countries, creating dynamic classroom discussions with global perspectives. The university’s commitment to undergraduate-focused education ensures every student receives individual attention while developing critical thinking skills.

Professional Outcomes: Truman graduates achieve strong career outcomes, with 41% entering the workforce (including positions at Boeing, Oracle, and Wells Fargo) and 31% pursuing advanced degrees immediately after graduation. An impressive 82% of alumni report satisfaction with their Truman experience, with many building careers in Missouri’s key metro areas—particularly St. Louis and Kansas City. The university’s emphasis on lifelong learning is reflected in graduates’ median earnings of $56,000 after ten years, demonstrating the enduring value of Truman’s liberal arts education in today’s evolving job market.

Academic Highlights: At Butler, undergrads can select from over 90 academic majors. An excellent 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio translates to very few large lecture halls; just 3% of class sections contain more than 50 students. Known for the quality of its undergraduate teaching, Butler delivers a quality education without a harrowing admissions process.

Professional Outcomes: Butler grads enjoyed a 98% placement rate in 2023. The median starting salary is a solid $65,497 and prominent employers of last year’s grads include NBCUniversal, Eli Lilly, USA Today, Cleveland Clinic, Pfizer,  Ascension Health, and The Walt Disney Company. Butler alumni enter all types of graduate institutions including the likes of Purdue, NYU, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Yale, and Northwestern.

Academic Highlights: This highly regarded state institution boasts over 400 areas of study—undergraduate, graduate, and professional—across 17 degree-granting colleges. A 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio rates in the average range for public universities of MSU’s size and scope. Class sizes are a genuine mix of small seminars and giant lecture halls. In one recent year, 55% percent of undergraduate course sections contain fewer than 30 students; just 23% enrolled more than 50. Undergraduate research opportunities do exist for those bold enough to pursue them; 36% of recent grads completed one such experience. Around 25% of undergrads study abroad at one of 260 programs located in 60+ countries.

Professional Outcomes: Within months of strutting across the graduation stage, 63% of Class of 2023 members had landed full-time employment, 25% were pursuing advanced degrees, and 4% were still looking for a job. The top employers of this group included big names like the State of Michigan, General Motors, the US Federal Government, Ford Motor Company, and PepsiCo. The median starting salary earned was $64,149. Among the grad schools favored by recent alumni are the University of Michigan, New York University, Columbia University, and Northwestern University.

Academic Highlights: 200+ undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate programs are available across eight colleges. The 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio is not suggestive of an intimate learning environment, yet the University of Iowa still manages to keep over half of its undergraduate sections at an enrollment of 19 or fewer students. Just 13% of sections enroll 50 or more undergrads. Increasing the number of undergraduate research opportunities available is part of the university’s strategic plan. At present, about one-third of UI undergrads conduct or assist research. In a given year, more than 1,000 University of Iowa students study abroad.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of recent grads found their first job or advanced degree program within six months of receiving their diploma. Companies that employ hundreds of alumni include John Deere, Collins Aerospace, Amazon, Deloitte, AbbVie, Microsoft, and Google. Five years after graduating, alumni report a salary increase of 55% and 95% are satisfied with their job. The median salary for recent grads was $50,000. 21% went directly into graduate school; 75% remained at the University of Iowa.