When people think of small-town USA, they think of the Midwest! It’s a wide region that offers just about everything: tight-knit communities, rolling plains (as well as bustling cities), and the opportunity to experience all four distinct seasons. Who wouldn’t want to attend college in this type of environment? While you can find every type of college and university in the Midwest, its liberal arts schools are particularly well known for robust academics as well as their sense of community. Start checking out these CX featured colleges and connect directly with each one by hitting the green “Connect me” button below each listing. You may just find your dream school right here!
College of Saint Benedict
College of Saint Benedict is a private Catholic Benedictine liberal arts college for women in St. Joseph, Minnesota—just 70 miles from the Twin Cities. Saint Benedict’s more than 1,600 students benefit from a unique partnership with Saint John’s University, offering over 37 majors—including top-ranked programs in Nursing and Biology—and access to 3,300 acres of forests and lakes. The College is a national leader in global education, with over 40% of students participating in study abroad programs.
Cottey College
Cottey College is a private liberal arts for women in Nevada, Missouri. The College offers 15 highly-supportive degree programs as well as the best student-faculty ratio in the nation to a small student body of 300+ women. Owned by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an organization of over 200,000 women who support students as they grow into the leaders they want to be, the Cottey curriculum follows a Leadership Development Plan (LDP) that individualizes leadership growth for each student.
DePauw University
DePauw University is a top-tier private liberal arts institution in Greencastle, Indiana, known for its innovative three-school model and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. With 84% of students completing internships and 90% studying abroad, the University emphasizes experiential learning and global engagement. DePauw consistently ranks among the top 7% nationally for lifetime career earnings, preparing graduates for leadership through a blend of rigorous academics and professional development.
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College is a private liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan—about 70 miles from Ann Arbor, Toledo, Lansing, and Fort Wayne. The College has 39 distinct undergraduate degrees that are concentrated into 30 majors covering 14 broad fields of study. Hillsdale’s core curriculum immerses students in the liberal arts by studying and debating ideas from ancient times to the present in literature, history, philosophy, logic, rhetoric, and theology.
Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio—15 miles from central Cleveland. The College offers majors in nearly 30 disciplines at the associate, bachelor’s, and master's levels, including outstanding programs in education, business, nursing, and science. Set against the backdrop of a small campus, Notre Dame students enjoy rich experiences in the classroom, through extracurricular activities, on athletic teams, in communities on and off campus, and throughout campus life.
Rockhurst University
Rockhurst University is a private Catholic liberal arts institution in Kansas City, Missouri. With average class sizes of 25 students and a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, the University offers 70+ undergraduate and graduate degree programs rooted in a classic liberal arts curriculum to a student body of more than 3,000. Rockhurst students also get involved in over 50 campus organizations, conduct research in newly renovated facilities, compete in NCAA Division II athletics, and more.
Saint John's University
Saint John's University is a private Benedictine Catholic liberal arts college for men in Collegeville, Minnesota—located on a sprawling 3,300-acre campus of lakes, forests, and prairies. Saint John’s more than 1,500 students benefit from a unique partnership with the College of Saint Benedict, offering access to 38 majors and 40 minors—including Global Business Leadership, Biology, and Accounting—as well as over 100 clubs and organizations. The University also features a robust undergraduate research program, with nearly 40% of students completing a scholarly project or creative work each academic year.
Southwest Baptist University
Southwest Baptist University is a private Christ-centered liberal arts institution located in Bolivar, Missouri. Offering more than 100 areas of academic study, the University boasts a tight-knit community with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. SBU stands out as the only school in Missouri to earn a rare "A" rating for its general education curriculum from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. Undergraduates prepare for global leadership through unique short-term domestic and international service projects coordinated by the Center for Global Connections.
Sterling College
Sterling College is a private Christian college located in Sterling, Kansas—65 miles from Wichita. The College offers more than 80 programs of study—including majors in Christian Ministries, Christian Thought, Biblical Studies, and other liberal arts fields—as well as interdisciplinary studies, pre-professional options, education licensure, and more. Students also have the opportunity to grow spiritually by exploring their faith, attending weekly chapel services, joining a Bible study with peers, or traveling domestically or internationally through mission trips.
University of Mount Union
The University of Mount Union is a private liberal arts university in Alliance, Ohio—65 miles south of Cleveland. The University offers 47 diverse undergraduate majors, more than 45 minors, and average class sizes of 16 pupils to a student population of more than 1,800 undergrads. Mount Union students can also participate in 24 varsity athletic teams or 11 intramural sports leagues, in fact, 39% of the campus participates in intercollegiate athletics and 75% of students participate in recreational activities in general.
Viterbo University
Viterbo University is a Roman Catholic liberal arts university in La Crosse, Wisconsin—150 miles from the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. Viterbo offers more than 50 traditional and online academic programs with class sizes of 16 and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The University’s 2,400+ students can also take advantage of the award-winning Identities Project program, which provides opportunities for the campus community to explore facets of identity through events, dialogues, and more.
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With 1,091 students and a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, the College offers over 50 academic programs, including in fields like Art & Graphic Design, Computer Sciences, Environmental Science, Human Social Services, Marine Biology, Radiologic Technology, Script & Storytelling, and more. At WLC, students receive one-on-one instruction in small classes from highly skilled faculty and professors and numerous opportunities for hands-on learning on campus in state-of-the-art facilities and off-campus throughout Milwaukee.
If liberal arts isn’t in your interests but the Midwest is, we have a lot more featured Midwest college lists of great schools in the area!
