The Great Lakes region is home to thousands of lakes (not just the big 5), beautiful destinations like Indiana Dunes, Marquette Ore docks, and Sleeping Bear dunes, and some even more amazing “Hidden Gem” colleges. This Hidden Gem colleges in the Great Lakes region list highlights some of the smaller but mighty colleges and universities that call the area home.
What Is a “Hidden Gem?”
Every school on this “hidden gem” college rankings list meets the following criteria:
- Receive fewer than 5,000 applications per year
- Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students
- Offer 5 or more unique majors
- Have a 10% acceptance rate or higher
States included in the Great Lakes Hidden Gems list include Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
2025 Hidden Gem Colleges in the Great Lakes
ILLINOIS
Wheaton College was founded by evangelical abolitionists in 1860 and would become a stop on the Underground Railroad. Business is by far the most popular major at the school. Athletic teams are known as The Thunder. They wear blue and orange and compete in the NCAA Division III in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Location
Wheaton, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,885
Also known simply as Prin, Principia College is liberal arts school that offers up to a bachelor’s degree. Its campus is located on the Mississippi River along the border of Illinois and Missouri. The school is fairly selective accepting only 44% of applicants, but it is free to apply. Actor Robert Duvall is one notable alumni.
Location
Elsah, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
323
A liberal arts college, Lake Forest College is located just a half mile from Lake Michigan and just 30 miles north of Chicago. The school offers 32 majors of which Business, Biology, and Research Psychology are the most popular. Lake Forest College offers a $0 application fee for undergraduate students and around 60% of applicants will be accepted.
Location
Lake Forest, IL
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,753
INDIANA
Wabash College is a small undergraduate men’s school. They accept 63% of applicants and it is free to apply. The student paper, The Bachelor, has been in publication since the early 1900’s. Rhetoric and Composition, Economics, and Political Science and Government are among the popular majors.
Location
Crawfordsville, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
835
Taylor University offers over 50 different undergraduate programs, some of the most popular being Elementary Education and Teaching, Business Administration and Management, and Cinematography and Film. There are around 400 student-athletes at Taylor University and they are known as the Trojans wearing purple and gold.
Location
Upland, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,221
Saint Mary’s College was founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross and is an all women’s school. Competing in the NCAA Division III, the students are known as the Belles. Popular majors include Registered Nursing, Business Administration and Management, and Psychology.
Location
Notre Dame, IN
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,519
MICHIGAN
Hillsdale’s motto is “Virtus Tentamine Gaudet” or “Strength Rejoices in the Challenge.” The school has a 96% first year retention rate and an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. All students who attend are required to take courses on the “Great Books,” the United States Constitution, and Science courses. 72% of students will graduate within 4 years.
Location
Hillsdale, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,678
Also known as K College, Kalamazoo College is the leading producer of Peace Corps members out of small liberal arts colleges. Their motto is “Lux Esto,” which is Latin for “Be Light.” The most popular major is Biology, followed by Business, Psychology, and Chemistry. Kalamazoo College has an 86% first year retention rate.
Location
Kalamazoo, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,210
Calvin University was founded in 1876 but known as Calvin College for most of its existence. It only became a university in 2019. The chapel on campus holds daily services and the spire is higher than all of the school’s academic buildings. The college has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an 86% first year retention rate.
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,231
OHIO
John Carroll University has over 70 majors available to undergraduates, with Finance, Biology/Biological Sciences, and Marketing/Marketing Management being popular choices. The school was founded in 1886 and became coeducational in 1968. Alumni include Brian P. Cleary, Wade Manning, and Jack Kahl.
Location
University Heights, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,922
“Fortitude and Prudence” is the motto of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Located along the Ohio River, this school has a first year retention rate of 86% and a six year graduation rate of 75%. The school has a 72% acceptance rate and $0 application fee.
Location
Steubenville, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,656
Ohio Northern University, or ONU, was founded in 1871. The school has a 74% acceptance rate ($0 application fee) and a 70% six year graduate rate. There are about 705 student-athletes on campus participating in the Ohio Athletic Conference (NCAA DIII). They are known as the Polar Bears.
Location
Ada, OH
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,015
WISCONSIN
Lawrence University was the second coeducation institution (founded in 1847) in the US. The three most popular majors are Music Performance, Biology, and Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. Offering only bachelor’s degrees to students, many alumni have gone into careers in politics, music, and sports. The campus sits along the winding Fox River.
Location
Appleton, WI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,426
Known as the Green Knights, student athletes at Saint Norbert College are members of the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference and wear green and gold. Saint Norbert has a 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 67% four year graduation rate. The school’s motto is “docere verbo et exemplo,” or “to teach by word and example.”
Location
De Pere, WI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,882
Beloit College’s campus is located next to the Rock River, just north of the Illinois and Wisconsin border. About 57% of applicants are accepted and it's free to apply. With a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Beloit’s most popular majors are Business/Managerial Economics, Psychology, and Chemistry. Their colors are orange, black, and white, and their mascot is a polar bear.
Location
Beloit, WI
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
964
Why Should You Consider Going to a Hidden Gem?
Here are a few reasons why Hidden Gem schools in the Great Lakes region should be on your radar:
- They tend to be more affordable. (Register for a FREE College Raptor account now to see just how affordable one of these gems could be for you!)
- Hidden Gem schools tend to have smaller, more intimate classes.
- They can be easier to get into with higher acceptance rates.
- They have a stellar, sought after selection of programs.
Why is the Great Lakes Region a Great Place to Go to School?
For those who love the outdoors, the Great Lakes region offers some unique opportunities for exploration! From kayaking to rock climbing and hiking to fishing, you will never run out of amazing activities in this part of the United States. And if you love the cold, particularly snow, you’ll definitely love the area. Many schools, including those on this list, have one-of-a-kind traditions you won’t find anywhere else in the country! Check out more fun things you could look forward to, “hidden gem” style, in the area.
Interested in any of these Great Lakes Hidden Gem colleges? Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if they’re a good fit for you!
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
College Raptor is a leading provider of net price calculators to colleges across the U.S. As such we are uniquely qualified to estimate college affordability. Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if your favorite college is affordable for you.
