Illinois university named top college in the Midwest by Forbes

Education Illinois university named top college in the Midwest by Forbes According to the publication's newest list of Top 25 colleges in the Midwest, Northwestern University in Evanston ranked at No. 1. By Alex Dvorak • Published November 9, 2026 • Updated 5 hours ago An Illinois university has been named the best college in the Midwest in a new ranking from Forbes. According to the publication's newest list of Top 25 colleges in the Midwest, Northwestern University in Evanston ranked at No. 1. Stream NBC 5 for free, 24/7, wherever you are. WATCH HERE Cited for its "prestigious Medill School of Journalism," as well as the number of alumni named to Forbes' "American Leaders" list. Another notable mention on the list was the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, which came in at No. 3 and "demonstrates the strength of the region's large public universities," according to Forbes. The university was highlighted for its return on investment, with graduates earning a median income of $139,000 "by midcareer." See the full ranking here . Last month, Forbes ranked the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as No. 7 of its Top 25 Public Colleges 2027 list. This article tagged under: Education