Skip to content

Midwest

From Chicago and Detroit to Lawrence, Kansas, the Midwest region is known as “America’s Heartland.” With large bustling cities and small farm towns, the region is hub for international business, industrial manufacturing, the automotive industry and the agricultural economy. Major companies such as Boeing, Allstate and Target are based in the Midwest.

City Spotlights

Iconic, progressive and diverse, Chicago is a commercial and cultural powerhouse. The third largest city in the U.S., Chicago is known for its strong business economy, architecture and culture. Set on breezy Lake Michigan, Chicago earns its nickname, the Windy City.

  • Visit the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and Millennium Park.
  • Experience the arts at Chicago Theatre or catch improv comedy at Second City.
  • Watch a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field, the second-oldest baseball stadium in the world.
  • Sample Chicago cuisine like deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs.
  • See hundreds of public art works, including the world-famous “Chicago Bean.”
  • Intern at one of 400+ major corporate headquarters, 1800+ international companies and 300+ digital start-ups.
  • Visit the Art Institute of Chicago and 200+ art galleries.

Learn more about the University of Illinois at Chicago

Set on beautiful Lake Erie, Cleveland is one of the cultural centers of the American Midwest and home to world-class hospitals, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Allen Theatre and the Gordon Square Arts District.

  • Visit Playhouse Square, the second-largest performing arts district in the U.S.
  • Experience all that Lake Erie has to offer, including Cleveland Lakeshore Nature Preserve, Edgewater Park and Euclid Beach Park.
  • Nicknamed Forest City thanks to 23,000 acres of nature preserves and 300+ miles of trails
  • Catch a show at Connor Palace and explore the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  • Explore Cleveland Metroparks and take in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

Learn more about Cleveland State University

Dayton, Ohio, is known for a culture of innovation and connections to aviation, thanks to the Wright Brothers. Often called the Gem City, Dayton is home to industrial, aeronautical and engineering research centers.

  • #69 Best Place to Live—U.S. News & World Report, 2019
  • #43 Best College Food in America—Niche.com
  • Explore the Wright Brothers National Museum, National Museum of the Air Force and America’s Packard Museum
  • Visit the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and Dayton Art Institute.
  • Explore the 2nd Street Market and Carriage Hill MetroPark.
  • 1-hour drive from Columbus, 1.5-hour flight from Chicago

Learn more about the University of Dayton 

Set along the Kansas River, Lawrence is a progressive city full of eclectic shops, green spaces and top-rated restaurants. A welcoming community of artists, farmers, entrepreneurs and business owners, this lively college town is ranked the #5 Small Town for Business and Careers by Forbes (2017).

  • Visit scenic Massachusetts Street downtown.
  • Walk, hike or run along the Baker Wetlands, Lawrence River Trail or Clinton State Park.
  • Explore the Spencer Art Museum and dozens of galleries.

Learn more about the University of Kansas

Famously known as the center of the U.S. automobile industry, Detroit is a diverse city full of cultural heritage. The birthplace of the Model T and Motown Records, this bustling metro serves as the headquarters for Ford Motor Company and General Motors.

  • Visit the Motown Museum, featuring the stories of musicians including The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder.
  • Explore the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History or the Detroit Institute of Arts.
  • Take a ride at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.

1800+

International companies are based in Chicago

Did you know?

Dayton is home to the Wright Brothers and the birthplace of flight.

#5

Lawrence, KS is #5 Small Town for Business and Careers (Forbes 2017).

UNIVERSITIES IN THE MIDWEST

Top National Universities: #133
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Enrollment: 11,241
Type: Private, Co-Ed
Academic Calendar: Semester
Top National Universities: #112
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Enrollment: 31,683
Type: Public, Co-Ed
Academic Calendar: Semester
Top National Universities: #124
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Enrollment: 27,690
Type: Public, Co-Ed
Academic Calendar: Semester
Top National Universities: #321
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Enrollment: 16,327
Type: Public, Co-Ed
Academic Calendar: Semester