The Midwest stretches up from the US’s most central state, Kansas, to border with Canada to the north, the Great Lakes to the north-east, and as far east as Ohio.
According to US Census Bureau categories, 12 states make up the Midwestern region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
The term ‘Midwest’ can seem a little confusing, as geographically these states are located in the north-central and north-eastern parts of the US. However, the phrase originated in the fact that, when heading west from the east coast, these states would be the midway point.
Chicago is the largest city in the region, and is also home to the Midwest’s highest ranking university. Other notable Midwest cities include Detroit, the birthplace of the automotive industry, rapper Eminem and influential record company Motown Records.
Then there’s Missouri’s Kansas City, renowned for jazz music and barbecue; Indiana’s sports- and sandwich-mad Indianapolis; Ohio’s Cleveland, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; and Wisconsin’s beer-brewing, cheese-making Milwaukee.
This is certainly a large and diverse region with plenty to explore, including some of the most famous landscapes and landmarks in the US – the Great Plains, the five Great Lakes, and the iconic Mount Rushmore sculpture, which is in South Dakota.
Top universities in the US Midwest
Illinois leads the way, with three universities in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2011/12: University of Chicago (8), Northwestern University (24), and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (61).
Also in the top 100 are Michigan’s University of Michigan (14), Wisconsin’s University of Wisconsin-Madison (41), Missouri’s Washington University in St Louis (78), Indiana’s Purdue University (85).
The University of Minnesota is just two places short of the top 100, and Ohio University is at 111.
In Iowa, the University of Iowa makes the top 200 of the rankings, and Iowa State University is in the top 300. Nebraska and Kansas also have universities in the top 500.