Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio.

Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois, founded in 1851.

The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, founded in 1847.

The Ohio State University, commonly Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (the U of M or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota.