Michigan State University (MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan.

Indiana University—Bloomington is a public institution that was founded in 1820.

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.

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

Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, founded in 1869.