The University of Michigan (Michigan or UMich) is a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, founded in 1817.

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

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

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

The University of Chicago (UChicago) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1890.

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