PickACampus
Loading...

Best Colleges in Illinois

All 107 colleges in Illinois, ranked by overall quality and led by University of Chicago, Northwestern University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 23 public, 84 private. median out-of-state tuition $26,892. lowest in-state tuition $3,504 at Waubonsee Community College. Each school below shows its acceptance rate, tuition and average SAT.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best college in Illinois?

Based on our overall rankings, University of Chicago is the top-ranked college in Illinois. Other strong choices include Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology.

How many colleges are in Illinois?

We track 107 four-year colleges in Illinois, including 23 public institutions and 84 private ones.

How much does college cost in Illinois?

The average out-of-state tuition across colleges we track in Illinois is approximately $26,892 per year. In-state students at public schools typically pay significantly less, and most schools offer financial aid that reduces the effective cost.

What are the best public colleges in Illinois?

The best public colleges in Illinois include University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois State University. Public universities typically offer lower tuition for in-state residents.

What are the best private colleges in Illinois?

The best private colleges in Illinois include University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Illinois Institute of Technology. Private colleges may offer more generous financial aid despite higher sticker prices.

How are these Illinois rankings determined?

Our overall rankings are calculated independently from publicly available data including U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS, and aggregated student-experience signals — not from US News or any other publication.

By major in Illinois

  1. 1. University of Chicago — Chicago, IL · 4.5% acceptance · SAT 1,554 · $70,662 tuition · 96% grad rate
  2. 2. Northwestern University — Evanston, IL · 7.7% acceptance · SAT 1,533 · $68,322 tuition · 95% grad rate
  3. 3. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, IL · 42.4% acceptance · SAT 1,440 · $35,124 tuition · 85% grad rate
  4. 4. Illinois Institute of Technology — Chicago, IL · 54.9% acceptance · SAT 1,311 · $52,386 tuition · 75% grad rate
  5. 5. Wheaton College — Wheaton, IL · 87.4% acceptance · SAT 1,380 · $45,546 tuition · 85% grad rate
  6. 6. Illinois Wesleyan University — Bloomington, IL · 39.3% acceptance · SAT 1,275 · $57,704 tuition · 75% grad rate
  7. 7. Loyola University Chicago — Chicago, IL · 81.6% acceptance · SAT 1,297 · $53,710 tuition · 73% grad rate
  8. 8. Morrison Institute of Technology — Morrison, IL · $20,355 tuition · 77% grad rate
  9. 9. Bradley University — Peoria, IL · 76.8% acceptance · $42,160 tuition · 76% grad rate
  10. 10. DePaul University — Chicago, IL · 75.9% acceptance · SAT 1,262 · $45,999 tuition · 68% grad rate
  11. 11. Lake Forest College — Lake Forest, IL · 56.8% acceptance · SAT 1,343 · $56,402 tuition · 78% grad rate
  12. 12. Augustana College — Rock Island, IL · 62.7% acceptance · SAT 1,165 · $51,598 tuition · 73% grad rate
  13. 13. Worsham College of Mortuary Science — Wheeling, IL · 92% acceptance · $20,500 tuition · 74% grad rate
  14. 14. Chamberlain University-Illinois — Addison, IL · 82.6% acceptance · $21,536 tuition · 42% grad rate
  15. 15. Methodist College — Peoria, IL · 38.9% acceptance · $18,008 tuition · 62% grad rate
  16. 16. Lewis University — Romeoville, IL · 71.3% acceptance · SAT 1,096 · $39,200 tuition · 67% grad rate
  17. 17. University of Illinois Chicago — Chicago, IL · 77.4% acceptance · SAT 1,250 · $29,884 tuition · 62% grad rate
  18. 18. University of St Francis — Joliet, IL · 65.3% acceptance · SAT 1,141 · $38,110 tuition · 67% grad rate
  19. 19. Elmhurst University — Elmhurst, IL · 73.6% acceptance · SAT 1,151 · $42,955 tuition · 70% grad rate
  20. 20. Illinois State University — Normal, IL · 88.2% acceptance · SAT 1,113 · $28,210 tuition · 65% grad rate
  21. 21. North Central College — Naperville, IL · 77.3% acceptance · SAT 1,213 · $45,726 tuition · 64% grad rate
  22. 22. Knox College — Galesburg, IL · 70.8% acceptance · SAT 1,326 · $57,903 tuition · 68% grad rate
  23. 23. Dominican University — River Forest, IL · 90.3% acceptance · SAT 1,002 · $38,978 tuition · 55% grad rate
  24. 24. Trinity Christian College — Palos Heights, IL · 84.9% acceptance · SAT 1,157 · $20,605 tuition · 58% grad rate
  25. 25. Aurora University — Aurora, IL · 80.9% acceptance · SAT 1,076 · $29,170 tuition · 60% grad rate
  26. 26. Saint Xavier University — Chicago, IL · 84.3% acceptance · $37,940 tuition · 57% grad rate
  27. 27. University of Illinois Springfield — Springfield, IL · 85.9% acceptance · SAT 1,102 · $22,017 tuition · 53% grad rate
  28. 28. Illinois College — Jacksonville, IL · 78.2% acceptance · SAT 1,064 · $38,676 tuition · 64% grad rate
  29. 29. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — Edwardsville, IL · 97.5% acceptance · SAT 1,100 · $12,922 tuition · 57% grad rate
  30. 30. VanderCook College of Music — Chicago, IL · 89.5% acceptance · $30,910 tuition · 59% grad rate
  31. 31. Monmouth College — Monmouth, IL · 90.9% acceptance · SAT 1,128 · $44,922 tuition · 65% grad rate
  32. 32. Olivet Nazarene University — Bourbonnais, IL · 55.9% acceptance · SAT 1,117 · $38,900 tuition · 61% grad rate
  33. 33. McKendree University — Lebanon, IL · 71.7% acceptance · $34,740 tuition · 53% grad rate
  34. 34. Benedictine University — Lisle, IL · 95.2% acceptance · $35,940 tuition · 50% grad rate
  35. 35. Moody Bible Institute — Chicago, IL · 82.7% acceptance · $15,786 tuition · 62% grad rate
  36. 36. North Park University — Chicago, IL · 68.5% acceptance · $36,710 tuition · 58% grad rate
  37. 37. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale — Carbondale, IL · 86.9% acceptance · SAT 1,055 · $13,334 tuition · 62% grad rate
  38. 38. School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Chicago, IL · 77.5% acceptance · $56,420 tuition · 67% grad rate
  39. 39. Millikin University — Decatur, IL · 66.7% acceptance · SAT 1,034 · $26,892 tuition · 55% grad rate
  40. 40. Principia College — Elsah, IL · $34,680 tuition · 74% grad rate
  41. 41. Northern Illinois University — Dekalb, IL · 69.8% acceptance · $13,248 tuition · 49% grad rate
  42. 42. Judson University — Elgin, IL · 47.6% acceptance · SAT 1,039 · $31,360 tuition · 60% grad rate
  43. 43. Fox College — Tinley Park, IL · 70.2% acceptance · $17,670 tuition · 60% grad rate
  44. 44. Blackburn College — Carlinville, IL · 63.2% acceptance · $28,149 tuition · 57% grad rate
  45. 45. Eastern Illinois University — Charleston, IL · 65.4% acceptance · SAT 1,000 · $16,217 tuition · 47% grad rate
  46. 46. Hebrew Theological College — Skokie, IL · 57.1% acceptance · $15,150 tuition · 59% grad rate
  47. 47. Rockford University — Rockford, IL · 92.9% acceptance · SAT 956 · $37,780 tuition · 47% grad rate
  48. 48. Saint Anthony College of Nursing — Rockford, IL · $27,811 tuition
  49. 49. Western Illinois University — Macomb, IL · 71.2% acceptance · $15,264 tuition · 45% grad rate
  50. 50. Quincy University — Quincy, IL · 50.9% acceptance · SAT 1,098 · $37,140 tuition · 45% grad rate
  51. 51. Greenville University — Greenville, IL · 97.5% acceptance · SAT 1,038 · $32,200 tuition · 46% grad rate
  52. 52. Midwestern Career College — Chicago, IL · 54% grad rate
  53. 53. Concordia University-Chicago — River Forest, IL · 92.8% acceptance · $37,488 tuition · 36% grad rate
  54. 54. Columbia College Chicago — Chicago, IL · 89.5% acceptance · $34,088 tuition · 52% grad rate
  55. 55. Taylor Business Institute — Chicago, IL · 91.2% acceptance · $12,000 tuition · 59% grad rate
  56. 56. Waubonsee Community College — Sugar Grove, IL · $10,477 tuition · 39% grad rate
  57. 57. Eureka College — Eureka, IL · 85% acceptance · $29,096 tuition · 42% grad rate
  58. 58. Roosevelt University — Chicago, IL · 97.2% acceptance · SAT 1,011 · $21,315 tuition · 35% grad rate
  59. 59. John Wood Community College — Quincy, IL · $9,300 tuition · 49% grad rate
  60. 60. Rock Valley College — Rockford, IL · $7,379 tuition · 37% grad rate
  61. 61. Carl Sandburg College — Galesburg, IL · $8,900 tuition · 50% grad rate
  62. 62. City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College — Chicago, IL · $15,150 tuition · 31% grad rate
  63. 63. John A Logan College — Carterville, IL · $7,540 tuition · 46% grad rate
  64. 64. Governors State University — University Park, IL · 48.3% acceptance · $12,004 tuition · 22% grad rate
  65. 65. Danville Area Community College — Danville, IL · $7,440 tuition · 45% grad rate
  66. 66. Rasmussen University-Illinois — Rockford, IL · $14,078 tuition · 43% grad rate
  67. 67. College of DuPage — Glen Ellyn, IL · $12,750 tuition · 25% grad rate
  68. 68. Morton College — Cicero, IL · $12,414 tuition · 31% grad rate
  69. 69. National Louis University — Chicago, IL · 95.1% acceptance · $12,705 tuition · 30% grad rate
  70. 70. Trinity International University-Illinois — Deerfield, IL · 100% acceptance · $12,320 tuition · 46% grad rate
  71. 71. Northeastern Illinois University — Chicago, IL · 74.6% acceptance · $22,726 tuition · 22% grad rate
  72. 72. City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College — Chicago, IL · $15,150 tuition · 26% grad rate
  73. 73. St. John's College-Department of Nursing — Springfield, IL
  74. 74. South Suburban College — South Holland, IL · $12,683 tuition · 28% grad rate
  75. 75. Lakeview College of Nursing — Danville, IL
  76. 76. Chicago State University — Chicago, IL · 43.3% acceptance · $12,754 tuition · 15% grad rate
  77. 77. Rush University — Chicago, IL
  78. 78. American Islamic College — Chicago, IL · 100% acceptance · $7,650 tuition
  79. 79. Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing — Peoria, IL
  80. 80. Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago — Chicago, IL · 100% acceptance · $15,000 tuition
  81. 81. Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences — Quincy, IL
  82. 82. St. Augustine College — Chicago, IL · $13,688 tuition · 17% grad rate
  83. 83. Ambria College of Nursing — Hoffman Estates, IL
  84. 84. East-West University — Chicago, IL · $25,395 tuition · 16% grad rate
  85. 85. Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences — Rock Island, IL
  86. 86. National University of Health Sciences — Lombard, IL
  87. 87. The Chicago School at Chicago — Chicago, IL · 34.5% acceptance · $21,780 tuition
  88. 88. Generations College — Chicago, IL · $12,700 tuition · 11% grad rate
  89. 89. Adler University — Chicago, IL
  90. 90. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago — Chicago, IL
  91. 91. Midwestern University-Downers Grove — Downers Grove, IL
  92. 92. Chicago Theological Seminary — Chicago, IL
  93. 93. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary — Evanston, IL
  94. 94. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science — North Chicago, IL
  95. 95. Illinois College of Optometry — Chicago, IL
  96. 96. Institute for Clinical Social Work — Chicago, IL
  97. 97. Lake Forest Graduate School of Management — Lake Forest, IL
  98. 98. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago — Chicago, IL
  99. 99. McCormick Theological Seminary — Chicago, IL
  100. 100. Meadville Theological School of Lombard College — Chicago, IL
  101. 101. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary — Lisle, IL
  102. 102. University of Saint Mary of the Lake — Mundelein, IL
  103. 103. Spertus College — Chicago, IL
  104. 104. Erikson Institute — Chicago, IL
  105. 105. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia — Evanston, IL
  106. 106. Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation Inc. — Chicago, IL
  107. 107. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago — Chicago, IL

Best Colleges in Illinois on PickACampus