Best Illinois Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in Illinois for 2024

There are 134 colleges and universities in Illinois enrolling 688,455 students. Explore the list of top colleges in Illinois below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Illinois offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 Illinois is home to nationally ranked institutions like University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and Illinois Wesleyan University. The highest ranked college in Illinois is University of Chicago and the top rated public state college is University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Local college options can be explored in Chicago, Aurora and Rockford or other cities.

Illinois Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

134 results

List of the Best Illinois Colleges

University of Chicago
Connect Me
C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $36,991net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northwestern University
Connect Me
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 23,161enrollment
  • $22,095net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Connect Me
I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 56,916enrollment
  • $14,544net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

Compare Calculate my chances 
Illinois Wesleyan University
Connect Me
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,527enrollment
  • $30,096net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1330SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Wheaton College
Connect Me
W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,885enrollment
  • $29,961net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Illinois Institute of Technology
Connect Me
I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 6,943enrollment
  • $28,702net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Loyola University Chicago
Connect Me
L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 16,899enrollment
  • $37,511net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1370SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Bradley University
Connect Me
B
Peoria, IL

Bradley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,552enrollment
  • $24,053net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Illinois at Chicago
Connect Me
I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 33,747enrollment
  • $10,384net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
DePaul University
Connect Me
D
Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 20,917enrollment
  • $32,151net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Knox College
Connect Me
K
Galesburg, IL

Knox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,058enrollment
  • $26,882net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lake Forest College
Connect Me
L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,753enrollment
  • $27,839net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1153-1340SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Augustana College
Connect Me
A
Rock Island, IL

Augustana College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,349enrollment
  • $24,660net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of St Francis
Connect Me
S
Joliet, IL

University of St Francis

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,297enrollment
  • $18,560net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Central College
Connect Me
N
Naperville, IL

North Central College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,695enrollment
  • $25,285net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lewis University
Connect Me
L
Romeoville, IL
 

Lewis University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 6,513enrollment
  • $19,184net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1200SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Elmhurst College
Connect Me
E
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,731enrollment
  • $24,108net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 980-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Illinois at Springfield
Connect Me
I
Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 4,198enrollment
  • $11,733net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 988-1220SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances