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

Millikin University
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M
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,807enrollment
  • $10,492net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 930-1200SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Northern Illinois University
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N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 15,649enrollment
  • $13,884net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 11,107enrollment
  • $16,990net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 900-1140SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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School of the Art Institute of Chicago
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S
Chicago, IL

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,532enrollment
  • $53,923net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1048-1260SAT range
  • 22-25ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 15

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Illinois State University
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I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 20,683enrollment
  • $20,551net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1210SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Roosevelt University
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R
Chicago, IL

Roosevelt University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,725enrollment
  • $22,117net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 840-1080SAT range
  • 16-26ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
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S
Edwardsville, IL

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 12,519enrollment
  • $13,586net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Dominican University
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D
River Forest, IL

Dominican University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,196enrollment
  • $18,162net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 890-1140SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

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Olivet Nazarene University
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O
Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,255enrollment
  • $20,059net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 970-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

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Benedictine University
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B
Lisle, IL

Benedictine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,123enrollment
  • $25,658net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

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Western Illinois University
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W
Macomb, IL

Western Illinois University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 7,643enrollment
  • $11,213net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 880-1090SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

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North Park University
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N
Chicago, IL

North Park University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,660enrollment
  • $19,029net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1162SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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McKendree University
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M
Lebanon, IL

McKendree University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,960enrollment
  • $22,431net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 871-1277SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

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Trinity International University
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T
Deerfield, IL
 

Trinity International University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,242enrollment
  • $16,703net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 925-1106SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

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Northeastern Illinois University
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N
Chicago, IL

Northeastern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,756enrollment
  • $14,262net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 810-1010SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Quincy University
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Q
Quincy, IL

Quincy University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,307enrollment
  • $11,985net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1240SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

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Greenville University
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G
Greenville, IL

Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,088enrollment
  • $20,718net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 809-1209SAT range
  • 15-28ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

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Eastern Illinois University
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E
Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 8,857enrollment
  • $13,380net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 900-1120SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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