Best Illinois Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in Illinois for 2025

There are 132 colleges and universities in Illinois enrolling 700,210 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 Wheaton College. 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

132 results

List of the Best Illinois Colleges

University of Illinois at Springfield
Connect Me
I
Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 4,661enrollment
  • $9,241net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1210SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Benedictine University
Connect Me
B
Lisle, IL

Benedictine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,989enrollment
  • $24,570net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northern Illinois University
Connect Me
N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 15,504enrollment
  • $13,533net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Connect Me
S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 11,359enrollment
  • $16,131net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Olivet Nazarene University
Connect Me
O
Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,275enrollment
  • $22,707net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 960-1190SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Illinois State University
Connect Me
I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 20,989enrollment
  • $20,871net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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

University of St Francis

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,185enrollment
  • $16,455net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 900-1170SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Millikin University
Connect Me
M
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,659enrollment
  • $10,078net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 860-1170SAT range
  • 14-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Connect Me
S
Edwardsville, IL

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 12,045enrollment
  • $15,182net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 900-1160SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Dominican University
Connect Me
D
River Forest, IL

Dominican University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,424enrollment
  • $16,969net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 934-1140SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

Compare Calculate my chances 
McKendree University
Connect Me
M
Lebanon, IL

McKendree University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,075enrollment
  • $25,200net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 871-1277SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Park University
Connect Me
N
Chicago, IL

North Park University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,624enrollment
  • $19,910net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 890-1162SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Quincy University
Connect Me
Q
Quincy, IL

Quincy University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,280enrollment
  • $17,424net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1250SAT range
  • 21-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Judson University
Connect Me
J
Elgin, IL

Judson University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,058enrollment
  • $21,331net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 860-1080SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Western Illinois University
Connect Me
W
Macomb, IL

Western Illinois University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 7,073enrollment
  • $12,168net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 880-1090SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Eastern Illinois University
Connect Me
E
Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 8,804enrollment
  • $14,621net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1110SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Xavier University
Connect Me
S
Chicago, IL
 

Saint Xavier University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,457enrollment
  • $11,943net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 950-1120SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Northeastern Illinois University
Connect Me
N
Chicago, IL

Northeastern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,504enrollment
  • $14,669net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 810-1010SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

Compare Calculate my chances