The Best Illinois Big Colleges

The Best Large Colleges in Illinois for 2024

These are the top ranked large, public and private, four-year colleges in Illinois as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment over 15,000. Leading the list for 2024 is University of Chicago. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Illinois large Public Private 4 year

8 results

University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

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

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Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in America

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

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#18 Best Public Universities in America

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

Applications Due Jan 5

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Loyola University Chicago
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L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

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

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University of Illinois at Chicago
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I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

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

Applications Due Feb 1

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DePaul University
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D
Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due Feb 1

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Northern Illinois University
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N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities 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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Illinois State University
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I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#6 Best Public Universities 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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