The Best Illinois Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in Illinois for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in Illinois as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2025 is Wheaton College. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
Illinois small Public Private 4 year

15 results

Wheaton College
Connect Me
W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,799enrollment
  • $31,346net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1440SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,576enrollment
  • $31,310net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

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

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,818enrollment
  • $29,894net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1365SAT range
  • 28-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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

Knox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,001enrollment
  • $25,524net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1385SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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

Augustana College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,484enrollment
  • $24,695net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.3Avg 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

#12 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,856enrollment
  • $24,190net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1065-1280SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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

Benedictine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

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

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

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

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

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

McKendree University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Private 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

#23 Best Private 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

#24 Best Private 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

#25 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

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

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rockford University
Connect Me
R
Rockford, IL
 

Rockford University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,249enrollment
  • $24,098net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 850-1070SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Greenville University
Connect Me
G
Greenville, IL

Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,053enrollment
  • $21,442net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 811-1219SAT range
  • 14-24ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Chicago State University
Connect Me
C
Chicago, IL

Chicago State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 2,324enrollment
  • $9,852net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 750-963SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances