The Best Chicago Colleges

Chicago, Illinois area Colleges

There are 33 ranked colleges within the Chicago city limits and 79 colleges within a 50 mile radius. Area colleges collectively enroll a total of 471,038 students. If you're looking for a large school, University of Illinois at Chicago enrolls the most students with 27,744 currently taking classes. In terms of affordability, Ivy Tech Community College Northwest offers the lowest tuition for colleges in the Chicago area at $3,234 per year.

The top rated college in the area is University of Chicago which is ranked #6 in the nation by CollegeSimply.

Also explore Chicago area public, private, four year, public four year, community and junior colleges.

The Chicago area is home to popular nationally ranked institutions like University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Wheaton College and Illinois Institute of Technology.


79 results

University of Chicago
C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,832enrollment
  • $36,584net price
  • 6%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

5 miles from Chicago

Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,409enrollment
  • $28,344net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

15 miles from Chicago

Wheaton College
W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,047enrollment
  • $27,474net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

21 miles from Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology
I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 6,486enrollment
  • $28,161net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

3 miles from Chicago

Loyola University Chicago
L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 17,498enrollment
  • $37,731net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

11 miles from Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago
I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 34,199enrollment
  • $12,614net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1310SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

3 miles from Chicago

Lake Forest College
L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,690enrollment
  • $26,968net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1345SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

30 miles from Chicago

Elmhurst College
E
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,518enrollment
  • $21,776net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1013-1220SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

14 miles from Chicago

Dominican University
D
River Forest, IL

Dominican University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,066enrollment
  • $18,685net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 910-1160SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

9 miles from Chicago

Valparaiso University
V
Valparaiso, IN

Valparaiso University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Indiana

  • 2,924enrollment
  • $22,500net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1280SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

42 miles from Chicago

Lewis University
L
Romeoville, IL
 

Lewis University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 6,183enrollment
  • $20,022net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

26 miles from Chicago

North Central College
N
Naperville, IL

North Central College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,728enrollment
  • $26,053net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

24 miles from Chicago

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
S
Chicago, IL

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,559enrollment
  • $51,606net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1048-1260SAT range
  • 22-25ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 15

4 miles from Chicago

Roosevelt University
R
Chicago, IL

Roosevelt University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 4,127enrollment
  • $22,856net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 860-1120SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.13Avg GPA

4 miles from Chicago

Benedictine University
B
Lisle, IL

Benedictine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,378enrollment
  • $27,061net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

22 miles from Chicago

University of St Francis
S
Joliet, IL

University of St Francis

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,426enrollment
  • $16,761net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 920-1170SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

30 miles from Chicago

Judson University
J
Elgin, IL

Judson University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,173enrollment
  • $16,039net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • 17-27ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

35 miles from Chicago

North Park University
N
Chicago, IL

North Park University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,749enrollment
  • $19,320net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 890-1162SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

10 miles from Chicago