Best Illinois Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in Illinois for 2023

There are 135 colleges and universities in Illinois enrolling 878,706 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.


135 results

List of the Best Illinois Colleges

University of Chicago
C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due Jan 1

Northwestern University
N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due Jan 1

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 56,607enrollment
  • $13,517net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Wheaton College
W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due Jan 10

Illinois Wesleyan University
I
Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,653enrollment
  • $32,545net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1310SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.86Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Illinois Institute of Technology
I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due May 15

Loyola University Chicago
L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

University of Illinois at Chicago
I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due Jan 15

Bradley University
B
Peoria, IL

Bradley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#9 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,588enrollment
  • $25,850net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1280SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Lake Forest College
L
Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due Aug 1

Elmhurst College
E
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due May 1

Knox College
K
Galesburg, IL

Knox College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,156enrollment
  • $23,266net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1380SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Dominican University
D
River Forest, IL

Dominican University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due Jun 1

University of Illinois at Springfield
I
Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 3,944enrollment
  • $11,628net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 990-1250SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Lewis University
L
Romeoville, IL
 

Lewis University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

North Central College
N
Naperville, IL

North Central College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Colleges in Illinois

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

Applications Due Apr 15

Millikin University
M
Decatur, IL

Millikin University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 1,906enrollment
  • $19,948net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 960-1190SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Colleges in Illinois

  • 11,266enrollment
  • $15,638net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA