Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

38 Best Universities in Chicago

Exploring the academic landscape of Chicago, our index provides a definitive ranking of the top 38 higher education institutions. We analyzed 574.7K scientific publications and 23M citations to accurately measure the research output of these institutions. Factoring in the global influence of 117.8K notable graduates, this index isolates true institutional success beyond traditional prestige.

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1

University of Chicago

#15 in United States #16 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

2

University of Illinois at Chicago

#63 in United States #69 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

3

Loyola University Chicago

#137 in United States #158 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

4

Illinois Institute of Technology

#163 in United States #187 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

5

DePaul University

#193 in United States #218 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

6

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

#480 in United States #529 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1508 Avg SAT

1866 Founded

7

Roosevelt University

#505 in United States #556 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

8

Northeastern Illinois University

#553 in United States #608 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

9

Chicago State University

#637 in United States #696 in North America

43% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

10

Columbia College Chicago

#711 in United States #777 in North America

89% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1228 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

11

National Louis University

#788 in United States #856 in North America

95% Acceptance

14,263 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

12

DeVry University – Illinois

#817 in United States #885 in North America

98% Acceptance

6,045 Enrollment

865 Avg SAT

1931 Founded

13

John Marshall Law School

#917 in United States #989 in North America

52% Acceptance

420 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

14

Saint Xavier University

#946 in United States #1018 in North America

84% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

15

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

#975 in United States #1047 in North America

10% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

16

North Park University

#989 in United States #1061 in North America

69% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

17

Saint Augustine College

#1246 in United States #1324 in North America

100% Acceptance

810 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

18

Erikson Institute

#1282 in United States #1360 in North America

80% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

19

Moody Bible Institute

#1329 in United States #1407 in North America

83% Acceptance

367 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

20

Illinois College of Optometry

#1362 in United States #1442 in North America

70% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

21

Chicago Theological Seminary

#1366 in United States #1446 in North America

95% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

20 Avg ACT

22

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

#1398 in United States #1482 in North America

71% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

23

Spertus College

#1459 in United States #1544 in North America

72% Acceptance

80 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

24

Adler University

#1470 in United States #1556 in North America

92% Acceptance

121 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1952 Founded

25

Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

#1478 in United States #1564 in North America

82% Acceptance

215 Enrollment

1968 Founded

26

McCormick Theological Seminary

#1500 in United States #1586 in North America

78% Acceptance

397 Enrollment

27

Kendall College

#1549 in United States #1635 in North America

90% Acceptance

442 Enrollment

1040 Avg SAT

1934 Founded

28

Rush University

#1574 in United States #1660 in North America

33% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

29

Meadville Lombard Theological School

#1714 in United States #1802 in North America

83% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

20 Avg ACT

30

Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation, Inc.

#1717 in United States #1805 in North America

74% Acceptance

995 Avg SAT

31

Institute for Clinical Social Work

#1882 in United States #1973 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1010 Avg SAT

32

VanderCook College of Music

#1942 in United States #2035 in North America

89% Acceptance

107 Enrollment

1909 Founded

$21,306 Net Price

33

American Academy of Art

#2070 in United States #2165 in North America

78% Acceptance

$32,872 Net Price

34

East-West University

#2112 in United States #2209 in North America

100% Acceptance

468 Enrollment

1980 Founded

$21,872 Net Price

35

AMERICAN ISLAMIC COLLEGE

#2254 in United States #2355 in North America

100% Acceptance

18 Enrollment

$1,125 Net Price

36

Flashpoint Chicago A Campus of Columbia College Hollywood

#2301 in United States #2402 in North America

99% Acceptance

$30,745 Net Price

37

Resurrection University

#2341 in United States #2442 in North America

89% Acceptance

385 Enrollment

1914 Founded

38

Telshe Yeshiva – Chicago

#2406 in United States #2507 in North America

100% Acceptance

78 Enrollment

$11,548 Net Price