Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

59 Best Universities in Illinois

Our data-driven ranking evaluates 59 elite institutions across Illinois to determine true academic prominence. We analyzed 1.29M scientific publications and 51.24M citations to accurately measure the research output of these institutions. The ranking also highlights the real-world influence of these universities, represented by 232.4K notable alumni globally.

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1

Chicago

University of Chicago

#15 in United States #16 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

2

Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

#19 in United States #20 in North America

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

3

Evanston

Northwestern University

#25 in United States #27 in North America

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

4

Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

#63 in United States #69 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

5

Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

#137 in United States #158 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

6

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

#163 in United States #187 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

7

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

#164 in United States #188 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

8

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

#190 in United States #215 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

9

Chicago

DePaul University

#193 in United States #218 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

10

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

#217 in United States #245 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

11

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

#309 in United States #343 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

12

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

#329 in United States #366 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

13

Peoria, IL

Bradley University

#375 in United States #419 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Macomb

Western Illinois University

#397 in United States #443 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

15

North Chicago

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

#429 in United States #476 in North America

33% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

16

Chicago

Roosevelt University

#505 in United States #556 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

17

Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

#549 in United States #604 in North America

86% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

18

Chicago

Chicago State University

#637 in United States #696 in North America

43% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

19

Elmhurst

Elmhurst College

#693 in United States #757 in North America

74% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1871 Founded

20

Naperville

North Central College

#702 in United States #767 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,054 Enrollment

1183 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

21

Chicago

National Louis University

#788 in United States #856 in North America

95% Acceptance

14,263 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

22

River Forest

Dominican University

#793 in United States #861 in North America

90% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

23

Romeoville

Lewis University

#826 in United States #894 in North America

71% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

24

University Park, IL

Governors State University

#829 in United States #897 in North America

48% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

25

Lisle

Benedictine University

#850 in United States #919 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

26

Lombard

National University of Health Sciences

#867 in United States #936 in North America

67% Acceptance

564 Enrollment

1906 Founded

27

Chicago

John Marshall Law School

#917 in United States #989 in North America

52% Acceptance

420 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

28

Rockford

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

#922 in United States #994 in North America

76% Acceptance

10,813 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

$30,212 Net Price

29

Decatur, IL

Millikin University

#944 in United States #1016 in North America

67% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

30

Chicago

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

#975 in United States #1047 in North America

10% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

31

Chicago

North Park University

#989 in United States #1061 in North America

69% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

32

Bourbonnais

Olivet Nazarene University

#1004 in United States #1077 in North America

56% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

33

Aurora, IL

Aurora University

#1005 in United States #1078 in North America

81% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1893 Founded

34

Deerfield

Trinity International University – Illinois

#1113 in United States #1188 in North America

100% Acceptance

161 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

35

Joliet

University of St Francis

#1126 in United States #1201 in North America

65% Acceptance

1,343 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

36

Lebanon, IL

McKendree University

#1139 in United States #1214 in North America

72% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1828 Founded

37

River Forest

Concordia University – Chicago

#1227 in United States #1305 in North America

93% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

38

Chicago

Moody Bible Institute

#1329 in United States #1407 in North America

83% Acceptance

367 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

39

Chicago

Illinois College of Optometry

#1362 in United States #1442 in North America

70% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

40

Chicago

Chicago Theological Seminary

#1366 in United States #1446 in North America

95% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

20 Avg ACT

41

Schaumburg

American InterContinental University

#1387 in United States #1469 in North America

100% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

865 Avg SAT

$14,726 Net Price

42

Chicago

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

#1398 in United States #1482 in North America

71% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

43

Chicago

Spertus College

#1459 in United States #1544 in North America

72% Acceptance

80 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

44

Chicago

Adler University

#1470 in United States #1556 in North America

92% Acceptance

121 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1952 Founded

45

Chicago

Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

#1478 in United States #1564 in North America

82% Acceptance

215 Enrollment

1968 Founded

46

Elgin

Judson University

#1497 in United States #1583 in North America

48% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

967 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

47

Chicago

McCormick Theological Seminary

#1500 in United States #1586 in North America

78% Acceptance

397 Enrollment

48

Evanston

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

#1514 in United States #1600 in North America

50% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

49

Mundelein

University of Saint Mary of the Lake

#1533 in United States #1619 in North America

74% Acceptance

161 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

50

Lisle

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

#1571 in United States #1657 in North America

100% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

51

Chicago

Rush University

#1574 in United States #1660 in North America

33% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

52

Chicago

Meadville Lombard Theological School

#1714 in United States #1802 in North America

83% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

20 Avg ACT

53

Chicago

Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation, Inc.

#1717 in United States #1805 in North America

74% Acceptance

995 Avg SAT

54

Lincoln, IL

Lincoln Christian University

#1816 in United States #1905 in North America

74% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

20 Avg ACT

1944 Founded

55

Chicago

Institute for Clinical Social Work

#1882 in United States #1973 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1010 Avg SAT

56

Addison, IL

Chamberlain University – Illinois

#1966 in United States #2059 in North America

83% Acceptance

14,041 Enrollment

1889 Founded

$31,599 Net Price

57

Springfield, IL

St. John’s College – Department of Nursing

#2043 in United States #2136 in North America

82% Acceptance

126 Enrollment

58

Chicago

Resurrection University

#2341 in United States #2442 in North America

89% Acceptance

385 Enrollment

1914 Founded

59

Peoria, IL

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

#2342 in United States #2443 in North America

70% Acceptance

273 Enrollment

1905 Founded