Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

73 Best Universities in Illinois for History

Focusing specifically on History, our data science engine identified the 73 most influential universities in Illinois. Based on 1.36M scholarly articles and 52.78M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in History. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

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1

Chicago

University of Chicago

For History

#12 in United States #13 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

2

Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For History

#13 in United States #14 in North America

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

3

Evanston

Northwestern University

For History

#38 in United States #42 in North America

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

4

Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

For History

#53 in United States #61 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

5

Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

For History

#137 in United States #160 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

6

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

For History

#167 in United States #193 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

7

Chicago

DePaul University

For History

#179 in United States #206 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

8

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

For History

#246 in United States #278 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

9

Monmouth, IL

Monmouth College

For History

#895 in United States #967 in North America

91% Acceptance

713 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

10

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

For History

#352 in United States #397 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

11

Lisle

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

For History

#1461 in United States #1549 in North America

100% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

12

Rockford

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

For History

#962 in United States #1035 in North America

76% Acceptance

10,813 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

$30,212 Net Price

13

Elsah

Principia College

For History

#1308 in United States #1390 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,272 Enrollment

1505 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

14

Elmhurst

Elmhurst College

For History

#993 in United States #1066 in North America

74% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1871 Founded

15

Lebanon, IL

McKendree University

For History

#1215 in United States #1291 in North America

72% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1828 Founded

16

Chicago

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

For History

#752 in United States #819 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1508 Avg SAT

1866 Founded

17

Chicago

Kendall College

For History

#1410 in United States #1496 in North America

90% Acceptance

442 Enrollment

1040 Avg SAT

1934 Founded

18

Chicago

John Marshall Law School

For History

#934 in United States #1007 in North America

52% Acceptance

420 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

19

Chicago

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

For History

#1005 in United States #1078 in North America

71% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

20

Galesburg

For History

#613 in United States #671 in North America

71% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

21

Joliet

University of St Francis

For History

#1115 in United States #1190 in North America

65% Acceptance

1,343 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

22

North Chicago

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

For History

#645 in United States #707 in North America

33% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

23

Mundelein

University of Saint Mary of the Lake

For History

#1287 in United States #1369 in North America

74% Acceptance

161 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

24

Lombard

National University of Health Sciences

For History

#1122 in United States #1197 in North America

67% Acceptance

564 Enrollment

1906 Founded

25

Quincy, IL

Quincy University

For History

#1452 in United States #1540 in North America

51% Acceptance

2,856 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

26

Lake Forest

Lake Forest College

For History

#588 in United States #644 in North America

57% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1292 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

27

Deerfield

Trinity International University – Illinois

For History

#1269 in United States #1349 in North America

100% Acceptance

161 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

28

Macomb

Western Illinois University

For History

#423 in United States #470 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

29

Evanston

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

For History

#1160 in United States #1236 in North America

50% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

30

Lisle

Benedictine University

For History

#1091 in United States #1166 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

31

Chicago

Chicago Theological Seminary

For History

#1334 in United States #1416 in North America

95% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

20 Avg ACT

32

Rock Island

Augustana College

For History

#591 in United States #648 in North America

63% Acceptance

2,522 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

33

Greenville, IL

Greenville University

For History

#889 in United States #961 in North America

97% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

34

Peoria, IL

Bradley University

For History

#451 in United States #500 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

35

Chicago

McCormick Theological Seminary

For History

#1251 in United States #1330 in North America

78% Acceptance

397 Enrollment

36

University Park, IL

Governors State University

For History

#784 in United States #853 in North America

48% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

37

Carlinville

Blackburn College

For History

#1061 in United States #1135 in North America

63% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

38

Evanston

NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

For History

#576 in United States #631 in North America

73% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

39

Aurora, IL

Aurora University

For History

#1073 in United States #1148 in North America

81% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1893 Founded

40

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

For History

#282 in United States #319 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

41

Elgin

Judson University

For History

#1497 in United States #1585 in North America

48% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

967 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

42

Romeoville

Lewis University

For History

#971 in United States #1044 in North America

71% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

43

Chicago

Moody Bible Institute

For History

#1425 in United States #1511 in North America

83% Acceptance

367 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

44

Chicago

Chicago State University

For History

#780 in United States #849 in North America

43% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

45

Bourbonnais

Olivet Nazarene University

For History

#1293 in United States #1375 in North America

56% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

46

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

For History

#323 in United States #363 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

47

Chicago

Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

For History

#1058 in United States #1132 in North America

82% Acceptance

215 Enrollment

1968 Founded

48

Chicago

DeVry University – Illinois

For History

#1281 in United States #1363 in North America

98% Acceptance

6,045 Enrollment

865 Avg SAT

1931 Founded

49

Chicago

Erikson Institute

For History

#903 in United States #976 in North America

80% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

50

Chicago

Northeastern Illinois University

For History

#514 in United States #567 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

51

Chicago

North Park University

For History

#1126 in United States #1201 in North America

69% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

52

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

For History

#340 in United States #382 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

53

Palos Heights

Trinity Christian College

For History

#1322 in United States #1404 in North America

85% Acceptance

161 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

54

River Forest

Dominican University

For History

#880 in United States #952 in North America

90% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

55

Chicago

Saint Augustine College

For History

#986 in United States #1059 in North America

100% Acceptance

810 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

56

Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

For History

#608 in United States #666 in North America

86% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

57

Chicago

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

For History

#870 in United States #941 in North America

10% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

58

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

For History

#194 in United States #223 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

59

Chicago

Adler University

For History

#1362 in United States #1447 in North America

92% Acceptance

121 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1952 Founded

60

Chicago

National Louis University

For History

#1098 in United States #1173 in North America

95% Acceptance

14,263 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

61

Rockford

Rockford University

For History

#1203 in United States #1279 in North America

93% Acceptance

983 Enrollment

960 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

62

Chicago

Roosevelt University

For History

#503 in United States #555 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

63

Chicago

Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation, Inc.

For History

#1017 in United States #1090 in North America

74% Acceptance

995 Avg SAT

64

Chicago

Saint Xavier University

For History

#836 in United States #906 in North America

84% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

65

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

For History

#151 in United States #175 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

66

Eureka, IL

For History

#1283 in United States #1365 in North America

85% Acceptance

527 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

67

Chicago

Columbia College Chicago

For History

#910 in United States #983 in North America

89% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1228 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

68

River Forest

Concordia University – Chicago

For History

#1428 in United States #1514 in North America

93% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

69

Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

For History

#360 in United States #405 in North America

78% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1829 Founded

70

Chicago

Rush University

For History

#497 in United States #549 in North America

33% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

71

Decatur, IL

Millikin University

For History

#1092 in United States #1167 in North America

67% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

72

Chicago

Spertus College

For History

#1291 in United States #1373 in North America

72% Acceptance

80 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

73

Naperville

North Central College

For History

#479 in United States #531 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,054 Enrollment

1183 Avg SAT

1861 Founded