Best Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Universities in Illinois [2026 Rankings]

1

Chicago

University of Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in United States #18 in North America

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

3

Evanston

Northwestern University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#34 in United States #38 in North America

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

4

Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#47 in United States #57 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

5

Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#123 in United States #145 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

6

Chicago

DePaul University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#135 in United States #157 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

7

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#161 in United States #186 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

8

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#172 in United States #199 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

9

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#182 in United States #210 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

10

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#198 in United States #227 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

11

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#293 in United States #330 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

12

Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#302 in United States #341 in North America

78% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1829 Founded

13

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#345 in United States #387 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

14

Chicago

Rush University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#371 in United States #417 in North America

33% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

15

Macomb

Western Illinois University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#385 in United States #433 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

16

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#406 in United States #454 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

17

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#416 in United States #464 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

18

Peoria, IL

Bradley University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#418 in United States #467 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

19

Evanston

NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#442 in United States #493 in North America

73% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

20

Chicago

Northeastern Illinois University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#485 in United States #537 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

21

North Chicago

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#521 in United States #576 in North America

33% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

22

Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#543 in United States #598 in North America

86% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

23

Chicago

Roosevelt University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#577 in United States #633 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

24

Chicago

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#597 in United States #654 in North America

10% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

25

Galesburg

Knox College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#639 in United States #701 in North America

71% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

26

Rock Island

Augustana College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#642 in United States #704 in North America

63% Acceptance

2,522 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

27

Naperville

North Central College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#653 in United States #718 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,054 Enrollment

1183 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

28

Lake Forest

Lake Forest College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#677 in United States #743 in North America

57% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1292 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

29

Chicago

John Marshall Law School

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#703 in United States #769 in North America

52% Acceptance

420 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

30

University Park, IL

Governors State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#733 in United States #800 in North America

48% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

31

Chicago

Chicago State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#748 in United States #816 in North America

43% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

32

Chicago

National Louis University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#828 in United States #898 in North America

95% Acceptance

14,263 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

33

Chicago

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#835 in United States #905 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1508 Avg SAT

1866 Founded

34

Chicago

Saint Xavier University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#836 in United States #906 in North America

84% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

35

Greenville, IL

Greenville University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#850 in United States #920 in North America

97% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

36

Elmhurst

Elmhurst College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#894 in United States #966 in North America

74% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1871 Founded

37

Chicago

Erikson Institute

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#924 in United States #996 in North America

80% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

38

River Forest

Dominican University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#928 in United States #1000 in North America

90% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

39

Romeoville

Lewis University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#971 in United States #1043 in North America

71% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

40

Chicago

Columbia College Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#994 in United States #1070 in North America

89% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1228 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

41

Decatur, IL

Millikin University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1008 in United States #1084 in North America

67% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

42

Monmouth, IL

Monmouth College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1027 in United States #1103 in North America

91% Acceptance

713 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

43

Lisle

Benedictine University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1050 in United States #1127 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

44

Carlinville

Blackburn College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1058 in United States #1135 in North America

63% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

45

Evanston

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1060 in United States #1137 in North America

50% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

46

Chicago

North Park University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1078 in United States #1155 in North America

69% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

47

Rockford

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1103 in United States #1181 in North America

76% Acceptance

10,813 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

$30,212 Net Price

48

Chicago

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1104 in United States #1182 in North America

71% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

49

Joliet

University of St Francis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1105 in United States #1183 in North America

65% Acceptance

1,343 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

50

Aurora, IL

Aurora University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1132 in United States #1210 in North America

81% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1893 Founded

51

Chicago

DeVry University – Illinois

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1146 in United States #1224 in North America

98% Acceptance

6,045 Enrollment

865 Avg SAT

1931 Founded

52

Chicago

Saint Augustine College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1154 in United States #1232 in North America

100% Acceptance

810 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

53

Chicago

Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1158 in United States #1236 in North America

82% Acceptance

215 Enrollment

1968 Founded

54

Chicago

Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation, Inc.

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1166 in United States #1244 in North America

74% Acceptance

995 Avg SAT

55

Rockford

Rockford University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1191 in United States #1269 in North America

93% Acceptance

983 Enrollment

960 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

56

Lombard

National University of Health Sciences

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1221 in United States #1300 in North America

67% Acceptance

564 Enrollment

1906 Founded

57

Chicago

Adler University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1229 in United States #1309 in North America

92% Acceptance

121 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1952 Founded

58

Bourbonnais

Olivet Nazarene University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1267 in United States #1347 in North America

56% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

59

River Forest

Concordia University – Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1270 in United States #1350 in North America

93% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

60

Deerfield

Trinity International University – Illinois

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1285 in United States #1365 in North America

100% Acceptance

161 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

61

Palos Heights

Trinity Christian College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1319 in United States #1400 in North America

85% Acceptance

161 Enrollment

1185 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

62

Chicago

McCormick Theological Seminary

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1325 in United States #1406 in North America

78% Acceptance

397 Enrollment

63

Lebanon, IL

McKendree University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1334 in United States #1415 in North America

72% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1828 Founded

64

Eureka, IL

Eureka College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1359 in United States #1441 in North America

85% Acceptance

527 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

65

Mundelein

University of Saint Mary of the Lake

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1383 in United States #1465 in North America

74% Acceptance

161 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

66

Chicago

Spertus College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1397 in United States #1480 in North America

72% Acceptance

80 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

67

Lisle

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1401 in United States #1484 in North America

100% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

68

Chicago

Chicago Theological Seminary

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1449 in United States #1535 in North America

95% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

20 Avg ACT

69

Chicago

Illinois College of Optometry

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1452 in United States #1538 in North America

70% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

70

Elsah

Principia College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1458 in United States #1544 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,272 Enrollment

1505 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

71

Chicago

Kendall College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1459 in United States #1545 in North America

90% Acceptance

442 Enrollment

1040 Avg SAT

1934 Founded

72

Chicago

Institute for Clinical Social Work

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1506 in United States #1594 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1010 Avg SAT

73

Chicago

Moody Bible Institute

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1554 in United States #1643 in North America

83% Acceptance

367 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

74

Quincy, IL

Quincy University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1565 in United States #1655 in North America

51% Acceptance

2,856 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

75

Elgin

Judson University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1593 in United States #1683 in North America

48% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

967 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

76

Schaumburg

American InterContinental University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1612 in United States #1702 in North America

100% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

865 Avg SAT

$14,726 Net Price

76 Best Universities in Illinois for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

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