Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

26 Best Universities in Illinois for Media Studies

We ranked the top 26 universities for Media Studies in Illinois based on strict academic metrics. Based on 1.29M scholarly articles and 50.92M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Media Studies. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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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

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

#164 in United States #188 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

7

Chicago

DePaul University

#193 in United States #218 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

8

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

#163 in United States #187 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

9

Galesburg

#677 in United States #740 in North America

71% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

10

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

#329 in United States #366 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

11

Lake Forest

Lake Forest College

#666 in United States #727 in North America

57% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1292 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

12

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

#309 in United States #343 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

13

Rock Island

Augustana College

#665 in United States #726 in North America

63% Acceptance

2,522 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

14

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

#217 in United States #245 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

15

Chicago

Northeastern Illinois University

#553 in United States #608 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

16

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

#190 in United States #215 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

17

Chicago

Roosevelt University

#505 in United States #556 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

18

Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

#500 in United States #550 in North America

78% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1829 Founded

19

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

#496 in United States #545 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

20

Chicago

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

21

Monmouth, IL

Monmouth College

#1154 in United States #1229 in North America

91% Acceptance

713 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

22

Macomb

Western Illinois University

#397 in United States #443 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

23

Chicago

Columbia College Chicago

#711 in United States #777 in North America

89% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1228 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

24

Peoria, IL

Bradley University

#375 in United States #419 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

25

Naperville

North Central College

#702 in United States #767 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,054 Enrollment

1183 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

26

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

#353 in United States #394 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded