Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

15 Best Universities in Illinois for Music

Focusing specifically on Music, our data science engine identified the 15 most influential universities in Illinois. Our methodology evaluated 1.18M subject-specific papers and 49.07M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Evanston

Northwestern University

For Music

#9 in United States #12 in North America

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

2

Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Music

#13 in United States #16 in North America

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

3

Chicago

University of Chicago

For Music

#31 in United States #35 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

4

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

For Music

#63 in United States #71 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

5

Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Music

#87 in United States #99 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

6

Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

For Music

#163 in United States #186 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

7

Chicago

DePaul University

For Music

#173 in United States #197 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

8

Macomb

Western Illinois University

For Music

#265 in United States #294 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

9

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

For Music

#286 in United States #315 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

10

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

For Music

#254 in United States #283 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

11

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

For Music

#118 in United States #137 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

12

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

For Music

#160 in United States #183 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

13

Lake Forest

Lake Forest College

For Music

#241 in United States #270 in North America

57% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1292 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

14

Chicago

Roosevelt University

For Music

#282 in United States #311 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

15

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

For Music

#143 in United States #165 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded