Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

40 Best Universities in Illinois for Optics

Focusing specifically on Optics, our data science engine identified the 40 most influential universities in Illinois. Our methodology evaluated 1.33M subject-specific papers and 52.16M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Optics

#8 in United States #8 in North America

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

2

Evanston

Northwestern University

For Optics

#17 in United States #18 in North America

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

3

Chicago

University of Chicago

For Optics

#34 in United States #36 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

4

Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Optics

#62 in United States #69 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

5

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

For Optics

#155 in United States #179 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

6

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

For Optics

#202 in United States #230 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

7

Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

For Optics

#229 in United States #259 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

8

Chicago

DePaul University

For Optics

#339 in United States #384 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

9

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

For Optics

#211 in United States #239 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

10

University Park, IL

Governors State University

For Optics

#817 in United States #880 in North America

48% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

11

Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

For Optics

#267 in United States #302 in North America

78% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1829 Founded

12

Chicago

Rush University

For Optics

#304 in United States #343 in North America

33% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

13

Romeoville

Lewis University

For Optics

#938 in United States #1004 in North America

71% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

14

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

For Optics

#470 in United States #523 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

15

Chicago

Illinois College of Optometry

For Optics

#404 in United States #452 in North America

70% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

16

Naperville

North Central College

For Optics

#682 in United States #740 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,054 Enrollment

1183 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

17

Chicago

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

For Optics

#457 in United States #510 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1508 Avg SAT

1866 Founded

18

Carlinville

Blackburn College

For Optics

#732 in United States #794 in North America

63% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

19

Elmhurst

Elmhurst College

For Optics

#963 in United States #1030 in North America

74% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1871 Founded

20

North Chicago

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

For Optics

#388 in United States #435 in North America

33% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

21

Chicago

Saint Augustine College

For Optics

#996 in United States #1063 in North America

100% Acceptance

810 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

22

Galesburg

For Optics

#743 in United States #805 in North America

71% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

23

Macomb

Western Illinois University

For Optics

#521 in United States #575 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

24

Rockford

Rockford University

For Optics

#967 in United States #1034 in North America

93% Acceptance

983 Enrollment

960 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

25

Lake Forest

Lake Forest College

For Optics

#620 in United States #676 in North America

57% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1292 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

26

Peoria, IL

Bradley University

For Optics

#468 in United States #521 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

27

Monmouth, IL

Monmouth College

For Optics

#949 in United States #1016 in North America

91% Acceptance

713 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

28

Rock Island

Augustana College

For Optics

#858 in United States #923 in North America

63% Acceptance

2,522 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

29

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

For Optics

#449 in United States #502 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

30

Chicago

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

For Optics

#362 in United States #407 in North America

10% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

31

Chicago

Chicago State University

For Optics

#683 in United States #741 in North America

43% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

32

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

For Optics

#336 in United States #380 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

33

Chicago

Saint Xavier University

For Optics

#433 in United States #483 in North America

84% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

34

Chicago

Northeastern Illinois University

For Optics

#773 in United States #836 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

35

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

For Optics

#658 in United States #715 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

36

Rockford

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

For Optics

#506 in United States #560 in North America

76% Acceptance

10,813 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

$30,212 Net Price

37

Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

For Optics

#559 in United States #613 in North America

86% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

38

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

For Optics

#270 in United States #305 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

39

Lisle

Benedictine University

For Optics

#990 in United States #1057 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

40

Chicago

Roosevelt University

For Optics

#735 in United States #797 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded