Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

57 Best Universities in Illinois for Paleontology

We ranked the top 57 universities for Paleontology in Illinois based on strict academic metrics. Based on 1.35M scholarly articles and 52.74M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Paleontology. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

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

2

Chicago

University of Chicago

#15 in United States #16 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 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

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

#163 in United States #187 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

7

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

#164 in United States #188 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

8

Chicago

DePaul University

#193 in United States #218 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

9

Elmhurst

Elmhurst College

#693 in United States #757 in North America

74% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1871 Founded

10

Chicago

Saint Augustine College

#1246 in United States #1324 in North America

100% Acceptance

810 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

11

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

12

Chicago

John Marshall Law School

#917 in United States #989 in North America

52% Acceptance

420 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

13

Galesburg

#677 in United States #740 in North America

71% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

14

Rockford

Rockford University

#1240 in United States #1318 in North America

93% Acceptance

983 Enrollment

960 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

15

North Chicago

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

#429 in United States #476 in North America

33% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

16

Lombard

National University of Health Sciences

#867 in United States #936 in North America

67% Acceptance

564 Enrollment

1906 Founded

17

Lake Forest

Lake Forest College

#666 in United States #727 in North America

57% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1292 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

18

Monmouth, IL

Monmouth College

#1154 in United States #1229 in North America

91% Acceptance

713 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

19

Macomb

Western Illinois University

#397 in United States #443 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

20

Lisle

Benedictine University

#850 in United States #919 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

21

Chicago

Rush University

#1574 in United States #1660 in North America

33% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

22

Rock Island

Augustana College

#665 in United States #726 in North America

63% Acceptance

2,522 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

23

Joliet

University of St Francis

#1126 in United States #1201 in North America

65% Acceptance

1,343 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1920 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

University Park, IL

Governors State University

#829 in United States #897 in North America

48% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

26

Chicago

McCormick Theological Seminary

#1500 in United States #1586 in North America

78% Acceptance

397 Enrollment

27

Evanston

NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

#661 in United States #722 in North America

73% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

28

Greenville, IL

Greenville University

#1025 in United States #1098 in North America

97% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

29

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

#353 in United States #394 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

30

Romeoville

Lewis University

#826 in United States #894 in North America

71% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

31

Chicago

Adler University

#1470 in United States #1556 in North America

92% Acceptance

121 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1952 Founded

32

Chicago

Chicago State University

#637 in United States #696 in North America

43% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

33

Aurora, IL

Aurora University

#1005 in United States #1078 in North America

81% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1893 Founded

34

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

#329 in United States #366 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

35

Chicago

DeVry University – Illinois

#817 in United States #885 in North America

98% Acceptance

6,045 Enrollment

865 Avg SAT

1931 Founded

36

Chicago

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

#1398 in United States #1482 in North America

71% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

37

Chicago

Northeastern Illinois University

#553 in United States #608 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

38

Chicago

North Park University

#989 in United States #1061 in North America

69% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

39

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

#309 in United States #343 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

40

River Forest

Dominican University

#793 in United States #861 in North America

90% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

41

Quincy, IL

Quincy University

#1377 in United States #1458 in North America

51% Acceptance

2,856 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

42

Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

#549 in United States #604 in North America

86% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

43

Chicago

Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

#975 in United States #1047 in North America

10% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

44

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

#217 in United States #245 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

45

Chicago

National Louis University

#788 in United States #856 in North America

95% Acceptance

14,263 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

46

Chicago

Illinois College of Optometry

#1362 in United States #1442 in North America

70% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

47

Chicago

Roosevelt University

#505 in United States #556 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

48

Chicago

Saint Xavier University

#946 in United States #1018 in North America

84% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

49

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

#190 in United States #215 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

50

Chicago

Columbia College Chicago

#711 in United States #777 in North America

89% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1228 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

51

Carlinville

Blackburn College

#1345 in United States #1425 in North America

63% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

52

Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

#500 in United States #550 in North America

78% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1829 Founded

53

Decatur, IL

Millikin University

#944 in United States #1016 in North America

67% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

54

Naperville

North Central College

#702 in United States #767 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,054 Enrollment

1183 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

55

Chicago

Erikson Institute

#1282 in United States #1360 in North America

80% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

56

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

#496 in United States #545 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

57

Rockford

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

#922 in United States #994 in North America

76% Acceptance

10,813 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

$30,212 Net Price