Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

46 Best Universities in Illinois for Education

We ranked the top 46 universities for Education in Illinois based on strict academic metrics. Based on 1.34M scholarly articles and 52.43M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Education. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Ranking Methodology Notice

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1

Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Education

#7 in United States #8 in North America

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

2

Evanston

Northwestern University

For Education

#38 in United States #43 in North America

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

3

Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Education

#39 in United States #44 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

4

Chicago

University of Chicago

For Education

#40 in United States #45 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

5

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

For Education

#97 in United States #109 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

6

Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

For Education

#116 in United States #128 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

7

Chicago

DePaul University

For Education

#141 in United States #160 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

8

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

For Education

#238 in United States #266 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

9

Galesburg

For Education

#820 in United States #886 in North America

71% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1837 Founded

10

North Chicago

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

For Education

#648 in United States #704 in North America

33% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

11

Chicago

John Marshall Law School

For Education

#1084 in United States #1158 in North America

52% Acceptance

420 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

12

Lake Forest

Lake Forest College

For Education

#801 in United States #865 in North America

57% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1292 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

13

Macomb

Western Illinois University

For Education

#261 in United States #292 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

14

Lisle

Benedictine University

For Education

#981 in United States #1052 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

15

Rock Island

Augustana College

For Education

#753 in United States #816 in North America

63% Acceptance

2,522 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

16

Chicago

Rush University

For Education

#528 in United States #579 in North America

33% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

17

Peoria, IL

Bradley University

For Education

#366 in United States #406 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

18

University Park, IL

Governors State University

For Education

#612 in United States #665 in North America

48% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

19

Evanston

NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

For Education

#803 in United States #867 in North America

73% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

20

Evanston

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

For Education

#1055 in United States #1127 in North America

50% Acceptance

210 Enrollment

21

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

For Education

#294 in United States #328 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

22

Romeoville

Lewis University

For Education

#727 in United States #787 in North America

71% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

23

Chicago

Chicago State University

For Education

#653 in United States #709 in North America

43% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

24

Chicago

Erikson Institute

For Education

#619 in United States #672 in North America

80% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

25

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

For Education

#245 in United States #276 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

26

Chicago

DeVry University – Illinois

For Education

#944 in United States #1013 in North America

98% Acceptance

6,045 Enrollment

865 Avg SAT

1931 Founded

27

Chicago

Northeastern Illinois University

For Education

#356 in United States #393 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

28

River Forest

Concordia University – Chicago

For Education

#945 in United States #1014 in North America

93% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

29

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

For Education

#522 in United States #572 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

30

River Forest

Dominican University

For Education

#757 in United States #820 in North America

90% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

31

Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

For Education

#548 in United States #599 in North America

86% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

32

Joliet

University of St Francis

For Education

#921 in United States #989 in North America

65% Acceptance

1,343 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

33

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

For Education

#122 in United States #135 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

34

Chicago

National Louis University

For Education

#362 in United States #400 in North America

95% Acceptance

14,263 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

35

Chicago

Roosevelt University

For Education

#488 in United States #537 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

36

Aurora, IL

Aurora University

For Education

#943 in United States #1012 in North America

81% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1893 Founded

37

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

For Education

#143 in United States #162 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

38

Chicago

Columbia College Chicago

For Education

#795 in United States #859 in North America

89% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1228 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

39

Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

For Education

#359 in United States #396 in North America

78% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1829 Founded

40

Bourbonnais

Olivet Nazarene University

For Education

#955 in United States #1024 in North America

56% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

41

Naperville

North Central College

For Education

#654 in United States #710 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,054 Enrollment

1183 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

42

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

For Education

#513 in United States #563 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

43

Chicago

Saint Xavier University

For Education

#784 in United States #848 in North America

84% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

44

Elmhurst

Elmhurst College

For Education

#634 in United States #689 in North America

74% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1871 Founded

45

Chicago

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

For Education

#756 in United States #819 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1508 Avg SAT

1866 Founded

46

Decatur, IL

Millikin University

For Education

#906 in United States #974 in North America

67% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

995 Avg SAT

1901 Founded