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Top Colleges and Universities in the Chicago Area
Written by
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is the Director of Content at Scholarships360. He has written over 300 articles on college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships, in addition to spearheading research projects for Scholarships360's Top Colleges resource. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.
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Chicago is a great city to attend college; in addition to a rich multicultural experience and affordable housing and cost of living, you’ve got Lake Michigan at your disposal. Here are the top colleges and universities in Chicago and the surrounding area.
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Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
Top College
Top College
Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 2,877 undergraduates at Illinois Tech and the school’s acceptance rate is 61%. The…Read More
Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More
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University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind
Top College, Top Affordability
Top College
Top College: Affordability
Located in Chicago, Illinois, the University of Chicago is known for its rigorous academics and distinctive Core Curriculum, emphasizing broad-based education in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
Located in Chicago, Illinois, the University of Chicago is known…Read More
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL • Public, City
Top Affordability, Top Accessibility
Top College: Affordability
Top College: Accessibility
Situated in the heart of Chicago, UIC is recognized for its diverse student body and strong programs in health sciences, engineering, and urban planning. The university's location provides students with…Read More
Situated in the heart of Chicago, UIC is recognized for…Read More
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Top Accessibility
Top College: Accessibility
Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Lake Forest, Illinois. There are currently 1,782 undergraduates at Lake Forest and the school’s acceptance rate is 59%. The…Read More
Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 11,576 undergraduates at Loyola and the school’s acceptance rate is 81%. The tuition at…Read More
Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Top Accessibility
Top College: Accessibility
Elmhurst University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Elmhurst, Illinois. There are currently 2,954 undergraduates at Elmhurst and the school’s acceptance rate is 76%. The tuition at Elmhurst…Read More
Elmhurst University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More
DePaul University
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
DePaul University, located in the heart of Chicago, Illinois, offers students opportunities to gain real-world experience through internships, research, and community engagement. Notable alumni include John C. Reilly, Gillian Flynn,…Read More
DePaul University, located in the heart of Chicago, Illinois, offers…Read More
North Park University
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
North Park University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 1,844 undergraduates at North Park and the school’s acceptance rate is 73%. The tuition…Read More
North Park University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More
VanderCook College of Music
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 70 undergraduates at VanderCook College of Music and the school’s acceptance rate is…Read More
VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
Saint Xavier University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 3,030 undergraduates at St. Xavier and the school’s acceptance rate is 86%. The tuition…Read More
Saint Xavier University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More
Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
Roosevelt University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 2,583 undergraduates at Roosevelt and the school’s acceptance rate is 94%. The tuition at Roosevelt…Read More
Roosevelt University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More
Chicago State University
Chicago, IL • Public, City
Chicago State University is a public 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 1,414 undergraduates at Chicago State and the school’s acceptance rate is 41%. The tuition at…Read More
Chicago State University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL • Public, City
Northeastern Illinois University is a public 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 3,869 undergraduates at NEIU and the school’s acceptance rate is 70%. The tuition at NEIU…Read More
Northeastern Illinois University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More
Rush University
Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
Rush University, located in Chicago, Illinois, is a private health sciences university known for its top-ranked programs in medicine, nursing, and allied health. The university is part of the Rush…Read More
Rush University, located in Chicago, Illinois, is a private health…Read More
About the Data
We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.
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