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Top Colleges in Illinois
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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Students from across the country come to study in Illinois every year. With world-class institutions like the University of Chicago and Northwestern University and a strong public school system, it’s not hard to see why. Check out the list below to find some great college options in the Land of Lincoln.
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Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind
Top College, Top Affordability
Top College
Top College: Affordability
Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois, is a private research university known for its strong programs in journalism, performing arts, and engineering. The university is also noted for its extensive…Read More
Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois, is a private research…Read More
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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
Illinois State University
Normal, IL • Public, Suburb
Top Accessibility
Top College: Accessibility
Illinois State University is a public 4-year college located in Normal, Illinois. There are currently 18,019 undergraduates at Illinois State and the school’s acceptance rate is 80%. The tuition at…Read More
Illinois State University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL • Public, Suburb
Northern Illinois University is a public 4-year college located in Dekalb, Illinois. There are currently 11,408 undergraduates at NIU and the school’s acceptance rate is 71%. The tuition at NIU…Read More
Northern Illinois University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More
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 Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Public, City
Top College, Top Affordability
Top College
Top College: Affordability
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university known for its outstanding engineering, business, and agriculture programs. UIUC is a major hub for research and innovation, with…Read More
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research…Read More
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Wheaton College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Wheaton, Illinois. There are currently 2,087 undergraduates at Wheaton and the school’s acceptance rate is 90%. The tuition at Wheaton…Read More
Wheaton College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Bloomington, Illinois. There are currently 1,570 undergraduates at IWU and the school’s acceptance rate is 45%. The tuition at…Read More
Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
Augustana College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Rock Island, Illinois. There are currently 2,418 undergraduates at Augustana and the school’s acceptance rate is 68%. The tuition at…Read More
Augustana College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More
Bradley University
Peoria, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City
Bradley University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Peoria, Illinois. There are currently 3,865 undergraduates at Bradley and the school’s acceptance rate is 77%. The tuition at Bradley…Read More
Bradley University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…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
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Top Accessibility
Top College: Accessibility
Trinity Christian College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Palos Heights, Illinois. There are currently 796 undergraduates at Trinity Christian and the school’s acceptance rate is 89%. The…Read More
Trinity Christian College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More
University of St Francis
Joliet, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Top Affordability, Top Accessibility
Top College: Affordability
Top College: Accessibility
University of St Francis is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Joliet, Illinois. There are currently 1,292 undergraduates at St. Francis and the school’s acceptance rate is 64%. The…Read More
University of St Francis is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More
Knox College
Galesburg, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Town
Knox College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Galesburg, Illinois. There are currently 997 undergraduates at Knox and the school’s acceptance rate is 71%. The tuition at Knox…Read More
Knox College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…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
Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Town
Top Accessibility
Top College: Accessibility
Illinois College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Jacksonville, Illinois. There are currently 925 undergraduates at Illinois and the school’s acceptance rate is 75%. The tuition at Illinois…Read More
Illinois College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb
Top Accessibility
Top College: Accessibility
Lewis University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Romeoville, Illinois. There are currently 3,665 undergraduates at Lewis and the school’s acceptance rate is 73%. The tuition at Lewis…Read More
Lewis 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
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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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