Get matched with vetted scholarships and enter our
Please select whichever best describes you for the upcoming 2024 - 2025 academic year.
I’m a high school student I’m a college or graduate student
100% Free. No Spam.
    Start typing in the text field above
    Advertiser disclosure

    Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

    Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

    Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here.

    Top Colleges in Illinois

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

    Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

    Full Bio

    Learn about our editorial policies

    Updated: June 10th, 2024

    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.

    Read More
    Get Started

    Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.

    36 colleges
    Sort by
    C

    University of Chicago

    Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability 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

    5% acceptance
    96% graduation rate
    7,511 undergrads
    $20,531 net price
    Get Started

    Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.

    N

    Northwestern University

    Evanston, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City, Need-Blind

    Top College Top College
    Top College Top College

    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

    7% acceptance
    97% graduation rate
    8,837 undergrads
    $25,057 net price
    I

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Champaign, IL • Public, City

    Top College Top College, Top Affordability
    Top College Top College
    Top College: Affordability 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

    45% acceptance
    85% graduation rate
    34,031 undergrads
    $16,109 net price
    W

    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 2,141 undergraduates at Wheaton and the school’s acceptance rate is 88%. The tuition at Wheaton…

    Wheaton College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    88% acceptance
    88% graduation rate
    2,141 undergrads
    $26,877 net price

    Illinois Institute of Technology

    Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City

    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…

    Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

    61% acceptance
    75% graduation rate
    2,877 undergrads
    $23,738 net price
    I

    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 1,518 undergraduates at IWU and the school’s acceptance rate is 42%. The tuition at…

    Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    42% acceptance
    79% graduation rate
    1,518 undergrads
    $26,015 net price
    A

    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 2,274 undergraduates at Augustana and the school’s acceptance rate is 61%. The tuition at…

    Augustana College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    61% acceptance
    78% graduation rate
    2,274 undergrads
    $11,780 net price
    B

    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 4,133 undergraduates at Bradley and the school’s acceptance rate is 75%. The tuition at Bradley…

    Bradley University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    75% acceptance
    76% graduation rate
    4,133 undergrads
    $23,005 net price
    I

    University of Illinois Chicago

    Chicago, IL • Public, City

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    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

    79% acceptance
    62% graduation rate
    21,567 undergrads
    $11,139 net price
    L

    Lake Forest College

    Lake Forest, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Lake Forest, Illinois. There are currently 1,724 undergraduates at Lake Forest and the school’s acceptance rate is 60%. The…

    Lake Forest College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    60% acceptance
    78% graduation rate
    1,724 undergrads
    $27,904 net price
    T

    Trinity Christian College

    Palos Heights, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    Trinity Christian College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Palos Heights, Illinois. There are currently 783 undergraduates at Trinity Christian and the school’s acceptance rate is 71%. The…

    Trinity Christian College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    71% acceptance
    69% graduation rate
    783 undergrads
    $20,384 net price
    S

    University of St Francis

    Joliet, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Top College Top Affordability
    Top College: Affordability Top College: Affordability

    University of St Francis is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Joliet, Illinois. There are currently 1,390 undergraduates at St. Francis and the school’s acceptance rate is 58%. The…

    University of St Francis is a private, non-profit 4-year college…Read More

    58% acceptance
    65% graduation rate
    1,390 undergrads
    $18,409 net price
    K

    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 1,051 undergraduates at Knox and the school’s acceptance rate is 73%. The tuition at Knox…

    Knox College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    73% acceptance
    75% graduation rate
    1,051 undergrads
    $26,205 net price
    L

    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 11,626 undergraduates at Loyola and the school’s acceptance rate is 79%. The tuition at…

    Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    79% acceptance
    71% graduation rate
    11,626 undergrads
    $35,555 net price

    Illinois State University

    Normal, IL • Public, Suburb

    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 86%. The tuition at…

    Illinois State University is a public 4-year college located in…Read More

    86% acceptance
    67% graduation rate
    18,019 undergrads
    $19,966 net price
    E

    Elmhurst University

    Elmhurst, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Elmhurst University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Elmhurst, Illinois. There are currently 2,897 undergraduates at Elmhurst and the school’s acceptance rate is 76%. The tuition at Elmhurst…

    Elmhurst University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    76% acceptance
    64% graduation rate
    2,897 undergrads
    $22,415 net price
    I

    Illinois College

    Jacksonville, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Town

    Illinois College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Jacksonville, Illinois. There are currently 1,011 undergraduates at Illinois and the school’s acceptance rate is 77%. The tuition at Illinois…

    Illinois College is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    77% acceptance
    67% graduation rate
    1,011 undergrads
    $17,512 net price
    L

    Lewis University

    Romeoville, IL • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

    Lewis University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Romeoville, Illinois. There are currently 3,650 undergraduates at Lewis and the school’s acceptance rate is 74%. The tuition at Lewis…

    Lewis University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    74% acceptance
    62% graduation rate
    3,650 undergrads
    $17,977 net price
    D

    DePaul University

    Chicago, IL • Private, Non-Profit, City

    DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in Chicago, Illinois. There are currently 13,968 undergraduates at DePauw and the school’s acceptance rate is 70%. The tuition at DePauw…

    DePaul University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located in…Read More

    70% acceptance
    69% graduation rate
    13,968 undergrads
    $29,430 net price
    N

    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 1,866 undergraduates at North Park and the school’s acceptance rate is 68%. The tuition…

    North Park University is a private, non-profit 4-year college located…Read More

    68% acceptance
    55% graduation rate
    1,866 undergrads
    $17,553 net price
    • 1
    • 2
    • Next Next Page Icon
    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.

    State Grants in Illinois

    Most states offer their own state-wide grants to help residents obtain an affordable education. Here are some of the most prominent state-wide grants in Illinois:

    Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP)

    The MAP program offers need-based grants to Illinois students who are attending an approved Illinois college. They have no test score or grade requirements, and students of all ages are eligible. 

    Illinois Commitment Program

    The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a need-based full-tuition grant for in-state students. They’ll cover your full tuition and fees for four years if you qualify. The income threshold changes every year, so check their website for up-to-date information.

    Illinois Tuition Reciprocity Agreements

    Illinois as a state does not participate in any tuition reciprocity programs as of 2023. However, Illinois State University has struck up its own reciprocity program with Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin. That means students from any of those states can attend Illinois State for in-state tuition rates.

    Other college lists to explore

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the hardest Illinois college to get into?

    University of Chicago and Northwestern University are the two Illinois colleges with the lowest admissions rates. Both schools are located in the Chicago area, and they have very strong academics and alumni networks.

    Despite their low admission rates, it’s important to remember that every school is different, and a student’s application may catch an admissions officer’s eye at one school but not another. Don’t let a low admission rate discourage you from applying; remember, it’s important to apply to a couple of reach schools!

    Why should I study in Illinois?

    Illinois is a great state to attend college; In addition to the state’s many strong academic institutions, it is home to Chicago, a bustling city with great opportunities for employment, networking, and cultural enrichment. Illinois also has a lower cost of living than many comparable states. 

    Get Started

    Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.

    3 reasons to join scholarships360

    • Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
    • Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
    • Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

    By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

    Join For Free