Best Colleges in Illinois for 2026
Illinois is home to an impressive range of colleges and universities, from nationally recognized research powerhouses like University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to close-knit liberal arts colleges like Illinois Wesleyan University. Whether you’re looking for a large urban campus in Chicago, a small faith-based community, or something in between, the Prairie State offers diverse opportunities for academic and personal growth.
Each school on this list has earned the College of Distinction designation for its commitment to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. These institutions go beyond rankings and test scores to provide a student-centered education that prepares graduates for lifelong success.
Use this list of the best colleges in Illinois for 2026 to explore schools that match your goals, values, and learning style.
Concordia University Chicago
River Forest, IL ‧ Christian ‧ 4-year
Founded in 1864 as a college for teachers, today Concordia University Chicago is a comprehensive liberal arts-based Christian university affiliated with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Graduate Studies, and College of Innovation and Professional Programs, CUC offers more than 140 areas of undergraduate and graduate study in small classes taught by professors who are passionate about teaching and student success. Students choose Concordia University Chicago to open up their world and be inspired throughout their collegiate career and beyond.
WORLD-CLASS OPPORTUNITIES IN CHICAGO
Inspired learning, whether in or out of the classroom, is a key component in connecting to students. Access to the amazing resources and culture of the cosmopolitan city of Chicago enables students to open up their world. Students have wide-ranging experiences as they learn alongside peers from various backgrounds and cultures from across the globe.
Acceptance rate 93% • Net price $17,767
Total Undergrad Population 1,377 • Setting Suburb • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 46% • Retention rate 63% • Student-to-faculty ratio 13:1
DePaul University
Chicago, IL ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year
With over 300 undergraduate programs, the breadth of academic excellence at DePaul is vast and varied. The university’s world-class faculty are experts in their field who bring their years of experience to the classroom every day. Although DePaul’s faculty are conducting groundbreaking, award-winning research everyday, their biggest priority is the success of their students. Classes are small to maximize engagement between students and professors. Students are challenged to meet their potential and inspired to reach their goals.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Whether it’s a mission to Mars or the supply chain on steroids, there are new and exciting problems for DePaul students to solve. Research is integral to the student experience, so students will find many opportunities to make their mark on the world. Research isn’t reserved just for STEM majors, either. Students are encouraged to explore undergraduate research opportunities regardless of their major. Faculty are active participants and leaders in various professional organizations, centers, and initiatives that focus on research and creative activity.
Acceptance rate 74% • Net price $32,129 • SAT Range 1130-1340
Total Undergrad Population 14,374 • Setting City • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 70% • Retention rate 87% • Student-to-faculty ratio 17:1
Illinois State University
Normal, IL ‧ Public ‧ 4-year
Illinois State University serves a diverse student body through immersive, career-minded programming across a range of subjects. The university prides itself in its core values: Pursuit of Learning and Scholarship, Individualized Attention, Diversity, Integrity, and Civic Engagement. Thanks to these pillars, the university motto, “gladly we learn and teach,” truly speaks for itself.
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Each spring, undergraduate and graduate students all have the opportunity to present their research, scholarship, and creative projects at the annual Research Symposium. Participation in this university-hosted event allows students to practice presenting to an audience, networking, and understanding the overall process of high-quality research.
Acceptance rate 89% • Net price $20,871 • SAT Range 1010-1230
Total Undergrad Population 18,450 • Setting Suburb • Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 66% • Retention rate 81% • Student-to-faculty ratio 19:1
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL ‧ Private ‧ 4-year
Where the multitalented go to learn. Illinois Wesleyan is a true renaissance university at which students are encouraged to explore all of their interests. Double majors in diverse subjects like physics and music are common. Students have a host of compelling opportunities to enrich their education with off-campus experiences that might involve spending a year at Pembroke College/Oxford University or perhaps a semester in Washington D.C. through American University.
OFF-CAMPUS STUDY
The community surrounding Illinois Wesleyan offers distinctive opportunities for students who look to supplement their classroom experiences with off-campus learning experiences. The best example of this is the Action Research Center, which coordinates research projects undertaken by Illinois Wesleyan University students, faculty, and staff in partnership with groups in the larger central Illinois community. Current projects include work on McLean County’s ten-year plan to end homelessness, a tutoring and mentoring program, and work with the Ecology Action Center to reduce pesticide use.
Acceptance rate 45% • Net price $31,310 • SAT Range 1140-1330
Total Undergrad Population 1,576 • Setting City: Small • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 83% • Retention rate 85% • Student-to-faculty ratio 11:1
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year
Lewis University, guided by its Catholic and Lasallian heritage, provides students a liberal and professional education, grounded in the interaction of knowledge and fidelity in the search for truth. Lewis promotes the development of the complete person through the pursuit of wisdom and justice. Fundamental to its Mission is a spirit of association, which fosters community in all teaching, learning, and service.
DOHERTY CENTER
The Doherty Center for Aviation and Health Research was established to promote scholarship and innovation in the fields of health and aviation and to create mutually beneficial partnerships with business and industry. Students work with faculty on projects that will have an impact on the aviation industry such as Determining the Hazardous Effects of Flight Deck Laser Illumination Events.
BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
To encourage entrepreneurship, the University hosts the Business Plan Competition, which is open to all undergraduate and graduate students. Students formulate an idea, develop a business plan, and pitch their idea to a panel of judges. The winner(s) of the competition earn $5,000 to be used towards their business venture.
Acceptance rate 73% • Net price $19,472 • SAT Range 990-1220
Total Undergrad Population 3,948 • Setting Suburb • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 62% • Retention rate 84% • Student-to-faculty ratio 14:1
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year
Superior education in a world-class city. An outstanding, nationally lauded institution, Loyola University Chicago continues to advance the 450-year-old Jesuit tradition of rigorous academic study grounded in the liberal arts. Loyola helps students prepare for meaningful careers with top programs in business, the sciences, and other disciplines, along with opportunities for internships in Chicago and beyond. Loyola’s well-rounded, transformative education will help each student develop as a whole person—intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually.
CAREER SERVICES
Loyola’s Career Development Center (CDC) provides all of the resources students need to start their careers after graduation. The CDC annually lists thousands of jobs and internships and helps students and alumni connect with prospective employers for job opportunities and making connections before and after graduation. The CDC also provides mock interviews, job fairs, resume referral services, and regular internship newsletters.
Acceptance rate 81% • Net price $37,592 • SAT Range 1160-1340
Total Undergrad Population 12,487 • Setting City • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 76% • Retention rate 84% • Student-to-faculty ratio 13:1
North Park University
Chicago, IL ‧ Christian ‧ 4-year
Founded in 1891, North Park University prides itself on its deep Christian roots and its commitment to providing a world-class education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology. North Park’s location in Chicago offers students a unique opportunity to learn, serve, and develop their faith in an increasingly diverse community.
CRUX
Crux is a living-learning cohort in which first-year students are inspired to develop their identity in Christ while experiencing the city. Coursework, experiential learning, mentorship, and discipleship training comprise the Crux experience, earning students college credit while living and learning within an on-campus cohort. They also complete multiple service projects to further develop a life of community engagement.
Acceptance rate 73% • Net price $19,910
Total Undergrad Population 1,876 • Setting City • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 56% • Retention rate 69% • Student-to-faculty ratio 11:1
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL ‧ Public ‧ 4-year
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university located in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. With a history that dates back to 1895, NIU has grown to become one of the largest universities in the state of Illinois, offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across seven colleges. The university is known for its strong commitment to research, experiential learning, and community engagement, providing students with numerous opportunities to explore their passions, develop their skills, and make a difference in the world.
Whether students are interested in the arts, sciences, business, education, or any other field, NIU is a welcoming and supportive community that can help them achieve their goals and succeed in their academic and professional pursuits.
Acceptance rate 70% • Net price $13,533
Total Undergrad Population 11,358 • Setting Suburb • Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 50% • Retention rate 70% • Student-to-faculty ratio 14:1
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL ‧ Christian ‧ 4-year
Faith is at the heart of superior academics, nationally competitive athletics, thriving social atmosphere, and countless ministry opportunities at Olivet.
Olivet offers more than 140 undergraduate areas of study and holds the accreditation of the Higher Learning Commission and other top accrediting associations. Seasoned faculty members challenge each student, believing that Christians can increase their impact on the world through excellence in scholarship, thought, and communication.
Olivet students study in small classes with a student-faculty ratio of just 14:1, learning exclusively from professors, not teaching assistants. They actively participate in learning and collaborate in groups.
Acceptance rate 67% • Net price $22,707 • SAT Range 960-1190
Total Undergrad Population 2,569 • Setting Suburb • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 60% • Retention rate 68% • Student-to-faculty ratio 14:1
Principia College
Elsah, IL ‧ Private ‧ 4-year
It’s your move. Ready to make it count? Welcome to Principia College, where everything is designed around you—your growth, your dreams, and your future. Whether you’re diving into your passions, discovering new ones or chasing your dreams, we’re here to help make it happen.
You’ll find yourself not just at a college or a “home away from home”—here your heart meets your ambitions and you’ll be challenged to grow as a person, leader, and global citizen. We’ve redesigned a Liberal Arts education for today’s competitive job market. Our Academic Centers are built around you—innovative, collaborative and designed to develop real-world, career-ready skills which set you up to succeed. At Principia your professors are mentors. Your classroom may be outdoors, on a stage, or on another continent. You don’t learn subjects, you experience them.
Acceptance rate 71% • Net price $14,904 • SAT Range 1040-1250
Total Undergrad Population 338 • Setting Rural • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 76% • Retention rate 75% • Student-to-faculty ratio 5:1
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year
Celebrating 175 years in 2021, Saint Xavier University is a distinguished four-year private institution founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1846. Chicago’s oldest Catholic university and the first Mercy college in the United States, Saint Xavier provides a transformative educational experience to 3,600 students at its Chicago campus with more than 40 undergraduate programs and nearly 30 graduate program options in the College of Arts and Sciences, Graham School of Management (GSM), and School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SONHS) as well as a variety of program options in Continuing and Adult Education. SXU is consistently recognized as one of the best in the Midwest.
One of the core values of Saint Xavier University is service, and as such, SXU features programs and classes that encourage students to make the most of their education. This includes things like study abroad programs, internships, community service projects, and student-driven research to ensure a well-rounded experience.
Students benefit from an active, collaborative learning environment. Professors are readily available to offer the necessary support, encouragement, and intellectual stimulation. Perhaps most significantly, students acquire lifelong skills in writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving, prepared to take on every sphere of life.
Acceptance rate 86% • Net price $11,943
Total Undergrad Population 3,039 • Setting City • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 59% • Retention rate 74% • Student-to-faculty ratio 15:1
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL ‧ Christian ‧ 4-year
Trinity Christian College has been changing students’ lives since 1959, having been begun by a group of entrepreneurs who wanted to develop Chicago-area Christians who would put their faith into action, not just believe. As a smaller college, Trinity provides students with individualized attention, harnessing an extensive network throughout Chicago in order to make a difference in the world. Trinity faculty help students discover their passion and develop it into incredible achievement. Through a Biblically informed liberal arts education, the College community endeavors to provide an environment of Christian integrity and love, enhancing and supporting the entire learning experience.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SERVICE-LEARNING
Trinity’s community believes strongly that service is not something to be done exclusively in the summer or over spring break; rather, it should be woven into the fabric of their lives. At the core of the Office of Community Partnerships and Service-Learning (OCPSL) is a strong college-organization relationship with valued partners. Through reciprocal relationships with these community partners, Trinity is able to serve not only students, but the larger community as well. Trinity seeks to equip local organizations with dedicated, responsible student volunteers and interns. It’s with these partners that the College prepares its students to be “active members of a community based on the Biblical requirements of justice, humility, and love.”
Acceptance rate 89% • Net price $17,218 • SAT Range 1050-1200
Total Undergrad Population 827 • Setting Suburb • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 64% • Retention rate 79% • Student-to-faculty ratio 10:1
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL ‧ Public ‧ 4-year
Located in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, UIC helps students unleash their potential. Students enjoy 87 bachelor’s programs, a low student-to-faculty ratio, and award-winning professors who are regarded as experts in their field. The University of Illinois Chicago is proud to support one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse campuses in the nation, so every member of the community has a place in which to learn and thrive.
LIVING-LEARNING COMMUNITIES
UIC is proud to offer students unique ways to live and learn on campus. Living-learning communities comprise of committed students who share a common interest. Students can choose from 15 different communities with topics ranging from Pre-Health to Women in Science and Engineering. Each community has a peer mentor who works within the group to make sure students have the best experience possible. Students also enjoy the benefits of making deeper connections with peers, having built-in study buddies, and gaining easy access to experiential learning opportunities that are relevant to their field of study.
Acceptance rate 79% • Net price $11,499 • SAT Range 1120-1340
Total Undergrad Population 22,107 • Setting City • Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 60% • Retention rate 78% • Student-to-faculty ratio 17:1
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL ‧ Public ‧ 4-year
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university that is esteemed for its more than 150 undergraduate and 100 graduate programs. These programs span across diverse fields such as engineering, business, social sciences, education, and more. With a large student body of over 50,000 students from all around the world, UIUC is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters academic and personal growth.
UIUC’s distinguished faculty are renowned experts in their respective fields and their cutting-edge research programs are at the forefront of innovation and discovery. UIUC offers numerous opportunities for students to participate in research, service, leadership, internships, study abroad programs, and other experiential learning opportunities. Join a community of learners and leaders who are passionate about making a difference in the world, and discover why UIUC is consistently recognized among the top public universities in the United States.
Acceptance rate 44% • Net price $14,297 • SAT Range 1270-1510
Total Undergrad Population 35,564 • Setting City: Small • Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 85% • Retention rate 94% • Student-to-faculty ratio 20:1
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL ‧ Christian ‧ 4-year
A Wheaton College education prepares students for lives that are wholly dedicated to serving Christ and His kingdom.
LIBERAL ARTS FOR DIVERSE SUCCESS
Wheaton is proud of the work it does to prepare its students for postgraduate success. Upon graduation, Wheaton scholars are well equipped with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in the working world. This is achieved largely through Wheaton’s liberal arts education; it is both general and specific in a way that earns students a wealth of knowledge in a span of disciplines. Aside from the degree itself, the College boasts a list of credentials that prove the value of a Wheaton education.
Acceptance rate 90% • Net price $31,346 • SAT Range 1260-1440
Total Undergrad Population 2,119 • Setting Suburb • Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 87% • Retention rate 94% • Student-to-faculty ratio 10:1
Illinois College FAQs
Top institutions include University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, and Illinois State University, each known for academic excellence and strong student support.
Many Illinois schools offer competitive in-state tuition and generous financial aid. Public universities like University of Illinois Chicago and Northern Illinois University provide great value, while private colleges often offer merit-based scholarships.
Yes. From engineering at UIUC to nursing at Saint Xavier University and business at Lewis University, Illinois institutions cover a wide range of academic disciplines and professional programs.
Our selections are based on the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. These colleges help students thrive inside and outside the classroom. Learn more about our methodology.
Last updated: August 2025. Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS database and College Scorecard.
About Our Methodology: Colleges of Distinction identifies high-quality institutions that prioritize student engagement, teaching excellence, vibrant campus life, and strong career outcomes. Our process evaluates both quantitative data and qualitative factors to highlight colleges where students truly thrive. Read our full methodology.