Top Universities in Illinois
For those interested in studying in Illinois, we have a very useful list. We selected the best Illinois institutions for prospective students. Please know that rankings are based on academic research, alumni reviews, graduation rates, as well as assessment from peer colleges. On the page, you will find major admissions stats such as acceptance rate, tuition fees, average SAT scores for each ranked college or university.
| Rankings | Schools |
| 1 | University of Chicago (Chicago, IL) Tuition: $44,574 Total enrollment: 12,316 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 16.3% Average freshman retention rate: 98% 6-year graduation rate: 92% Classes with under 20 students: 75.1% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1400-1570 |
| 2 | Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) Tuition: $43,779 Total enrollment: 19,968 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 18.0% Average freshman retention rate: 97% 6-year graduation rate: 94% Classes with under 20 students: 75.3% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 31-34 |
| 3 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL) Tuition: in-state: $14,428, out-of-state: $28,570 Total enrollment: 44,407 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 67.6% Average freshman retention rate: 94% 6-year graduation rate: 82% Classes with under 20 students: 34.0% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 26-31 |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago (Chicago, IL) Tuition: $34,218 Total enrollment: 16,040 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 54.9% Average freshman retention rate: 85% 6-year graduation rate: 70% Classes with under 20 students: 37.5% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 25-29 |
| 5 | Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, IL) Tuition: $37,093 Total enrollment: 7,787 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 63.5% Average freshman retention rate: 91% 6-year graduation rate: 64% Classes with under 20 students: 55.5% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 24-31 |
| 6 | DePaul University (Chicago, IL) Tuition: $32,295 Total enrollment: 25,398 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 64.1% Average freshman retention rate: 86% 6-year graduation rate: 66% Classes with under 20 students: 38.5% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 23-28 |
| 7 | University of Illinois at Chicago (Chicago, IL) Tuition: in-state: $13,050, out-of-state: $25,440 Total enrollment: 28,091 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 62.8% Average freshman retention rate: 80% 6-year graduation rate: 54% Classes with under 20 students: 28.7% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 21-26 |
| 8 | Illinois State University (Normal, IL) Tuition: in-state: $12,726, out-of-state: $20,016 Total enrollment: 21,310 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 63.4% Average freshman retention rate: 85% 6-year graduation rate: 71% Classes with under 20 students: 31.7% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 22-26 |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Carbondale, IL) Tuition: in-state: $11,153, out-of-state: $22,844 Total enrollment: 19,817 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 44.1% Average freshman retention rate: 68% 6-year graduation rate: 44% Classes with under 20 students: 55.0% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 18-24 |
| 10 | Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL) Tuition: in-state: $13,044, out-of-state: $22,510 Total enrollment: 22,990 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 52.5% Average freshman retention rate: 73% 6-year graduation rate: 56% Classes with under 20 students: 45.5% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 19-24 |
| 11 | Benedictine University (Lisle, IL) Tuition: $25,330 Total enrollment: 7,013 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 75.7% Average freshman retention rate: 77% 6-year graduation rate: 49% Classes with under 20 students: 61.2% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 19-25 |
| 12 | National-Louis University (Chicago, IL) Tuition: N/A Total enrollment: 5,737 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 29.8% Average freshman retention rate: 41% 6-year graduation rate: 15% Classes with under 20 students: 68.5% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: N/A |
| 13 | Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL) Tuition: $25,840 Total enrollment: 2,814 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 98.1% Average freshman retention rate: 70% 6-year graduation rate: 57% Classes with under 20 students: 49.4% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 19-26 |
| 14 | Argosy University–Chicago (Chicago, IL) Tuition: N/A Total enrollment: N/A Fall 2011 acceptance rate: N/A Average freshman retention rate: N/A 6-year graduation rate: N/A Classes with under 20 students: N/A SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: N/A |