Best colleges in Illinois
Enjoy a Fresh Wind of New Horizons
Learning in the Land of Lincoln
Moving to Illinois means learning a whole new accent. But, the education options in the Prairie State make it worth it. Some pretty impactful politicians have called Illinois home, including Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama, making it an inspiring place for any political science or history major. And the Chicago skyline is packed with job opportunities for business majors at one of the countless banking and finance companies. Nine four-year institutions and over 100 smaller colleges and universities reside in Illinois.* After graduation, explore plenty of out-of-the-box employment options including Fannie Mae, CareerBuilder, and Black Dog Books.
During your downtime, take in some history at the Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, or cruise on down the scenic byway of Route 66.* Just need a few hours to relax? Check out Harry’s Sports Grill in Countryside with its live music, trivia nights and recreational games like darts and billiards. For something a bit fancier, enjoy a glass of wine at D.O.C. Wine Bar, just outside of Chicago. Visit Shedd Aquarium, one of the best in the nation, for some underwater learning, or get some good eats in Chinatown. Or proudly wear your black and red when you cheer on the Blackhawks or the Bulls. Come explore Illinois with its perfect combination of open prairie and bustling city life. You’ll be blown away.
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Wikipedia, “Colleges and universities in Illinois” *www.enjoyillinois.com/thingstodoBest Four Year Universities in Illinois
University of Chicago offers 214 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 6,631 students graduated with students earning 3,665 Master's degrees, 1,746 Bachelor's degrees, 761 Doctoral degrees, and 459 Certificates.
Northwestern University, or Northwestern, is a private school founded in 1851. Today the university has an undergraduate enrollment of just over 20,000 students. Built in suburban Chicago in the lakeside town of Evanston, Northwestern’s campus is on the smaller side with just under 250 acres along with a 25-acre campus in downtown Chicago. Students at Northwestern take classes on a semester-based academic calendar, and tuition for in-state students is roughly $55,000, just below the cost of attendance at a local rival, the University of Chicago. Northwestern tends to offer small undergraduate classes under 20 students and boasts a graduation rate that exceeds 90%.
Northwestern provides a variety of academic programs depending on student interest and is known nationally for its Theatre program and Kellogg School of Management. Northwestern also has high-ranking departments including the Pritzker School of Law, the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Graduates from Northwestern University have gone on to found many worldwide brands and organizations including Guggenheim Partners, Aon Corporation, and Groupon. During their time at school, students have the opportunity to explore downtown Chicago and eat at local Italian restaurant Uno’s for Chicago deep-dish pizza or see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field. Notable alumni include comedians Seth Meyers and Stephan Colbert, writer George R.R. Martin, and ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 377 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 14,958 students graduated with students earning 8,200 Bachelor's degrees, 5,578 Master's degrees, 1,174 Doctoral degrees, and 6 Certificates.
Illinois Institute of Technology offers 157 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1,840 students graduated with students earning 908 Master's degrees, 613 Bachelor's degrees, and 319 Doctoral degrees.
Lake Forest College offers 42 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 366 students graduated with students earning 349 Bachelor's degrees, and 17 Master's degrees.
Illinois Wesleyan University offers 49 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 381 students graduated with students earning 381 Bachelor's degrees.
Knox College offers 45 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 263 students graduated with students earning 263 Bachelor's degrees.
Augustana College offers 76 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 526 students graduated with students earning 514 Bachelor's degrees, and 12 Master's degrees.
Principia College offers 38 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 88 students graduated with students earning 88 Bachelor's degrees.
Wheaton College offers 59 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 791 students graduated with students earning 573 Bachelor's degrees, 201 Master's degrees, and 17 Doctoral degrees.
Best Community Colleges in Illinois
Fox College offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 198 students graduated with students earning 198 Associate's degrees.
Morrison Institute of Technology offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2022, 35 students graduated with students earning 35 Associate's degrees.
Worsham College of Mortuary Science offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 100 students graduated with students earning 55 Associate's degrees, and 45 Certificates.
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park offers 8 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 487 students graduated with students earning 310 Certificates, and 177 Associate's degrees.
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College offers 40 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2022, 424 students graduated with students earning 288 Certificates, and 136 Associate's degrees.
Olney Central College offers 51 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a remote town. In 2022, 349 students graduated with students earning 262 Associate's degrees, and 87 Certificates.
Wabash Valley College offers 50 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2022, 206 students graduated with students earning 157 Associate's degrees, and 49 Certificates.
Lincoln Trail College offers 45 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 183 students graduated with students earning 116 Associate's degrees, and 67 Certificates.
Taylor Business Institute offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 23 students graduated with students earning 23 Associate's degrees.
William Rainey Harper College offers 116 degree programs. It's a large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,813 students graduated with students earning 1,821 Associate's degrees, and 992 Certificates.
Find local colleges in Illinois
Top schools offering specific degrees in Illinois
List of all colleges in Illinois
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 11 : 1 | 18,339 | |
|
Northwestern University Evanston, IL | 15 : 1 | 23,161 | |
|
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | 24 : 1 | 56,916 | |
|
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL | 19 : 1 | 6,943 | |
|
Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL | 16 : 1 | 1,753 | |