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 207 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 5,817 students graduated with students earning 3,308 Master's degrees, 1,527 Bachelor's degrees, 659 Doctoral degrees, and 323 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.
Illinois Institute of Technology offers 162 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 2,067 students graduated with students earning 1,155 Master's degrees, 606 Bachelor's degrees, and 306 Doctoral degrees.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 373 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 13,670 students graduated with students earning 8,148 Bachelor's degrees, 4,331 Master's degrees, 1,179 Doctoral degrees, and 12 Certificates.
Illinois Wesleyan University offers 51 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 399 students graduated with students earning 399 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 2020, 594 students graduated with students earning 594 Bachelor's degrees.
Lake Forest College offers 42 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 361 students graduated with students earning 349 Bachelor's degrees, and 12 Master's degrees.
Wheaton College offers 59 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 758 students graduated with students earning 555 Bachelor's degrees, 183 Master's degrees, and 20 Doctoral degrees.
Knox College offers 44 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2020, 286 students graduated with students earning 286 Bachelor's degrees.
Bradley University offers 175 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 1,381 students graduated with students earning 1,014 Bachelor's degrees, 264 Master's degrees, 77 Doctoral degrees, and 26 Certificates.
Best Community Colleges in Illinois
Fox College offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 256 students graduated with students earning 249 Associate's degrees, and 7 Certificates.
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 2020, 43 students graduated with students earning 43 Associate's degrees.
Coyne College offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2020, 253 students graduated with students earning 236 Certificates, and 17 Associate's degrees.
Taylor Business Institute offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2020, 41 students graduated with students earning 41 Associate's degrees.
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2020, 336 students graduated with students earning 189 Certificates, and 147 Associate's degrees.
Northwestern College offers 14 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 183 students graduated with students earning 112 Associate's degrees, 67 Certificates, and 4 Bachelor's degrees.
Olney Central College offers 42 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a remote town. In 2020, 327 students graduated with students earning 228 Associate's degrees, and 99 Certificates.
Wabash Valley College offers 40 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2020, 153 students graduated with students earning 148 Associate's degrees, and 5 Certificates.
Sauk Valley Community College offers 45 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2020, 385 students graduated with students earning 247 Associate's degrees, and 138 Certificates.
Rend Lake College offers 90 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway rural area. In 2020, 682 students graduated with students earning 405 Associate's degrees, and 277 Certificates.
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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 | 12 : 1 | 17,834 | |
|
Northwestern University Evanston, IL | 15 : 1 | 22,603 | |
|
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL | 16 : 1 | 6,325 | |
|
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | 22 : 1 | 52,679 | |
|
Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL | 14 : 1 | 1,636 | |