Best Colleges in Illinois
Illinois is a Midwestern state with largely hot, humid summers and cold winters. While Chicago may be the most widely-known city, considered a microcosm of the US, the state capital is actually Springfield, a city in the Southern part of the a state. Colleges in Illinois include 2-year, 4-year, and technical institutions, among non- and for-profit options. The largest institution in the state is the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, while the highest-ranking is the University of Chicago. Illinois is a hotbed for business. Home to the CME Group and the Chicago Board Options Exchange, financial and business services are top industries in the Land of Lincoln. Advanced manufacturing (primarily of machinery), education, and agriculture all play significant roles in the Prairie State’s economy. The Magnificent Mile, Starved Rock State Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Dana-Thomas House built by Frank Lloyd Wright are just a few attractions Illinois offers.
How Were the Top Schools in Illinois Chosen?
Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.
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Founded in 1907, Olivet Nazarene University is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. Olivet Nazarene confers bachelor’s degrees in over 140 academic areas of study. As a Christian institution, ONU holds twice...
Because I was an undeclared major my freshman year I took a lot of different classes. I learned a lot of things in all of them. All the teachers that I had were very good and really cared about their students.
” – Andy from Peoria, IL
Founded by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, Dominican University is a Catholic institution in the Chicagoland area. Dominican is home to seven colleges and schools conferring undergraduate degrees in 65 academic majors. As a Catholic university...
In my experience, I have not attend other schools so this is based on just my experience in this school The reason that I rate learning a lot 5 of 5 is: almost all the classes were very fun as well informative. to make sure you get this 5 out of 5 is...
” – Roberto from River Grove, IL
Founded in 1897, Trinity International University is a Christian liberal arts institution in the Chicagoland area operated by the Evangelical Free Church of America. Trinity confers undergraduate degrees in over 30 academic majors focused on core...
tiu is a place that encourages the development of each student holistically. the university's aim is to create a community in which every student can maximize their impact in the world.
” – Paul from Eagle River, AK
Blackburn College is a private, 4-year institution established in Carlinville, Illinois, and is one of under ten federally recognized work colleges in the US. The college’s Work Program is student-managed, and it offers students the opportunity to...
Blackburn offers many classes for a wide variety of people. Having just built a new $1mil+ science building in the last 5 years, Blackburn's science program is booming. The teachers have every intention of making you learn, which is wonderful.
” – Joshua from Carlinville, IL
Founded by the Free Methodist Church, Greenville University is an evangelical Christian liberal arts college in southern Illinois. Greenville offers undergraduate degrees in over 50 academic majors as well as eleven 3-year degree-granting programs...
If you don't know what a Liberal Arts college is, let me give it to you, how it's been shown to me. GC requires you to take a WIDE range of courses and then shows you how they're interconnected. Connections between health, religion, science, art...
” – Melanie from Harvard, IL
The University of Illinois is a top-ranked school with a rich legacy of innovation and impact. Founded in 1867 and located in central Illinois, this public institution is home to 11 academic communities and over 150 majors. Its flexible programs and...
The professors are great! They are very accommodating and always willing to help. They are also very educated on the topics they teach making learning more interesting.
” – Samantha from Palatine, IL
Monmouth College is a private, 4-year established in the state of Illinois. Each student at Monmouth is enrolled in one of many bachelor-of-arts programs, some of which are pre-professional programs, which are designed to prepare students with the...
The class size is normally less than 25, and I even have one class with only 4 other people. It's really close and fun, and makes learning really easy.
” – Rebecca from Roscoe, ILSaint Xavier University is a private four-year institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. SXU operates two campuses, one in a residential neighborhood of Chicago and a second in suburban Orland Park, Illinois. The school provides a...
I like Saint Xavier because the classes are smaller and it is easy access to get in touch with the teacher. They help you if you have questions and it is more intimate where you can get that one on one needed sometimes.
” – Victoria from University Park, IL
Rockford University is a private, 4-year institution established on a suburban, 150-acre campus in Winnebago County, Illinois. Rockford offers over 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, minors, and concentrations through the College of Arts and...
The teachers are really interested in your learning. So if you ask questions they will give you the best and detailed answer. They will be available to you at every hour so you could ask them questions about the homework or any problem you might have...
” – Erick from Rockford, IL
The University of Illinois at Chicago is a public research university located in the Windy City. UIC’s 15 colleges and schools offer 87 bachelor’s degrees, 53 certificates, and more than 150 graduate degrees, as well as multiple research...
UIC is a great learning environment if you are able to use the resources offered to you. It's not always easy, and the classes are tough, but it's a great learning experience.
” – KN major.
Eastern Illinois University is a 4-year institution in Charleston featuring four colleges on a 320-acre campus. EIU offers 60 bachelor’s degrees, which can be complemented by any of the 85 minors offered, as well as four areas of undergraduate study...
The Gen. Ed. classes are all enjoyable and my major classes were taught by teachers who knew their subjects very well.
” – William from Schaumburg, IL
Founded in 1857, Illinois State University is a 4-year institution in central Illinois and the first public university in the state. The ISU campus hosts six colleges and schools as well as an Honors Program and Milner Library. In addition, ISU is...
Really great school for many different majors. I am a business major, and could not be happier with the professionalism and personal attention for all of the professors in the college of business. When here that Illinois State is a big school with a...
” – Paul from Pocahontas, IL
Western is the perfect size university, with physical resources such as crime labs, nursing simulation areas, an Emergency Operations Center, and performance spaces that will be enhanced by our new $120 million Center for the Performing Arts.
And we...
There are a varity of subjects on campus apply to the different types of people here on campus
” – Stephenie from Chillicothe, IL
Founded in 1855 by a group of abolitionists, Eureka College is a 4-year liberal arts and sciences institution in central Illinois, as well as the first college in the state to admit both genders. Eureka grants bachelor’s degrees in 36 academic majors...
The teachers are fantastic and really committed to educating their students. You will never have a class of more than about 25 people (and that's for a gen-ed requirement) and you will never be taught by a TA.
” – Jillian from Peoria, IL
Originally founded as Bible institute dedicated to training preachers, Lincoln Christian University is a Christian college in central Illinois. LCU grants undergraduate degrees in 13 majors including Christian-centered subjects such as Preaching...
First of all, the classes are mostly all religious, so if you're not Christian, don't apply here. You won't like it. Second, there's very few math and sciences courses, so for all of us uber-challenged, that's a huge plus!
The professors are always...
Originally founded in 1860 as St. Francis Solanus College, Quincy University is a 4-year liberal arts college in western Illinois affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Quincy grants undergrad degrees in over 40 academic majors and provides a...
Quincy University is a campus near the Mississippi river and is gorgeous. The staff are all very friendly and willing to help many people when ever they need to or are needed. Like the staff the students are all very outgoing and willing to meet new...
” – Taylor from Quincy, IL
Northern Illinois University is a selective public university with a focus on research. The DeKalb campus is home to seven colleges with 46 schools and departments, and students can take advantage of regional centers in Chicago, Naperville, Rockford...
Some of the classes are pretty difficult and take a lot of studying, but this is a good thing. I have learned more from my Engineering class than in any other class I taken my entire life. The class sizes vary. I have had some classes with only 15...
” – Erik from Hanover Park, IL
McKendree University is a private, liberal arts institution established in Lebanon, Illinois. The campus is situated on wooded land spanning 235 acres and features a number of state-of-the-art facilities, including the Marion K. Piper Academic Center...
You will use your brain at the school. But dont worry if you get stuck every teacher is there to help you. Some teachers even give ther home number so you dont have to worry about missing them during office hours
” – Alexondria from Chicago, IL
Aurora University is a private liberal arts college based in Aurora, Illinois. AU offers more than 50 academic programs. At Aurora University, we strive to help students discover what matters and build a life around it both in and out of the...
If you take the time to work towards good grades, your professors will too. They truly care about your success.
” – Becca from IllinoisJudson University is a private, Christ-centered institution established in Elgin and Rockford, Illinois. Undergraduate students are required to earn at least 25 chapel credits each semester, and contribute to their GPA on a pass/fail basis. Judson...
a very social college, very close to Chicago, lots to do near campus, love the people there
” – Benjamin from Elgin, IL