(Stacker) — Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.
While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.
Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Illinois using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school’s appeal, whether it be a beachside location, one full of New England foliage, or proximity to tech hubs and companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Online and unspecified location schools were excluded from the rankings. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.
25. Lewis University
- Acceptance rate: 66%
- Net price: $20,022
- Enrollment: 3,484 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Value grade: A-
- Diversity grade: A-
- Safety grade: B+
24. Eastern Illinois University
- Acceptance rate: 56%
- Net price: $13,551
- Enrollment: 3,966 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Diversity grade: A
- Party grade: A-
- Athletics grade: B+
23. Bradley University
- Acceptance rate: 73%
- Net price: $25,850
- Enrollment: 4,450 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Value grade: A-
- Diversity grade: A-
- Party grade: A-
22. McKendree University
- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Net price: $20,869
- Enrollment: 1,430 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Diversity grade: A
- Value grade: B+
- Athletics grade: B+
21. Knox College
- Acceptance rate: 71%
- Net price: $23,266
- Enrollment: 1,119 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Diversity grade: A+
- Academics grade: B+
- Professors grade: B+
20. University of Illinois Springfield
- Acceptance rate: 77%
- Net price: $11,628
- Enrollment: 1,840 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Diversity grade: A
- Value grade: A-
- Campus food grade: B+
19. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Acceptance rate: 85%
- Net price: $14,506
- Enrollment: 8,071 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Diversity grade: A-
- Campus grade: A-
- Athletics grade: A-
18. North Central College
- Acceptance rate: 53%
- Net price: $26,053
- Enrollment: 2,414 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Diversity grade: A-
- Location grade: A-
- Campus grade: B+
17. Illinois State University
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Net price: $20,933
- Enrollment: 16,666 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Party grade: A
- Student life grade: A
- Athletics grade: A-
16. Elmhurst University
- Acceptance rate: 66%
- Net price: $21,776
- Enrollment: 2,687 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Diversity grade: A-
- Location grade: A-
- Safety grade: A-
15. University of St. Francis – Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 60%
- Net price: $16,761
- Enrollment: 1,365 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
- Value grade: A
- Safety grade: A
- Diversity grade: A-
14. Trinity Christian College
- Acceptance rate: 64%
- Net price: $23,177
- Enrollment: 846 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Safety grade: A
- Value grade: A-
- Diversity grade: A-
13. North Park University
- Acceptance rate: 44%
- Net price: $19,320
- Enrollment: 1,682 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Diversity grade: A
- Safety grade: A
- Location grade: A-
12. Illinois Institute of Technology
- Acceptance rate: 61%
- Net price: $28,161
- Enrollment: 2,816 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Diversity grade: A+
- Value grade: A
- Professors grade: A
11. Augustana College – Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Net price: $24,233
- Enrollment: 2,358 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Party grade: A
- Campus food grade: A
- Academics grade: A-
10. Loyola University Chicago
- Acceptance rate: 71%
- Net price: $37,731
- Enrollment: 10,924 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
- Diversity grade: A
- Academics grade: A-
- Campus grade: A-
9. Lake Forest College
- Acceptance rate: 58%
- Net price: $26,968
- Enrollment: 1,526 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Diversity grade: A+
- Academics grade: A-
- Professors grade: A-
8. Moody Bible Institute
- Acceptance rate: 98%
- Net price: $18,790
- Enrollment: 1,736 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Location grade: A+
- Value grade: A
- Diversity grade: A
7. University of Illinois Chicago
- Acceptance rate: 73%
- Net price: $12,614
- Enrollment: 20,023 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Diversity grade: A+
- Value grade: A
- Professors grade: A
6. Illinois Wesleyan University
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Net price: $32,545
- Enrollment: 1,622 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Academics grade: A-
- Value grade: A-
- Diversity grade: B+
5. DePaul University
- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Net price: $33,319
- Enrollment: 12,776 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
- Location grade: A+
- Diversity grade: A
- Party grade: A
4. Wheaton College – Illinois
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Net price: $27,474
- Enrollment: 2,195 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
- Academics grade: A
- Dorms grade: A
- Campus food grade: A
3. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Net price: $13,517
- Enrollment: 32,107 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Academics grade: A+
- Value grade: A+
- Diversity grade: A+
2. University of Chicago
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Net price: $36,584
- Enrollment: 7,020 (3:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Academics grade: A+
- Value grade: A+
- Diversity grade: A+
1. Northwestern University
- Acceptance rate: 9%
- Net price: $28,344
- Enrollment: 8,095 (3:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
- Academics grade: A+
- Value grade: A+
- Diversity grade: A+
