Illinois is home to one of the most distinguished and diverse higher education systems in the Midwest. From Northwestern University and the University of Chicago — two elite private research universities consistently ranked among the top 15 globally — to the flagship University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, an AAU member with the top computer science program in the Big Ten, Illinois offers world-class education across every discipline.
Best Universities in Illinois 2026
Olivet Nazarene University
Location: Bourbonnais | Type: Private | Founded: 1907 | Tuition: $33,700/yr
Olivet Nazarene University is a private Church of the Nazarene university founded in 1907 in Bourbonnais, Illinois, south of Chicago. Enrolling 4,000 students, Olivet is known for nursing, business, education, and engineering programs with a strong evangelical Christian mission and community. Schools School of Nursing…
Programs: Business & Finance, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts
University of Illinois Springfield
Location: Springfield | Type: Public | Founded: 1969 | Tuition: $12,936/yr
The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) is a public university of the University of Illinois System founded in 1969 in Springfield, the capital of Illinois. Enrolling 5,000 students, UIS is known for public affairs, legal studies, and business programs with unique access to Illinois state…
Programs: Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Social Work & Humanities
Elmhurst University
Location: Elmhurst | Type: Private | Founded: 1871 | Tuition: $38,900/yr
Elmhurst University is a private university affiliated with the United Church of Christ, founded in 1871 in Elmhurst, Illinois. Enrolling 4,500 students in Chicago’s western suburbs, Elmhurst is known for nursing, business, music, and education programs with strong connections to the O’Hare business corridor and…
Programs: Business & Finance, Education, Liberal Arts, Medicine & Health Sciences
North Central College
Location: Naperville | Type: Private | Founded: 1861 | Tuition: $41,532/yr
North Central College is a private United Methodist liberal arts university founded in 1861 in Naperville, Illinois. Located in one of the most affluent and innovative cities in the Midwest — with major employers including Nalco, Nicor, and dozens of Fortune 500 offices — North…
Programs: Business & Finance, Education, Liberal Arts, Technology & Computer Science
Millikin University
Location: Decatur | Type: Private | Founded: 1901 | Tuition: $36,250/yr
Millikin University is a private Presbyterian liberal arts university founded in 1901 in Decatur, Illinois. Enrolling 2,000 students, Millikin is distinguished by its Performance Learning educational model, which integrates real-world performance into every academic discipline. The university is particularly known for its School of Music,…
Programs: Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Medicine & Health Sciences, Music & Performing Arts
Dominican University
Location: River Forest | Type: Private | Founded: 1901 | Tuition: $35,862/yr
Dominican University is a private Catholic liberal arts university founded in 1901 by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters in River Forest, Illinois. Enrolling 4,000 students near Chicago’s Oak Park, Dominican is known for its nationally top-3 ranked Graduate School of Library and Information Science, social work,…
Programs: Arts & Design, Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Medicine & Health Sciences
Lake Forest College
Location: Lake Forest | Type: Private | Founded: 1857 | Tuition: $50,892/yr
Lake Forest College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1857 in Lake Forest, Illinois — one of the most affluent communities in the United States, on Lake Michigan’s North Shore. Enrolling 1,700 students, Lake Forest College benefits from its location among Chicago’s Gold…
Programs: Business & Finance, Education, Liberal Arts, Medicine & Health Sciences
Augustana College
Location: Rock Island | Type: Private | Founded: 1860 | Tuition: $43,920/yr
Augustana College is a private Lutheran liberal arts college founded in 1860 in Rock Island, Illinois, in the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River. Enrolling 2,500 students, Augustana is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the Midwest. The college has exceptional pre-health…
Programs: Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Medicine & Health Sciences, Religion & Theology
Top Community Colleges in Illinois 2026
Community colleges in Illinois offer affordable pathways with transfer agreements to all major state universities.
- Illinois Central College — East Peoria
- Heartland Community College — Normal
- Triton College — River Grove
- Waubonsee Community College — Sugar Grove
- Moraine Valley Community College — Palos Hills
- City Colleges of Chicago — Chicago
How to Choose a University in Illinois
Consider your major, tuition, accreditations, location, and career outcomes. Compare financial aid packages and visit campuses.
- Tuition: Compare in-state vs out-of-state rates and financial aid generosity.
- Accreditation: AACSB (business), ABET (engineering), CCNE (nursing).
- Location: Proximity to employers and internship opportunities.
- Campus Culture: Visit to find the right environment.
Illinois’s position as the economic capital of the Midwest, anchored by Chicago’s finance, technology, and healthcare sectors, creates exceptional career opportunities for graduates. The state’s universities produce some of the most sought-after engineers, business leaders, lawyers, and scientists in the country.
Browse our complete Illinois university directory.
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