Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Illinois
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division III athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Illinois21 schools
21 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division III (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 96% graduate
- 2
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 85% graduate
- 3
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit#5 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 78% graduate
- 4
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 75% graduate
- 5
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit#7 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 75% graduate
- 6
- 7
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL · Private nonprofit#10 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 73% graduate
- 8
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 70% graduate
- 9
North Central College
Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit#18 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 64% graduate
- 10
Monmouth College
Monmouth, IL · Private nonprofit#22 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 65% graduate
- 11
Aurora University
Aurora, IL · Private nonprofit#25 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 60% graduate
- 12
Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL · Private nonprofit#29 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 64% graduate
- 13
Blackburn College
Carlinville, IL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 57% graduate
- 14
Millikin University
Decatur, IL · Private nonprofit#33 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 55% graduate
- 15
Dominican University
River Forest, IL · Private nonprofitTop 20% for low net price
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 55% graduate
- 16
North Park University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 58% graduate
- 17
Benedictine University
Lisle, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 50% graduate
- 18
Rockford University
Rockford, IL · Private nonprofit#49 in Illinois
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 47% graduate
- 19
Greenville University
Greenville, IL · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 40% graduate
- 20
- 21
Concordia University-Chicago
River Forest, IL · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 36% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | $14,860 | $15,000 | $91,885 | 96% |
| Wheaton College | $26,975 | $23,250 | $63,756 | 85% |
| Lake Forest College | $28,673 | $26,158 | $61,825 | 78% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | $18,425 | $25,000 | $82,592 | 75% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | $28,199 | $27,000 | $70,871 | 75% |
| Knox College | $24,595 | $27,000 | $54,820 | 68% |
| Augustana College | $22,736 | $27,000 | $62,971 | 73% |
| Elmhurst University | $24,185 | $20,489 | $61,462 | 70% |
| North Central College | $21,044 | $24,500 | $60,123 | 64% |
| Monmouth College | $17,133 | $27,000 | $51,110 | 65% |
| Aurora University | $18,838 | $20,318 | $58,709 | 60% |
| Illinois College | $18,298 | $25,565 | $52,575 | 64% |
| Blackburn College | $18,460 | $24,242 | $46,802 | 57% |
| Millikin University | $21,989 | $27,000 | $51,262 | 55% |
| Dominican University | $11,745 | $24,411 | $60,327 | 55% |
| North Park University | $16,948 | $25,500 | $59,572 | 58% |
| Benedictine University | $22,313 | $22,500 | $63,446 | 50% |
| Rockford University | $22,436 | $22,274 | $54,794 | 47% |
| Greenville University | $19,533 | $23,875 | $46,827 | 40% |
| Eureka College | $17,349 | $23,250 | $51,641 | 42% |
| Concordia University-Chicago | $18,436 | $23,000 | $54,089 | 36% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Arkansas 3
- California 13
- Connecticut 10
- District of Columbia 3
- Georgia 8
- Indiana 10
- Iowa 10
- Kentucky 5
- Maine 11
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 7
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 3
- Missouri 3
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 14
- New York 60
- North Carolina 10
- Ohio 21
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 4
- Tennessee 3
- Texas 15
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 19
- Washington 4
- Wisconsin 24