Most selective colleges in Illinois
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Illinois21 schools
21 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Illinois
- Admits 4%
- Average SAT 1554
- 2
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Admits 8%
- Average SAT 1533
- 3
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit#7 in Illinois
- Admits 39%
- Average SAT 1275
- 4
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Illinois
- Admits 42%
- Average SAT 1440
- 5
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Admits 55%
- Average SAT 1311
- 6
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- 9
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- Admits 65%
- Average SAT 1141
- 10
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- 17
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Admits 77%
- 18
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- Admits 82%
- Average SAT 1297
- 19
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit#21 in Illinois
- Admits 85%
- Average SAT 1157
- 20
- 21
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% |
| Northwestern University | $29,167 | $15,000 | $89,363 | 95% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | $28,199 | $27,000 | $70,871 | 75% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $14,355 | $19,500 | $81,054 | 85% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | $18,425 | $25,000 | $82,592 | 75% |
| Lake Forest College | $28,673 | $26,158 | $61,825 | 78% |
| Hebrew Theological College | $26,861 | $14,000 | $33,291 | 50% |
| Augustana College | $22,736 | $27,000 | $62,971 | 73% |
| University of St. Francis | $13,006 | $21,079 | $63,926 | 67% |
| Knox College | $24,595 | $27,000 | $54,820 | 68% |
| Lewis University | $17,028 | $21,500 | $66,099 | 67% |
| Elmhurst University | $24,185 | $20,489 | $61,462 | 70% |
| DePaul University | $30,902 | $23,168 | $68,751 | 68% |
| Bradley University | $22,719 | $27,000 | $66,852 | 76% |
| North Central College | $21,044 | $24,500 | $60,123 | 64% |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $10,974 | $16,704 | $68,740 | 62% |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $49,790 | $27,000 | $40,151 | 67% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| Trinity Christian College | $19,125 | $25,009 | $55,700 | 58% |
| Wheaton College | $26,975 | $23,250 | $63,756 | 85% |
| Monmouth College | $17,133 | $27,000 | $51,110 | 65% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15