Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find, well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois 2022

By James Barham

Published: Mar 23, 2021
Updated: Dec 5, 2022

Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Illinois offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.

10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois

Wheaton College
Bradley University
Columbia College Chicago
Knox College
Lake Forest College
Western Illinois University
University of Illinois Springfield
Eastern Illinois University
Chicago State University
North Central College

Colleges and Universities in Illinois

Prospective students searching for colleges in Illinois have plenty of excellent schools to choose from. Illinois offers over 130 higher education institutes throughout the state. Thanks to an expansive public university system and several top private institutions, students can select from an extremely wide array of brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Illinois.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois at Chicago, the state’s two largest public universities in Illinois. Students can access a full spectrum of undergraduate and graduate degrees for in-state tuition rates of $13,000 to $15,000 respectively. Both public universities also offer a full selection of online degree programs.

It’s also worth noting that Illinois residents who pursue online degrees at public colleges in Illinois will qualify for in-state tuition rates. Out of state students will generally pay more whether pursuing on-campus or online degrees.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

More than half of the colleges in Illinois are actually private schools. Among these private colleges and universities, the most notable are DePaul University, Northwestern University, and Loyola University Chicago. Tuition from these three private schools can be costly, ranging from $44,000 to $55,000. However, each of these private schools boasts a high graduation rate and excellent professors.

Illinois is also home to many small private schools, including Benedictine University and National Louis University.

Popular disciplines in Illinois include disciplines like criminal justice, social work, nursing, education, religious studies, communications, and medicine. Both traditional and online students have a wide range of options in each of these subject areas.

Degree completion programs are also widely available for lapsed students who have already accumulated some college credits. This is an especially popular online degree option among working professionals in Illinois.

Additionally, Illinois offers several loan forgiveness-based financial aid programs for qualifying students pursuing careers as teachers, public defenders or prosecutors, or nurses.

From the skyscrapers in Chicago to the vast prairie lands in the north, Illinois is a place where city meets country. Students can grab a Chicago-style hotdog on the way to a Cubs game, explore the ancient sandstone cliffs in the Shawnee National Forest, or admire an exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago, all while attending one of The Prairie State’s universities or colleges.

The higher education institutes in Illinois have also produced many prominent alumni, including Stephen Colbert, Phillip Glass, and Kurt Vonnegut. Students hoping to walk the same streets as these well-known individuals can check out some of the state’s top programs and universities.

What are Illinois’s Colleges & Universities?

Illinois’s Best Overall

How do we determine Illinois's best colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 36 liberal arts colleges in Illinois. To be ranked among the 25 best liberal arts colleges in Illinois, schools must fully accredited institutions.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois 2022

#1
Wheaton College
Wheaton , IL
#5 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2022 #6 50 Best Christian Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities 2022 #2 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2022 #3 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2022
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$41K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
88%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1330/29
What is Wheaton College known for?

Wheaton College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Religious Studies
Philosophy
Literature
Anthropology
Communications
History
Earth Sciences
Biology
Economics
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Billy Graham
William Lane Craig
Bart D. Ehrman
John Wesley Powell
Norman Geisler
John Piper
Josh McDowell
Bill Gothard
James S. Albus
John Walvoord
Mark Noll
R. A. Torrey
#2
Bradley University
Peoria , IL
#7 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 2022 #10 Best Colleges in Illinois 2022 #12 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Business Degrees in 2022
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
76%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1180/25
What is Bradley University known for?

Bradley University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Mathematics
Physics
Engineering
Chemistry
Medical
Sociology
Economics
History
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Philip José Farmer
Louis Skidmore
John Shalikashvili
Charley Steiner
David Brant
Leith Anderson
Aldon Morris
Bob Jamieson
Jerry Krause
Chet Walker
Ralph Lawler
George S. Phalen
#3
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago , IL
#9 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 2022 #11 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Communications Degree
Tuition + fees
$28K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
51%
Student body
6K
What is Columbia College Chicago known for?

Columbia College Chicago’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Communications
Literature
Education
History
Computer Science
Medical
Sociology
Physics

Most Influential Alumni

Scott Adsit
Cory Barlog
Jerry G. Bishop
Angelica Jade Bastién
Bruce DuMont
Jimmy Dore
Shecky Greene
Bob Sirott
Rob Renzetti
Becky Lynch
Steve Kmetko
Shea Couleé
#4
Knox College
Galesburg , IL
#3 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2022 #10 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$52K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
75%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1200/26
What is Knox College known for?

Knox College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Literature
Computer Science
Psychology
Mathematics
Physics
Education
History
Philosophy
Political Science
Biology

Most Influential Alumni

Robert Hanssen
John Podesta
Thomas E. Kurtz
David A. Kolb
S. S. McClure
Edgar Lee Masters
Ralph Waldo Trine
Charles Eastman
Robert F. Spetzler
Dorothea Tanning
John Huston Finley
Hiram Rhodes Revels
#5
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest , IL
#4 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$51K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
73%
Student body
2K
What is Lake Forest College known for?

Lake Forest College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Psychology
Biology
Computer Science
Philosophy
Anthropology
Sociology
Business
History
Literature
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Herblock
Karl Patterson Schmidt
Ian Punnett
Diana Nyad
John Wilbur Chapman
Charles Thom
Nate Berkus
Sig Gissler
Richard Widmark
Christian Narkiewicz-Laine
Richard J. Ablin
Jacqueline Carey
#6
Western Illinois University
Macomb , IL
#7 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois Ranked for Students in 2022 #7 Best Public Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
51%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
985/21
What is Western Illinois University known for?

Western Illinois University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Anthropology
Communications
History
Earth Sciences
Physics
Education
Business
Economics
Biology
Psychology

Most Influential Alumni

Mary Matalin
Dan K. Webb
Jason Tanamor
Paul Vallas
Mark Konkol
Michael Shonrock
Mark Tatge
John Rosemond
Camilo Osías
Vincent Stewart
William M. Ulrich
Lewis Yocum
Western Illinois University’s Online Degrees
BB in Accountancy

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Economics

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BB in Economics

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Fire Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Anthropology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Communication Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Interpersonal Communication And Processes

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Organizational Communication

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#7
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield , IL
#5 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2022 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois Ranked for Students in 2022 #8 Best Public Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
53%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1085/23
What is University of Illinois Springfield known for?

University of Illinois Springfield’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Computer Science
Communications
Psychology
Chemistry
Political Science
Medical
Law
Mathematics
Literature

Most Influential Alumni

Ward Churchill
Mike Cernovich
Dana Perino
Al Lewis
Bobby McFerrin
Gordon S. Heddell
Timothy Davlin
Brian K. Hopkins
Elgie Sims
George Lidster
Richard Oruche
Jay Kahn
University of Illinois Springfield’s Online Degrees
BBA in Business Administration

Required Credits: 53-55
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Sports Management

Required Credits: 53-55
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Human Resource Management

Required Credits: 53-55
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in History

Required Credits: 33
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Communication

Required Credits: 32
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Management

Required Credits: 53-55
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Marketing

Required Credits: 53-55
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#8
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston , IL
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois Ranked for Students in 2022 #9 Best Public Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
51%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/20
What is Eastern Illinois University known for?

Eastern Illinois University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

History
Psychology
Biology
Business
Nursing
Communications
Sociology
Philosophy
Mathematics
Literature

Most Influential Alumni

Ronald W. Davis
John Malkovich
Johnny Matson
Robert Corn-Revere
Alvin Bowman
Jim Edgar
Jan Spivey Gilchrist
Mary Miller
Joan Allen
David W. Dugan
Malcolm L. McCallum
Kevin Duckworth
Eastern Illinois University’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Organizational Development

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Communication In Organizations

Required Credits: 46
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in General Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: 35
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Health Communication

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Health Promotion

Degree Concentrations
Emergency Management And Disaster Preparedness

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#9
Chicago State University
Chicago , IL
#7 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2022 #10 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois Ranked for Students in 2022 #10 Best Public Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
47%
Graduation
21%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
856/17
What is Chicago State University known for?

Chicago State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Education
Computer Science
Literature
Mathematics
Communications
Social Work
History
Medical
Business
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Jack Dongarra
Elliot Eisner
Mamie Till
James A. Banks
Zonia Baber
Aaron S. Williams
William J. Walker
Margaret Haley
Bola Tinubu
Margaret Taylor-Burroughs
Steven Whitehurst
Blanche M. Manning
#10
North Central College
Naperville , IL
#5 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2022 #8 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$42K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
64%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1140/24
What is North Central College known for?

North Central College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Biology
History
Business
Medical
Philosophy
Psychology
Mathematics
Computer Science
Anthropology
Religious Studies

Most Influential Alumni

James Henry Breasted
Satyan Devadoss
Marc Chandler
Orrin Tucker
Alvin C. Eurich
Mildred Rebstock
David Rall
Joseph Edward Rall
Paul A. Zahl
John S. Stamm
Joe Birkett
Harold A. Zahl
#11
McKendree University
Lebanon , IL
#6 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2022 #9 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2022 #17 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Nursing Degrees
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
56%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1074/23
What is McKendree University known for?

McKendree University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Criminal Justice
Sociology
Computer Science
Business
Psychology
Communications
Education
History
Religious Studies

Most Influential Alumni

James H. Wilson
William Hyde
Richard Thatcher
Bluford Wilson
Charles S. Deneen
Thekla M. Bernays
John Bartrum
Lawrence Yates Sherman
Paul Farthing
William M. Farmer
Lanece Clarke
Harry Statham
McKendree University’s Online Degrees
BBA in Accounting

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Business Administration

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Entrepreneurship

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Human Resource Management

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Management

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Sport Management

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Supply Chain Management And Logistics

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Computer Information Systems

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Cyber Defense

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Sociology/Criminal Justice

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#12
Governors State University
University Park , IL
#10 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2022 #19 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Criminal Justice Degrees
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
52%
Graduation
16%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
940/19
What is Governors State University known for?

Governors State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Sociology
Social Work
Psychology
Political Science
Criminal Justice
Medical
Education
Computer Science
Communications
Nursing

Most Influential Alumni

Carl Hoecker
Thomas Fuentes
Alicia Tate-Nadeau
Jerry Butler
Chastity Wells-Armstrong
Herb Schumann
Jason Ervin
Sheryl Underwood
Joseph C. Szabo
Sophia King
Abiola Ajimobi
Muhal Richard Abrams
Governors State University’s Online Degrees
BA in Business And Applied Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSN in Rn To Bsn Nursing

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#13
Saint Xavier University
Chicago , IL
#7 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
52%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1035/21
What is Saint Xavier University known for?

Saint Xavier University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Mathematics
History
Computer Science
Medical
Literature
Business
Psychology
Communications
Criminal Justice

Most Influential Alumni

Craig Robinson
Andrew Velasquez
Mike Rizzo
Kathryn Ann Clarke
Carla Arocha
Frances Ann Hurley
Clayton Fejedelem
Susan Catania
Dena M. Carli
Jane M. Barnes
Eileen Hacker
Sydney D. Krampitz
Saint Xavier University’s Online Degrees
BA in Business

Required Credits: 45
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Applied Communication

Required Credits: 30
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSN in Rn To Bsn Nursing

Required Credits: 34
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#14
Augustana College
Rock Island , IL
#8 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
79%
Student body
2K
What is Augustana College known for?

Augustana College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Sociology
Physics
Religious Studies
Earth Sciences
Biology
Anthropology
Economics
History
Computer Science
Mathematics

Most Influential Alumni

Daniel C. Tsui
Thorsten Sellin
Craig Blomberg
Carter Lindberg
Oscar Broneer
Theodore Emanuel Schmauk
Damien Fair
J. E. Wallace Wallin
Ivan Wallin
Diane Griffin
Ken Anderson
Paul Fryxell
#15
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington , IL
Tuition + fees
$53K
Acceptance
45%
Graduation
81%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1200/26
What is Illinois Wesleyan University known for?

Illinois Wesleyan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Anthropology
Chemistry
Nursing
Biology
Literature
Medical
History
Economics
Physics
Religious Studies

Most Influential Alumni

Carl Shipp Marvel
James E. Talmage
John F. Melby
Sigmund Livingston
Adlai Stevenson I
Ralph C. Smedley
Harold Hodge
Sandra Steingraber
Charles "Buffalo" Jones
George W. English
Grace Raymond Hebard
Charles Christopher Adams
#16
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago , IL
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
21%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
910/18
What is Northeastern Illinois University known for?

Northeastern Illinois University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Economics
Literature
Sociology
Communications
Education
Philosophy
Political Science
History
Anthropology

Most Influential Alumni

Angelo Reyes
Ana Castillo
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
Warner Saunders
Tim McIlrath
David Brickner
Juliana Taimoorazy
Lorrainne Sade Baskerville
Luis Gutiérrez
Raphael Marcus
Michael Angelo Batio
Bob Jordan
#17
Eureka College
Eureka , IL
#10 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2022
Tuition + fees
$28K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
52%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1025/19
What is Eureka College known for?

Eureka College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Sociology
Mathematics
Biology
Criminal Justice
Medical
Philosophy
Communications
Education
Literature
Psychology

Most Influential Alumni

Ronald Reagan
Neil Reagan
Oliver Perry Hay
William L. White
Emik Avakian
Frank Frantz
Harvey Butchart
Jay Hein
Dan C. Ogle
James E. Harris
Franklin Burghardt
Tom Vaughn
#18
Millikin University
Decatur , IL
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
55%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/23
What is Millikin University known for?

Millikin University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Philosophy
Business
Sociology
Nursing
Computer Science
Biology
Medical
Engineering
Political Science
History

Most Influential Alumni

Richard F. Hohlt
Alice Ambrose
Sultaana Freeman
Kevin Vann
Gigi Goode
Parker Molloy
Bob Bledsaw
Jeff Query
Glenn Northcutt
Thomas W. Ewing
Florence Page Jaques
Annie Wersching
Millikin University’s Online Degrees
BS in Organizational Leadership

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#19
Illinois College
Jacksonville , IL
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
64%
Student body
1K
What is Illinois College known for?

Illinois College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Literature
Biology
Sociology
Nursing
Economics
Political Science
Chemistry
Medical
History
Business

Most Influential Alumni

William Jennings Bryan
John Wesley Powell
William Herndon
M. F. K. Fisher
Everett Dean Martin
Brian Sherwin
Marshall M. Parks
Edgar Howard Sturtevant
William Ransom Wood
Paul Findley
Margaret D. Foster
Ralph Tyler Smith
Illinois College’s Online Degrees
BA in Accounting

Required Credits: 42
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Agribusiness Management

Required Credits: 42
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Human Resources Management

Required Credits: 46
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Business Administration

Degree Concentrations
Management

Required Credits: 42-44
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#20
Rockford University
Rockford , IL
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
32%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1000/19
What is Rockford University known for?

Rockford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Political Science
Philosophy
Sociology
Literature
Anthropology
History
Education
Biology
Psychology
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

Jane Addams
Ellen Gates Starr
Julia Lathrop
Jeannette Howard Foster
Mark Pedowitz
Ellen Spencer Mussey
Hind Rassam Culhane
Robin Schone
Doris Lee
Belle L. Pettigrew
Mary Murtfeldt
Barbara Santucci
Rockford University’s Online Degrees
BSMS in Bachelor Of Science In Management Studies

Required Credits: 60
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSAS in Bachelors Of Science In Accounting Studies

Required Credits: 60
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#21
Lewis University
Romeoville , IL
#20 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2023
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
60%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1115/24
What is Lewis University known for?

Lewis University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Criminal Justice
Nursing
Political Science
Literature
Philosophy
Communications
History
Religious Studies
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Charles H. Ramsey
Tom O'Halleran
Kay Cannon
Michael H. Wynn
Julia Tukai Zvobgo
John Loprieno
Ed Spiezio
Jenny Bindon
Stuart Conover
John Dolinsky
Ernie Young
J. J. Furmaniak
Lewis University’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration

Required Credits: 128
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Organizational Leadership

Required Credits: 128
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Professional Sales

Required Credits: 128
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Computer Science

Required Credits: 128
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Criminal Justice

Degree Concentrations
Criminal Justice
Security Studies

Required Credits: 128
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#22
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais , IL
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
64%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/22
What is Olivet Nazarene University known for?

Olivet Nazarene University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Religious Studies
Psychology
Nursing
Biology
Philosophy
Earth Sciences
Sociology
Literature
Physics
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Adam Kotsko
Les Parrott
Richard G. Colling
J. Kenneth Grider
John C. Bowling
Teresa Woodruff
Ben Zobrist
R. Wayne Gardner
David W. Graves
Paul Cunningham
James Diehl
Tara Beth Leach
Olivet Nazarene University’s Online Degrees
BSB in Business

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSL in Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Multidisciplinary Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#23
Monmouth College
Monmouth , IL
Tuition + fees
$41K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
55%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/24
What is Monmouth College known for?

Monmouth College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Physics
Chemistry
Philosophy
Engineering
Economics
History
Literature
Biology
Mathematics
Computer Science

Most Influential Alumni

James Stockdale
John Findley Wallace
David Turnbull
Joe Tait
Enoch Albert Bryan
Harold Arthur Poling
Charles F. Wishart
William J. Winslade
Chad Simpson
Calvin B. Hoover
Robert Hugo Dunlap
Kennedy J. Reed
#24
North Park University
Chicago , IL
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
67%
Graduation
61%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1031/22
What is North Park University known for?

North Park University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Mathematics
Communications
Religious Studies
Economics
Sociology
Philosophy
History
Medical
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Theodore Wilbur Anderson
Kathryn Edin
Paul Carlson
Gordon Edes
Stephen T. Franklin
TimTheTatman
Raymond Ericson
Arthur W. Wermuth
Daniel La Spata
Timothy Johnson
James R. Thompson
Nancy Faust
North Park University’s Online Degrees
BA in Digital Marketing

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Nonprofit Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Organizational Management And Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
#25
Dominican University
River Forest , IL
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
52%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1060/21
What is Dominican University known for?

Dominican University ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Sociology
Literature
Psychology
Philosophy
Law
Business
Education
Mathematics
Chemistry

Most Influential Alumni

Eve Ewing
Senait Fisseha
Mary Yu
Maureen Daly
Ilene Cooper
Hsu Ming-tsai
Megan Cavanagh
Manuel Flores
Delia Villegas Vorhauer
John W. Berry
Gary A Piazza
Sandy Rummel

Illinois’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).
Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whehter you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.
Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.
The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois 2022

10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois

Colleges and Universities in Illinois

What are Illinois’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois 2022

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Western Illinois University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

University of Illinois Springfield’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Eastern Illinois University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

McKendree University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Governors State University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Saint Xavier University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Millikin University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Illinois College’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Rockford University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Lewis University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Most Influential Alumni

Olivet Nazarene University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

North Park University’s Online Degrees

Most Influential Alumni

Illinois’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest