Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2024

Badge for BEST IN ILLINOIS SMALL COLLEGES

Published: Mar 23, 2021
Updated: Mar 25, 2024

Small colleges in Illinois are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Wheaton College
Rockford University
Knox College
Lake Forest College
Chicago State University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Augustana College
Eureka College
University of Illinois Springfield

Benedictine University 93%
Trinity International University 91%
Monmouth College 91%
Dominican University 90%
Wheaton College 88%
Eureka College 87%
Saint Xavier University 84%
University of Illinois Springfield 82%
Illinois College 77%
Millikin University 75%

McKendree University 17 to 1
Saint Xavier University 15 to 1
Olivet Nazarene University 14 to 1
Quincy University 14 to 1
Eureka College 13 to 1
Illinois Institute of Technology 13 to 1
Benedictine University 13 to 1
University of Illinois Springfield 12 to 1
North Central College 12 to 1
Lake Forest College 12 to 1

Illinois Wesleyan University $53,814
Knox College $53,259
Lake Forest College $52,902
Illinois Institute of Technology $50,640
Augustana College $47,916
North Central College $43,046
Wheaton College $42,240
Monmouth College $42,214
Millikin University $40,740
Olivet Nazarene University $37,940

Illinois Institute of Technology $34,101
Augustana College $34,000
Millikin University $20,000
Dominican University $19,900
Benedictine University $19,181
Wheaton College $18,720
Trinity International University $17,880
North Central College $15,822
Lake Forest College $15,816
Saint Xavier University $15,000

Trinity Christian College
Quincy University
Principia College
Dominican University
North Park University
Monmouth College
Olivet Nazarene University
Rockford University
Illinois College
Millikin University

Trinity Christian College
Olivet Nazarene University
Dominican University
Saint Xavier University
Millikin University
Quincy University
Governors State University
North Park University
McKendree University
Monmouth College

Illinois Wesleyan University 42%
Principia College 48%
Chicago State University 49%
Rockford University 55%
Governors State University 57%
Olivet Nazarene University 58%
Lake Forest College 60%
Augustana College 61%
North Central College 61%
Illinois Institute of Technology 61%

Principia College 6 to 1
Knox College 9 to 1
North Park University 10 to 1
Monmouth College 10 to 1
Millikin University 10 to 1
Trinity Christian College 10 to 1
Rockford University 10 to 1
Governors State University 10 to 1
Chicago State University 11 to 1
Augustana College 11 to 1

Governors State University $7,512
University of Illinois Springfield $9,758
Chicago State University $12,018
Eureka College $28,380
Quincy University $31,940
Principia College $32,130
McKendree University $33,430
Trinity International University $33,898
North Park University $34,020
Benedictine University $34,290

Chicago State University $5,976
Governors State University $6,354
University of Illinois Springfield $8,858
Illinois College $9,000
McKendree University $9,450
Trinity Christian College $10,458
Quincy University $12,000
Olivet Nazarene University $12,290
Rockford University $13,680
North Park University $14,004

Key Takeaways

The best small colleges in Illinois are excellent choices for college students who want a well-rounded education, a more personalized educational experience, and a more customized approach to skills acquisition (i.e., technical or liberal arts).
The choice between a public and a private college will depend on your financial capacity, choice in a degree, and desire for campus life. Both types of institutions, however, offer financial aid and, thus, provide students with the opportunity to make their choice based on other non-monetary factors.
Illinois is an excellent place to pursue higher education, thanks to its world-class colleges and universities as well as its abundant career opportunities.

Table of Contents

Standing Out as a Small College in Illinois

The best small colleges in Illinois featured here consist of public and private colleges, a testament to the world-class quality of higher education institutions in the Prairie State. Each of these small colleges has a unique history and continues to make significant contributions to diverse fields, from nursing and computer science to business administration and criminal justice.

The oldest of these small colleges—and the oldest in Illinois—is Mckendree University, established by pioneer Methodists in 1828. It’s also the oldest university in the United States associated with the United Methodist Church.

The second-oldest college in Illinois is Illinois College, established by the Yale Band in 1829. While McKendree University may have beaten it in terms of founding date, it’s the first college in Illinois to award a degree and the state’s first medical school.

Founded in 1837, Knox College uses a unique 3-3 academic calendar instead of the typical semester-based academic calendar. This setup enables students to focus on their studies—each term requires completion of only three courses. This also allows faculty members to provide more personalized professional attention to their students, and is one of the reasons why it’s one of the best small colleges in Illinois.

The #1 in our list of the best small colleges in Illinois, Illinois Institute of Technology, traces its roots to 1890 and has garnered several accolades in its 130-year history. Among its latest is the CAE-CD or National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education designation.

The bottom line: While Illinois is chock-full of private school institutions with outstanding academic programs, the small Illinois university and college options featured here are great choices for higher education! Excellent academic standards, credentialed faculty members, and exceptional student support services are among the reasons these small colleges are recognized for their great value.

Public Colleges vs. Private Colleges

But, it’s also important to distinguish between public and private colleges, a distinction that can make or break your academic career. Their differences will greatly impact your ability to earn your degree based on your desired timeline, thanks to factors like total cost of attendance, degree programs, student support services, and class size and diversity. Be sure to carefully consider the unique characteristics of each small college before making your choice.

Funding sources and their effect on tuition and fees.

With funding from the state government, public colleges are more affordable than private colleges. Government subsidies mean students aren’t paying for the actual cost of attendance. In contrast, private colleges don’t receive a single cent from the government and, instead, rely on tuition, fees, alum contributions, endowments, and other sources of revenue. The result: Higher tuition and other fees.

Fortunately, students in accredited public and private colleges can apply for financial aid! Federal and state financial assistance, institutional scholarships, and external grants are available.

Degree programs and research opportunities.

Public colleges are likely to have larger class sizes, more diverse student bodies, and a wider range of degree and certificate programs. Private colleges tend to have smaller class sizes and less diversity among their students, although there are always exceptions. There’s also more emphasis on liberal arts programs with a smattering of STEM and business administration programs.

Due to their limited funding, small private colleges may not offer as many research opportunities as small public colleges. But what they lack in resources can mean better collaborations between students and professors.

In terms of campus life, small public and private colleges feature a more tight-knit community with a fairly wide variety of on-campus activities and organizations.

Ultimately, your choice between a small public college and a private college will depend on your circumstances and preferences. With numerous world-class colleges and universities in Illinois, you will be spoiled for choice!

Great Reasons to Study in Illinois

So why choose the Prairie State for your higher education? First, you will find rich and diverse opportunities to appreciate Illinois’s history, arts and culture! Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Barack Obama, and Ronald Reagan call Illinois home—in fact, it’s where the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the future Barack Obama Presidential Center are located.

Chicago, its largest city, boasts numerous galleries and museums, historical landmarks and attractions, and awe-inspiring architecture and sculptures. There are several fairs and festivals, too, such as the Abe Fest and Illinois State Fair, as well as sports teams to root for—the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox among them.

Did we mention that the cost of living in Illinois is well below the national average? Students will find the fairly reasonable costs of housing, utilities and groceries to be appealing. With the wide range of financial aid programs available in Illinois, pursuing a degree in one of its best small colleges becomes even more attractive!

The employment opportunities in Illinois are also excellent for students and graduates of small colleges. The state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity cites energy, transportation and distribution, and biotechnology and life sciences as among the state’s growth industries.

More than 30 Fortune 500 corporations in Illinois, such as Allstate and Boeing, contribute to its diverse economy. The most profitable industries include finance, insurance, and real estate. And you will be glad to know that Illinois’ minimum wage rate will be $15 in 2025, among the highest in the country!

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

The following list of the best small colleges and universities in Illinois is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 34 small colleges in Illinois. The list below of the 25 best small colleges in Illinois. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.

How do we determine Illinois's best small 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.

Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2023

Build your own college rankings

Illinois’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest

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.

Many states have great small colleges. If you’re interested in looking into what other states have to offer, check out the best small colleges in New Hampshire and Nevada.

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Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2024

10 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2024

Key Takeaways

Standing Out as a Small College in Illinois

Public Colleges vs. Private Colleges

Funding sources and their effect on tuition and fees.

Degree programs and research opportunities.

Great Reasons to Study in Illinois

Colleges and Universities in Illinois

What are Illinois’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Illinois Institute of Technology

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Wheaton College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Knox College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Lake Forest College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Illinois Springfield

Most Influential Alumni

University of Illinois Springfield’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Benedictine University

Most Influential Alumni

Benedictine University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Chicago State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at North Central College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at McKendree University

Most Influential Alumni

McKendree University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Governors State University

Most Influential Alumni

Governors State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Saint Xavier University

Most Influential Alumni

Saint Xavier University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Augustana College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Trinity International University

Most Influential Alumni

Trinity International University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Illinois Wesleyan University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Eureka College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Millikin University

Most Influential Alumni

Millikin University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Illinois College

Most Influential Alumni

Illinois College’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Rockford University

Most Influential Alumni

Rockford University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Olivet Nazarene University

Most Influential Alumni

Olivet Nazarene University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Monmouth College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at North Park University

Most Influential Alumni

North Park University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Dominican University

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Quincy University

Most Influential Alumni

Quincy University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Trinity Christian College

Most Influential Alumni

Illinois’s Best Small College in Your Area of Interest