68 Best Art & Design schools in Illinois

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Illinois ranked based on their research performance in Art & Design. A graph of 3.05M citations received by 101K academic papers made by 68 universities in Illinois was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Art & Design

#3 in the United States

#4 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#18 in the United States

#20 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Art & Design

#32 in the United States

#35 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#52 in the United States

#60 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#129 in the United States

#153 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,592

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Art & Design

#143 in the United States

#167 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,565
Enrollment: 15,504

7. DePaul University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#149 in the United States

#173 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $32,129

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Art & Design

#154 in the United States

#179 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

9. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Art & Design

#162 in the United States

#188 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

10. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Art & Design

#195 in the United States

#225 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1000
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $11,122

11. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Art & Design

#208 in the United States

#238 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $25,001

12. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Art & Design

#318 in the United States

#357 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 93%

13. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Art & Design

#326 in the United States

#365 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $31,310

14. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Art & Design

#345 in the United States

#386 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,346

15. Bradley University

Peoria

For Art & Design

#379 in the United States

#422 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $24,703

16. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Art & Design

#380 in the United States

#423 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,620
Enrollment: 7,073

17. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Art & Design

#475 in the United States

#524 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1081
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $17,255

18. Knox College

Galesburg

For Art & Design

#496 in the United States

#546 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1253
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $25,524

19. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#497 in the United States

#547 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $12,560
Enrollment: 5,504

20. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Art & Design

#518 in the United States

#569 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,695

21. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#534 in the United States

#587 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 955
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $21,503

22. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#552 in the United States

#605 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $55,485
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $18,872

23. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Art & Design

#557 in the United States

#611 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 1,949
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1912

24. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Art & Design

#562 in the United States

#617 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

25. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Art & Design

#619 in the United States

#679 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1268
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,894

26. Rush University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#647 in the United States

#711 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,782
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1972

27. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#656 in the United States

#720 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $29,790
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $20,851

28. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#669 in the United States

#733 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $11,943
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,290

29. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Art & Design

#710 in the United States

#776 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

30. North Central College

Naperville

For Art & Design

#714 in the United States

#780 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1173
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,190

31. Governors State University

University Park

For Art & Design

#791 in the United States

#857 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,315
Enrollment: 4,337

32. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Art & Design

#797 in the United States

#864 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $22,760

33. National Louis University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#804 in the United States

#871 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $15,724
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,722

34. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#833 in the United States

#900 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 38
Male:Female: 73:27

35. Dominican University

River Forest

For Art & Design

#883 in the United States

#952 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1037
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $16,969

36. Millikin University

Decatur

For Art & Design

#910 in the United States

#980 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $10,078

37. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#919 in the United States

#989 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

38. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#924 in the United States

#994 in North America

Enrollment: 198
Male:Female: 64:36
Founded: 1968

39. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#931 in the United States

#1001 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $19,111
Enrollment: 2,324

40. North Park University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#933 in the United States

#1003 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $19,910
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,779

41. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Art & Design

#939 in the United States

#1009 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $19,472

42. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Art & Design

#978 in the United States

#1048 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $19,088

43. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Art & Design

#987 in the United States

#1057 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $20,319
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,832

44. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1002 in the United States

#1073 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

45. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1033 in the United States

#1107 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $31,063

46. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Art & Design

#1049 in the United States

#1123 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 299
Male:Female: 44:56

47. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Art & Design

#1064 in the United States

#1139 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $17,767
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,680

48. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Art & Design

#1117 in the United States

#1194 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $24,570
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $21,484

49. Aurora University

Aurora

For Art & Design

#1120 in the United States

#1197 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1032
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,220

50. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Art & Design

#1139 in the United States

#1217 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $21,260
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,365

51. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1160 in the United States

#1238 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

52. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1163 in the United States

#1241 in North America

Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 42:58

53. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1169 in the United States

#1247 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

54. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Art & Design

#1171 in the United States

#1249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $21,349
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,613

55. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Art & Design

#1192 in the United States

#1271 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $17,218

56. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Art & Design

#1199 in the United States

#1278 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $22,707

57. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Art & Design

#1214 in the United States

#1293 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $16,455

58. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1217 in the United States

#1296 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $17,008
Receiving Aid: 84%
Average Aid: $5,947

59. Adler University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1224 in the United States

#1303 in North America

Enrollment: 1,674
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1952

60. Greenville University

Greenville

For Art & Design

#1244 in the United States

#1324 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $21,442

61. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Art & Design

#1250 in the United States

#1331 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

62. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Art & Design

#1254 in the United States

#1335 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 6
Male:Female: 50:50

63. Eureka College

Eureka

For Art & Design

#1314 in the United States

#1397 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Net Price: $20,215
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,303

64. Kendall College

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1315 in the United States

#1398 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Net Price: $30,324
Receiving Aid: 69%
Average Aid: $7,984

65. Rockford University

Rockford

For Art & Design

#1325 in the United States

#1408 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $24,098

66. Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation, Inc.

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1330 in the United States

#1413 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

67. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1338 in the United States

#1421 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $23,950
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $10,477

68. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Art & Design

#1340 in the United States

#1423 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $25,200
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $22,269

Closest to Illinois states to learn Art & Design

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	30	27
Missouri	34	48
Iowa	25	45
Kentucky	20	80
Wisconsin	28	9
Tennessee	30	53
Ohio	52	19
Michigan	33	4
Arkansas	15	116
West Virginia	13	125
Minnesota	25	24
Mississippi	10	166
Kansas	12	62
Alabama	22	101
Virginia	38	36
Georgia	40	28
North Carolina	39	11
Oklahoma	17	95
Nebraska	10	88
South Carolina	23	75
Pennsylvania	95	12
South Dakota	8	377
District of Columbia	9	56
Louisiana	20	72
Maryland	25	21
New York	124	7
New Jersey	25	22
North Dakota	5	231
Connecticut	20	20
Texas	68	13
Vermont	9	145
Colorado	19	42
Massachusetts	65	5
Rhode Island	9	65
Florida	44	34
New Hampshire	11	84
New Mexico	7	96
Maine	9	173
Montana	5	182
Utah	10	44
Arizona	7	25
Idaho	7	219
Nevada	4	137
Oregon	16	86
Washington	20	8
California	116	1
Puerto Rico	5	420
Alaska	4	232
Hawaii	6	89

Closest to Illinois states to learn Art & Design

Art & Design subfields in Illinois