68 Best Art & Design schools in Illinois

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 3.18M citations received by 103K 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: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#18 in the United States

#20 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Art & Design

#31 in the United States

#34 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#52 in the United States

#61 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#131 in the United States

#155 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,147

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Art & Design

#144 in the United States

#168 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $14,387
Enrollment: 15,414

7. DePaul University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#149 in the United States

#173 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $34,135

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Art & Design

#157 in the United States

#182 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

9. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Art & Design

#164 in the United States

#191 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

10. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Art & Design

#197 in the United States

#227 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 985
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $12,960

11. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Art & Design

#210 in the United States

#240 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $24,796

12. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Art & Design

#321 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

13. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Art & Design

#327 in the United States

#366 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $28,644

14. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Art & Design

#348 in the United States

#389 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,356

15. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Art & Design

#379 in the United States

#422 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,994
Enrollment: 6,332

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Art & Design

#383 in the United States

#427 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $23,787
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,808

17. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Art & Design

#474 in the United States

#524 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1032
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $17,375

18. Knox College

Galesburg

For Art & Design

#493 in the United States

#544 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $25,709

19. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#494 in the United States

#545 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $12,876
Enrollment: 5,734

20. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Art & Design

#531 in the United States

#584 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,714

21. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#532 in the United States

#585 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,366

22. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#553 in the United States

#607 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $55,631
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $20,050

23. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Art & Design

#557 in the United States

#613 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,021
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1912

24. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Art & Design

#560 in the United States

#616 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

25. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Art & Design

#627 in the United States

#689 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1292
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,225

26. Rush University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#642 in the United States

#706 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,769
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1972

27. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#659 in the United States

#723 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Net Price: $29,473
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,780

28. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#668 in the United States

#733 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $11,318
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,985

29. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Art & Design

#708 in the United States

#774 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

30. North Central College

Naperville

For Art & Design

#716 in the United States

#782 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1183
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $23,276

31. Governors State University

University Park

For Art & Design

#787 in the United States

#854 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $11,455
Enrollment: 4,397

32. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Art & Design

#797 in the United States

#864 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $24,629

33. National Louis University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#812 in the United States

#879 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $13,150
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $11,056

34. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#834 in the United States

#901 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 39
Male:Female: 76:24

35. Dominican University

River Forest

For Art & Design

#883 in the United States

#952 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $13,402

36. Millikin University

Decatur

For Art & Design

#910 in the United States

#980 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 995
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,813

37. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Art & Design

#912 in the United States

#982 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $18,959

38. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#917 in the United States

#987 in North America

Enrollment: 210
Male:Female: 64:36
Founded: 1968

39. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Art & Design

#930 in the United States

#1000 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

40. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#935 in the United States

#1005 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $18,194
Enrollment: 2,238

41. North Park University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#938 in the United States

#1008 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $20,372
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,476

42. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Art & Design

#985 in the United States

#1055 in North America

Net Price: $30,212
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $3,499
Enrollment: 263

43. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Art & Design

#987 in the United States

#1058 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $17,768

44. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1006 in the United States

#1078 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

45. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1028 in the United States

#1102 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 865
Average ACT: 15
Net Price: $30,889

46. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Art & Design

#1050 in the United States

#1125 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 313
Male:Female: 44:56

47. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Art & Design

#1052 in the United States

#1127 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $19,073
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $26,361

48. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Art & Design

#1117 in the United States

#1195 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $23,139
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,911

49. Aurora University

Aurora

For Art & Design

#1122 in the United States

#1200 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $19,053

50. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Art & Design

#1151 in the United States

#1229 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $2,835
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $13,680

51. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1160 in the United States

#1238 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

52. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1165 in the United States

#1244 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

53. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1166 in the United States

#1245 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

54. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Art & Design

#1182 in the United States

#1261 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Net Price: $18,460
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,456

55. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Art & Design

#1198 in the United States

#1277 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,655

56. Adler University

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1200 in the United States

#1279 in North America

Enrollment: 1,631
Male:Female: 19:81
Founded: 1952

57. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Art & Design

#1208 in the United States

#1287 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $21,281

58. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1209 in the United States

#1288 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $8,310
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $14,748

59. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Art & Design

#1216 in the United States

#1295 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $14,045

60. Greenville University

Greenville

For Art & Design

#1252 in the United States

#1333 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1001
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,799

61. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Art & Design

#1257 in the United States

#1338 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

62. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Art & Design

#1274 in the United States

#1355 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 315
Male:Female: 58:42

63. Eureka College

Eureka

For Art & Design

#1314 in the United States

#1398 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $19,128
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,489

64. Kendall College

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1321 in the United States

#1405 in North America

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

65. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1323 in the United States

#1407 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $21,614
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $12,742

66. Rockford University

Rockford

For Art & Design

#1334 in the United States

#1418 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $23,642

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

Chicago

For Art & Design

#1342 in the United States

#1426 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

68. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Art & Design

#1346 in the United States

#1430 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Net Price: $22,444
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $26,102

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	53	19
Michigan	34	4
Arkansas	15	116
West Virginia	13	122
Minnesota	25	26
Mississippi	10	166
Kansas	12	62
Alabama	23	100
Virginia	38	36
Georgia	41	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	21	73
Maryland	26	21
New York	124	8
New Jersey	25	22
North Dakota	5	227
Connecticut	20	20
Texas	68	13
Vermont	9	147
Colorado	19	42
Massachusetts	65	5
Rhode Island	9	65
Florida	45	34
New Hampshire	11	84
New Mexico	7	96
Maine	9	174
Montana	5	184
Utah	10	44
Arizona	7	24
Idaho	7	219
Nevada	4	137
Oregon	16	86
Washington	20	7
California	117	1
Puerto Rico	5	423
Alaska	4	233
Hawaii	6	87

Closest to Illinois states to learn Art & Design

Art & Design subfields in Illinois