74 Best colleges for Biology 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 Biology. A graph of 32.2M citations received by 710K academic papers made by 74 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.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Biology

#23 in the United States

#25 in North America

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

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Biology

#25 in the United States

#27 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

3. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#26 in the United States

#28 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#51 in the United States

#55 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#151 in the United States

#173 in North America

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

6. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Biology

#182 in the United States

#206 in North America

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

7. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Biology

#198 in the United States

#223 in North America

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

8. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Biology

#224 in the United States

#252 in North America

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

9. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Biology

#232 in the United States

#261 in North America

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

10. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Biology

#234 in the United States

#263 in North America

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

11. Rush University

Chicago

For Biology

#237 in the United States

#266 in North America

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

12. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Biology

#245 in the United States

#274 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

13. Illinois State University

Normal

For Biology

#248 in the United States

#278 in North America

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

14. DePaul University

Chicago

For Biology

#296 in the United States

#333 in North America

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

15. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Biology

#386 in the United States

#435 in North America

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

16. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Biology

#420 in the United States

#470 in North America

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

17. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Biology

#450 in the United States

#500 in North America

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

18. North Central College

Naperville

For Biology

#452 in the United States

#502 in North America

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

19. Bradley University

Peoria

For Biology

#486 in the United States

#537 in North America

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

20. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Biology

#523 in the United States

#575 in North America

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

21. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Biology

#535 in the United States

#587 in North America

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

22. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#618 in the United States

#672 in North America

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

23. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Biology

#623 in the United States

#678 in North America

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

24. Greenville University

Greenville

For Biology

#629 in the United States

#685 in North America

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

25. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Biology

#643 in the United States

#699 in North America

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

26. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Biology

#658 in the United States

#716 in North America

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

27. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Biology

#662 in the United States

#720 in North America

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

28. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Biology

#695 in the United States

#756 in North America

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

29. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Biology

#790 in the United States

#852 in North America

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

30. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Biology

#792 in the United States

#854 in North America

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

31. Knox College

Galesburg

For Biology

#820 in the United States

#882 in North America

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

32. Rockford University

Rockford

For Biology

#828 in the United States

#890 in North America

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

33. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Biology

#844 in the United States

#906 in North America

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

34. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#863 in the United States

#926 in North America

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

35. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Biology

#870 in the United States

#934 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 511
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1906

36. Governors State University

University Park

For Biology

#891 in the United States

#958 in North America

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

37. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Biology

#897 in the United States

#964 in North America

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

38. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Biology

#902 in the United States

#969 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 474
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1872

39. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Biology

#915 in the United States

#982 in North America

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

40. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Biology

#919 in the United States

#987 in North America

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

41. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Biology

#977 in the United States

#1046 in North America

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

42. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Biology

#999 in the United States

#1068 in North America

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

43. Dominican University

River Forest

For Biology

#1035 in the United States

#1104 in North America

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

44. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Biology

#1051 in the United States

#1121 in North America

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

45. Millikin University

Decatur

For Biology

#1091 in the United States

#1161 in North America

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

46. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Biology

#1098 in the United States

#1168 in North America

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

47. Aurora University

Aurora

For Biology

#1149 in the United States

#1220 in North America

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

48. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Biology

#1156 in the United States

#1228 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

49. National Louis University

Chicago

For Biology

#1161 in the United States

#1233 in North America

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

50. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Biology

#1207 in the United States

#1280 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

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

Chicago

For Biology

#1219 in the United States

#1292 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

52. Quincy University

Quincy

For Biology

#1269 in the United States

#1343 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,477

53. Kendall College

Chicago

For Biology

#1277 in the United States

#1351 in North America

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

54. Judson University

Elgin

For Biology

#1285 in the United States

#1360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 967
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $18,673

55. Eureka College

Eureka

For Biology

#1290 in the United States

#1365 in North America

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

56. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1293 in the United States

#1368 in North America

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

57. Adler University

Chicago

For Biology

#1313 in the United States

#1389 in North America

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

58. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1324 in the United States

#1401 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

59. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Biology

#1331 in the United States

#1408 in North America

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

60. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Biology

#1342 in the United States

#1420 in North America

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

61. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Biology

#1358 in the United States

#1436 in North America

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

62. North Park University

Chicago

For Biology

#1377 in the United States

#1455 in North America

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

63. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Biology

#1394 in the United States

#1473 in North America

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

64. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Biology

#1421 in the United States

#1501 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

65. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Biology

#1466 in the United States

#1548 in North America

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

66. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Biology

#1492 in the United States

#1575 in North America

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

67. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Biology

#1510 in the United States

#1594 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

68. Principia College

Elsah

For Biology

#1511 in the United States

#1595 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $18,248
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $30,402

69. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1531 in the United States

#1616 in North America

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

70. Spertus College

Chicago

For Biology

#1571 in the United States

#1658 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

71. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Biology

#1581 in the United States

#1668 in North America

Enrollment: 121
Male:Female: 24:76

72. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Biology

#1582 in the United States

#1669 in North America

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

73. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Biology

#1607 in the United States

#1696 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

74. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Biology

#1611 in the United States

#1700 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $14,726
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $7,671

Closest to Illinois states to learn Biology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	33	46
Missouri	36	17
Iowa	30	42
Kentucky	27	61
Wisconsin	33	13
Tennessee	38	43
Ohio	60	24
Michigan	37	4
Arkansas	17	115
West Virginia	21	120
Minnesota	28	16
Mississippi	14	145
Kansas	17	98
Alabama	28	44
Virginia	43	49
Georgia	48	32
North Carolina	46	18
Oklahoma	21	124
Nebraska	14	97
South Carolina	28	94
Pennsylvania	102	8
South Dakota	10	207
District of Columbia	9	81
Louisiana	25	83
Maryland	28	2
Delaware	3	105
New York	136	7
New Jersey	27	35
North Dakota	9	167
Connecticut	20	9
Texas	79	20
Vermont	12	112
Colorado	20	57
Massachusetts	69	1
Rhode Island	9	69
Florida	62	22
New Hampshire	12	99
New Mexico	9	96
Maine	16	176
Montana	9	141
Utah	11	36
Arizona	11	37
Idaho	7	159
Nevada	8	142
Oregon	18	64
Washington	33	5
California	134	3
Puerto Rico	15	315
Alaska	4	184
Hawaii	7	123

Closest to Illinois states to learn Biology

Biology subfields in Illinois