74 Best colleges for Biology 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 Biology. A graph of 30.8M citations received by 693K 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: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Biology

#25 in the United States

#27 in North America

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

3. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#26 in the United States

#28 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#51 in the United States

#55 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#149 in the United States

#171 in North America

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

6. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Biology

#182 in the United States

#206 in North America

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

7. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Biology

#197 in the United States

#221 in North America

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

8. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Biology

#222 in the United States

#250 in North America

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

9. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Biology

#232 in the United States

#260 in North America

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

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: 1,949
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1912

11. Rush University

Chicago

For Biology

#238 in the United States

#267 in North America

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

12. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Biology

#244 in the United States

#273 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

13. Illinois State University

Normal

For Biology

#247 in the United States

#276 in North America

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

14. DePaul University

Chicago

For Biology

#297 in the United States

#334 in North America

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

15. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Biology

#385 in the United States

#434 in North America

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

16. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Biology

#418 in the United States

#468 in North America

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

17. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Biology

#449 in the United States

#499 in North America

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

18. North Central College

Naperville

For Biology

#451 in the United States

#501 in North America

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

19. Bradley University

Peoria

For Biology

#488 in the United States

#539 in North America

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

20. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Biology

#523 in the United States

#575 in North America

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

21. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Biology

#528 in the United States

#580 in North America

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

22. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#618 in the United States

#671 in North America

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

23. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Biology

#625 in the United States

#680 in North America

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

24. Greenville University

Greenville

For Biology

#629 in the United States

#685 in North America

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

25. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Biology

#636 in the United States

#692 in North America

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

26. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Biology

#649 in the United States

#705 in North America

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

27. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Biology

#657 in the United States

#715 in North America

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

28. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Biology

#695 in the United States

#756 in North America

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

29. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Biology

#790 in the United States

#852 in North America

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

30. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Biology

#793 in the United States

#855 in North America

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

31. Knox College

Galesburg

For Biology

#818 in the United States

#880 in North America

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

32. Rockford University

Rockford

For Biology

#825 in the United States

#887 in North America

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

33. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Biology

#838 in the United States

#900 in North America

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

34. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#859 in the United States

#921 in North America

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

35. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Biology

#871 in the United States

#933 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 513
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1906

36. Governors State University

University Park

For Biology

#887 in the United States

#953 in North America

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

37. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Biology

#895 in the United States

#961 in North America

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

38. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Biology

#904 in the United States

#970 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 483
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1872

39. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Biology

#915 in the United States

#982 in North America

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

40. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Biology

#920 in the United States

#987 in North America

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

41. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Biology

#981 in the United States

#1050 in North America

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

42. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Biology

#996 in the United States

#1065 in North America

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

43. Dominican University

River Forest

For Biology

#1034 in the United States

#1103 in North America

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

44. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Biology

#1038 in the United States

#1107 in North America

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

45. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Biology

#1085 in the United States

#1155 in North America

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

46. Millikin University

Decatur

For Biology

#1090 in the United States

#1160 in North America

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

47. Aurora University

Aurora

For Biology

#1146 in the United States

#1217 in North America

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

48. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Biology

#1155 in the United States

#1227 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

49. National Louis University

Chicago

For Biology

#1159 in the United States

#1231 in North America

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

50. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Biology

#1204 in the United States

#1276 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

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

Chicago

For Biology

#1212 in the United States

#1284 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

52. Quincy University

Quincy

For Biology

#1267 in the United States

#1341 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $17,424

53. Judson University

Elgin

For Biology

#1279 in the United States

#1354 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 970
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $21,331

54. Kendall College

Chicago

For Biology

#1282 in the United States

#1357 in North America

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

55. Eureka College

Eureka

For Biology

#1287 in the United States

#1362 in North America

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

56. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1296 in the United States

#1371 in North America

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

57. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1324 in the United States

#1400 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

58. Adler University

Chicago

For Biology

#1331 in the United States

#1408 in North America

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

59. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Biology

#1337 in the United States

#1414 in North America

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

60. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Biology

#1344 in the United States

#1422 in North America

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

61. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Biology

#1355 in the United States

#1433 in North America

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

62. North Park University

Chicago

For Biology

#1377 in the United States

#1455 in North America

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

63. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Biology

#1394 in the United States

#1473 in North America

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

64. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Biology

#1418 in the United States

#1497 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

65. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Biology

#1463 in the United States

#1545 in North America

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

66. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Biology

#1503 in the United States

#1587 in North America

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

67. Principia College

Elsah

For Biology

#1504 in the United States

#1588 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $14,904

68. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Biology

#1514 in the United States

#1598 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

69. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1534 in the United States

#1618 in North America

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

70. Spertus College

Chicago

For Biology

#1568 in the United States

#1654 in North America

Enrollment: 97
Male:Female: 37:63

71. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Biology

#1575 in the United States

#1661 in North America

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

72. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Biology

#1585 in the United States

#1672 in North America

Enrollment: 120
Male:Female: 20:80

73. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Biology

#1602 in the United States

#1691 in North America

Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 42:58

74. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Biology

#1609 in the United States

#1698 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $14,394
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $6,547

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	36	4
Arkansas	17	114
West Virginia	21	121
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	82
Maryland	27	2
Delaware	3	105
New York	136	7
New Jersey	27	35
North Dakota	9	167
Connecticut	20	9
Texas	79	21
Vermont	12	112
Colorado	20	57
Massachusetts	69	1
Rhode Island	9	69
Florida	61	22
New Hampshire	12	99
New Mexico	9	96
Maine	16	176
Montana	9	139
Utah	11	36
Arizona	11	37
Idaho	7	162
Nevada	8	143
Oregon	18	64
Washington	33	5
California	134	3
Puerto Rico	15	315
Alaska	4	185
Hawaii	7	122

Closest to Illinois states to learn Biology

Biology subfields in Illinois