71 Best colleges for Biology in Illinois

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Illinois ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 23.4M citations received by 615K academic papers made by 71 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: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Biology

#24 in the United States

#26 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

3. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#26 in the United States

#29 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#50 in the United States

#54 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#152 in the United States

#173 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,511

6. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Biology

#170 in the United States

#193 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1043
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $16,296

7. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Biology

#197 in the United States

#221 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1020
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

8. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Biology

#222 in the United States

#249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,552
Enrollment: 15,649

9. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Biology

#231 in the United States

#258 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,702

10. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Biology

#235 in the United States

#263 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 1,940
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1912

11. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Biology

#237 in the United States

#265 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 30:70

12. Illinois State University

Normal

For Biology

#248 in the United States

#277 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

13. Rush University

Chicago

For Biology

#250 in the United States

#281 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1972

14. DePaul University

Chicago

For Biology

#299 in the United States

#336 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $32,151

15. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Biology

#385 in the United States

#434 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

16. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Biology

#407 in the United States

#457 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1010
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,773

17. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Biology

#426 in the United States

#476 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $15,632
Enrollment: 7,643

18. Bradley University

Peoria

For Biology

#471 in the United States

#521 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $24,053

19. North Central College

Naperville

For Biology

#498 in the United States

#549 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $25,285

20. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Biology

#513 in the United States

#565 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $30,096

21. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Biology

#523 in the United States

#575 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $22,117

22. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Biology

#576 in the United States

#628 in North America

Net Price: $20,319
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,832
Enrollment: 242

23. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Biology

#594 in the United States

#646 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1104
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

24. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Biology

#612 in the United States

#666 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $15,891
Enrollment: 2,317

25. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#623 in the United States

#678 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 40
Male:Female: 77:23

26. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Biology

#665 in the United States

#721 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $29,961

27. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Biology

#679 in the United States

#737 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $15,143
Enrollment: 5,756

28. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Biology

#744 in the United States

#805 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

29. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Biology

#749 in the United States

#811 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1247
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $27,839

30. Knox College

Galesburg

For Biology

#776 in the United States

#838 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $26,882

31. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Biology

#779 in the United States

#841 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $11,302
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,886

32. Rockford University

Rockford

For Biology

#780 in the United States

#842 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 963
Average ACT: 16
Net Price: $25,047

33. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#817 in the United States

#879 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Net Price: $53,923
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,290

34. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Biology

#833 in the United States

#895 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 498
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1906

35. Governors State University

University Park

For Biology

#845 in the United States

#907 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 945
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,987

36. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Biology

#848 in the United States

#910 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 481
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1872

37. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Biology

#903 in the United States

#970 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,660

38. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Biology

#910 in the United States

#977 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $24,108

39. Greenville University

Greenville

For Biology

#920 in the United States

#987 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1009
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,718

40. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Biology

#923 in the United States

#990 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $25,658
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,083

41. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Biology

#964 in the United States

#1033 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $21,575
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,112

42. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Biology

#972 in the United States

#1041 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $18,560

43. Dominican University

River Forest

For Biology

#1013 in the United States

#1082 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $18,162

44. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Biology

#1019 in the United States

#1088 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $20,237

45. Millikin University

Decatur

For Biology

#1041 in the United States

#1110 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $10,492

46. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Biology

#1059 in the United States

#1128 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $10,288
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $10,468

47. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Biology

#1096 in the United States

#1166 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $19,184

48. National Louis University

Chicago

For Biology

#1131 in the United States

#1201 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Net Price: $14,769
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,641

49. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Biology

#1160 in the United States

#1230 in North America

Enrollment: 331
Male:Female: 2:98

50. Aurora University

Aurora

For Biology

#1163 in the United States

#1233 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1089
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $19,350

51. Quincy University

Quincy

For Biology

#1226 in the United States

#1299 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Net Price: $11,985
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,052

52. Eureka College

Eureka

For Biology

#1234 in the United States

#1307 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $19,443
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,367

53. Kendall College

Chicago

For Biology

#1244 in the United States

#1317 in North America

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

54. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Biology

#1268 in the United States

#1341 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 41
Net Price: $30,112

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

Chicago

For Biology

#1271 in the United States

#1344 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 51:49

56. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Biology

#1293 in the United States

#1367 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Net Price: $20,059
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,708

57. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1294 in the United States

#1368 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $28,387
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $18,020

58. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1306 in the United States

#1382 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 51:49

59. Judson University

Elgin

For Biology

#1320 in the United States

#1396 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $19,268

60. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Biology

#1334 in the United States

#1410 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Net Price: $22,431
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,145

61. Adler University

Chicago

For Biology

#1353 in the United States

#1430 in North America

Enrollment: 1,841
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1952

62. North Park University

Chicago

For Biology

#1366 in the United States

#1443 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $19,029
Receiving Aid: 100%

63. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Biology

#1369 in the United States

#1446 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1010
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $18,822

64. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Biology

#1446 in the United States

#1528 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 280
Male:Female: 46:54

65. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Biology

#1461 in the United States

#1543 in North America

Enrollment: 204
Male:Female: 89:11

66. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Biology

#1507 in the United States

#1590 in North America

Enrollment: 162
Male:Female: 59:41

67. Principia College

Elsah

For Biology

#1522 in the United States

#1605 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1135
Net Price: $18,039
Receiving Aid: 94%

68. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Biology

#1532 in the United States

#1617 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $18,832
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,141

69. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Biology

#1545 in the United States

#1630 in North America

Enrollment: 213
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1968

70. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Biology

#1564 in the United States

#1649 in North America

Enrollment: 119
Male:Female: 21:79

71. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Biology

#1582 in the United States

#1668 in North America

Enrollment: 195
Male:Female: 37:63

Closest to Illinois states to learn Biology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	32	49
Missouri	37	17
Iowa	30	41
Kentucky	26	61
Wisconsin	32	13
Tennessee	34	43
Ohio	60	25
Michigan	34	4
Arkansas	17	117
West Virginia	21	123
Minnesota	28	16
Mississippi	14	148
Kansas	16	106
Alabama	28	44
Virginia	43	48
Georgia	48	31
North Carolina	45	18
Oklahoma	21	126
Nebraska	14	97
South Carolina	28	96
Pennsylvania	101	8
South Dakota	9	206
District of Columbia	9	85
Louisiana	24	92
Maryland	27	2
Delaware	3	103
New York	134	7
New Jersey	27	36
North Dakota	9	168
Connecticut	20	9
Texas	78	19
Vermont	12	113
Colorado	20	58
Massachusetts	69	1
Rhode Island	9	69
Florida	59	22
New Hampshire	12	100
New Mexico	9	93
Maine	16	178
Montana	9	140
Utah	11	35
Arizona	11	38
Idaho	7	159
Nevada	8	144
Oregon	18	64
Washington	31	5
California	130	3
Puerto Rico	15	310
Alaska	4	189
Hawaii	7	124

Closest to Illinois states to learn Biology

Biology subfields in Illinois