76 Best Computer Science 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 Computer Science. A graph of 21.3M citations received by 496K academic papers made by 76 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. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Computer Science

#9 in the United States

#10 in North America

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

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#28 in the United States

#30 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Computer Science

#30 in the United States

#33 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#53 in the United States

#62 in North America

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

5. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Computer Science

#150 in the United States

#174 in North America

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

6. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#168 in the United States

#195 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Computer Science

#186 in the United States

#214 in North America

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

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Computer Science

#192 in the United States

#221 in North America

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

9. DePaul University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#212 in the United States

#242 in North America

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

10. Illinois State University

Normal

For Computer Science

#230 in the United States

#261 in North America

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

11. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Computer Science

#286 in the United States

#322 in North America

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

12. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Computer Science

#287 in the United States

#323 in North America

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

13. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Computer Science

#301 in the United States

#338 in North America

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

14. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#305 in the United States

#342 in North America

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

15. Rush University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#309 in the United States

#347 in North America

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

16. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Computer Science

#367 in the United States

#408 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

17. Bradley University

Peoria

For Computer Science

#379 in the United States

#423 in North America

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

18. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Computer Science

#398 in the United States

#444 in North America

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

19. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Computer Science

#424 in the United States

#472 in North America

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

20. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Computer Science

#485 in the United States

#534 in North America

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

21. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#544 in the United States

#594 in North America

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

22. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Computer Science

#551 in the United States

#601 in North America

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

23. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Computer Science

#553 in the United States

#603 in North America

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

24. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#614 in the United States

#671 in North America

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

25. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#615 in the United States

#672 in North America

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

26. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#678 in the United States

#739 in North America

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

27. North Central College

Naperville

For Computer Science

#715 in the United States

#778 in North America

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

28. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Computer Science

#731 in the United States

#795 in North America

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

29. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#736 in the United States

#800 in North America

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

30. Knox College

Galesburg

For Computer Science

#746 in the United States

#810 in North America

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

31. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Computer Science

#755 in the United States

#819 in North America

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

32. Governors State University

University Park

For Computer Science

#770 in the United States

#834 in North America

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

33. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Computer Science

#896 in the United States

#964 in North America

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

34. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Computer Science

#897 in the United States

#965 in North America

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

35. National Louis University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#910 in the United States

#979 in North America

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

36. Dominican University

River Forest

For Computer Science

#935 in the United States

#1006 in North America

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

37. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Computer Science

#942 in the United States

#1013 in North America

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

38. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Computer Science

#976 in the United States

#1048 in North America

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

39. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#982 in the United States

#1055 in North America

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

40. Greenville University

Greenville

For Computer Science

#1001 in the United States

#1074 in North America

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

41. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Computer Science

#1021 in the United States

#1094 in North America

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

42. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1029 in the United States

#1102 in North America

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

43. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Computer Science

#1035 in the United States

#1109 in North America

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

44. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1067 in the United States

#1142 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

45. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Computer Science

#1069 in the United States

#1144 in North America

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

46. Millikin University

Decatur

For Computer Science

#1071 in the United States

#1146 in North America

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

47. Rockford University

Rockford

For Computer Science

#1127 in the United States

#1202 in North America

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

48. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Computer Science

#1128 in the United States

#1203 in North America

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

49. Aurora University

Aurora

For Computer Science

#1155 in the United States

#1230 in North America

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

50. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Computer Science

#1160 in the United States

#1235 in North America

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

51. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1167 in the United States

#1242 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

52. North Park University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1175 in the United States

#1250 in North America

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

53. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1199 in the United States

#1274 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

54. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Computer Science

#1231 in the United States

#1306 in North America

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

55. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1235 in the United States

#1310 in North America

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

56. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Computer Science

#1262 in the United States

#1337 in North America

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

57. Adler University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1266 in the United States

#1341 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1296 in the United States

#1371 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

59. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Computer Science

#1321 in the United States

#1397 in North America

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

60. Eureka College

Eureka

For Computer Science

#1356 in the United States

#1434 in North America

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

61. Principia College

Elsah

For Computer Science

#1371 in the United States

#1450 in North America

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

62. Spertus College

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1384 in the United States

#1463 in North America

Enrollment: 97
Male:Female: 37:63

63. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Computer Science

#1391 in the United States

#1470 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

64. Kendall College

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1399 in the United States

#1478 in North America

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

65. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1419 in the United States

#1499 in North America

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

66. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1420 in the United States

#1500 in North America

Enrollment: 120
Male:Female: 20:80

67. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Computer Science

#1447 in the United States

#1529 in North America

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

68. Quincy University

Quincy

For Computer Science

#1481 in the United States

#1563 in North America

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

69. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Computer Science

#1487 in the United States

#1569 in North America

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

70. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Computer Science

#1502 in the United States

#1584 in North America

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

71. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Computer Science

#1543 in the United States

#1626 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Net Price: $13,977
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,073

72. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1545 in the United States

#1628 in North America

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

73. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Computer Science

#1559 in the United States

#1643 in North America

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

74. Judson University

Elgin

For Computer Science

#1578 in the United States

#1664 in North America

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

75. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1583 in the United States

#1669 in North America

Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 42:58

76. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1593 in the United States

#1679 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

Closest to Illinois states to learn Computer Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	35	32
Missouri	36	34
Iowa	31	49
Kentucky	26	64
Wisconsin	33	16
Tennessee	36	51
Ohio	62	24
Michigan	39	5
Arkansas	18	152
West Virginia	19	120
Minnesota	27	19
Mississippi	14	157
Kansas	15	90
Alabama	25	81
Virginia	42	43
Georgia	48	25
North Carolina	45	29
Oklahoma	19	111
Nebraska	13	103
South Carolina	28	95
Pennsylvania	103	12
South Dakota	8	322
District of Columbia	11	89
Louisiana	25	74
Maryland	28	8
Delaware	4	91
New York	137	11
New Jersey	29	23
North Dakota	8	195
Connecticut	21	15
Texas	79	17
Vermont	12	135
Colorado	21	47
Massachusetts	71	2
Rhode Island	9	59
Florida	65	31
New Hampshire	12	87
New Mexico	9	99
Maine	14	224
Montana	8	193
Utah	11	45
Arizona	10	39
Idaho	7	196
Nevada	7	148
Oregon	18	84
Washington	33	6
California	136	1
Puerto Rico	15	382
Alaska	4	271
Hawaii	7	131

Closest to Illinois states to learn Computer Science

Computer Science subfields in Illinois