76 Best Computer Science 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 Computer Science. A graph of 22.3M citations received by 507K 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: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#28 in the United States

#30 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Computer Science

#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 Computer Science

#53 in the United States

#62 in North America

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

5. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Computer Science

#151 in the United States

#177 in North America

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

6. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#170 in the United States

#197 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Computer Science

#187 in the United States

#215 in North America

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

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Computer Science

#196 in the United States

#225 in North America

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

9. DePaul University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#212 in the United States

#242 in North America

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

10. Illinois State University

Normal

For Computer Science

#232 in the United States

#263 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
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: 1070
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

12. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Computer Science

#287 in the United States

#323 in North America

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

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: 2,021
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1912

14. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#303 in the United States

#340 in North America

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

15. Rush University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#309 in the United States

#347 in North America

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

16. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Computer Science

#365 in the United States

#406 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

17. Bradley University

Peoria

For Computer Science

#380 in the United States

#424 in North America

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

18. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Computer Science

#393 in the United States

#439 in North America

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

19. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Computer Science

#425 in the United States

#473 in North America

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

20. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Computer Science

#484 in the United States

#533 in North America

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

21. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#542 in the United States

#592 in North America

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

22. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Computer Science

#556 in the United States

#607 in North America

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

23. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Computer Science

#559 in the United States

#610 in North America

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

24. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#615 in the United States

#673 in North America

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

25. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#618 in the United States

#676 in North America

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

26. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#682 in the United States

#743 in North America

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

27. North Central College

Naperville

For Computer Science

#718 in the United States

#782 in North America

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

28. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Computer Science

#733 in the United States

#797 in North America

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

29. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#741 in the United States

#805 in North America

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

30. Knox College

Galesburg

For Computer Science

#745 in the United States

#809 in North America

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

31. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Computer Science

#767 in the United States

#831 in North America

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

32. Governors State University

University Park

For Computer Science

#779 in the United States

#844 in North America

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

33. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Computer Science

#901 in the United States

#970 in North America

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

34. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Computer Science

#904 in the United States

#975 in North America

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

35. National Louis University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#910 in the United States

#981 in North America

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

36. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Computer Science

#921 in the United States

#993 in North America

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

37. Dominican University

River Forest

For Computer Science

#934 in the United States

#1006 in North America

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

38. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Computer Science

#977 in the United States

#1050 in North America

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

39. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#990 in the United States

#1063 in North America

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

40. Greenville University

Greenville

For Computer Science

#1007 in the United States

#1080 in North America

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

41. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1027 in the United States

#1100 in North America

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

42. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Computer Science

#1030 in the United States

#1104 in North America

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

43. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Computer Science

#1044 in the United States

#1119 in North America

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

44. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Computer Science

#1069 in the United States

#1144 in North America

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

45. Millikin University

Decatur

For Computer Science

#1076 in the United States

#1151 in North America

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

46. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1078 in the United States

#1153 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

47. Rockford University

Rockford

For Computer Science

#1129 in the United States

#1204 in North America

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

48. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Computer Science

#1138 in the United States

#1213 in North America

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

49. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Computer Science

#1157 in the United States

#1232 in North America

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

50. Aurora University

Aurora

For Computer Science

#1160 in the United States

#1235 in North America

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

51. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1168 in the United States

#1243 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

52. North Park University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1181 in the United States

#1256 in North America

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

53. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1202 in the United States

#1277 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

54. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Computer Science

#1233 in the United States

#1308 in North America

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

55. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1241 in the United States

#1316 in North America

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

56. Adler University

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1250 in the United States

#1325 in North America

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

57. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Computer Science

#1262 in the United States

#1337 in North America

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

58. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Computer Science

#1305 in the United States

#1381 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1306 in the United States

#1382 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

60. Eureka College

Eureka

For Computer Science

#1361 in the United States

#1440 in North America

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

61. Principia College

Elsah

For Computer Science

#1384 in the United States

#1463 in North America

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

62. Spertus College

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1392 in the United States

#1472 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

63. Kendall College

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1394 in the United States

#1474 in North America

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

64. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Computer Science

#1401 in the United States

#1481 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

65. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1409 in the United States

#1489 in North America

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

66. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1421 in the United States

#1501 in North America

Enrollment: 121
Male:Female: 24:76

67. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Computer Science

#1435 in the United States

#1516 in North America

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

68. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Computer Science

#1456 in the United States

#1538 in North America

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

69. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Computer Science

#1484 in the United States

#1566 in North America

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

70. Quincy University

Quincy

For Computer Science

#1489 in the United States

#1571 in North America

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

71. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Computer Science

#1546 in the United States

#1630 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

#1549 in the United States

#1633 in North America

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

73. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Computer Science

#1562 in the United States

#1646 in North America

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

74. Judson University

Elgin

For Computer Science

#1573 in the United States

#1659 in North America

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

75. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1593 in the United States

#1679 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

76. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Computer Science

#1594 in the United States

#1680 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

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	50
Kentucky	26	64
Wisconsin	33	16
Tennessee	37	51
Ohio	62	24
Michigan	39	5
Arkansas	18	152
West Virginia	19	120
Minnesota	28	19
Mississippi	14	155
Kansas	15	90
Alabama	25	81
Virginia	42	43
Georgia	48	25
North Carolina	46	29
Oklahoma	19	111
Nebraska	13	104
South Carolina	28	95
Pennsylvania	103	12
South Dakota	8	320
District of Columbia	11	89
Louisiana	25	76
Maryland	28	8
Delaware	4	92
New York	137	11
New Jersey	29	23
North Dakota	8	193
Connecticut	21	15
Texas	79	17
Vermont	12	135
Colorado	21	46
Massachusetts	71	2
Rhode Island	9	59
Florida	65	30
New Hampshire	12	88
New Mexico	9	99
Maine	14	225
Montana	8	192
Utah	11	45
Arizona	10	39
Idaho	7	194
Nevada	7	148
Oregon	18	84
Washington	33	6
California	137	1
Puerto Rico	15	382
Alaska	4	271
Hawaii	7	132

Closest to Illinois states to learn Computer Science

Computer Science subfields in Illinois