70 Best Engineering 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 Engineering. A graph of 20.8M citations received by 507K academic papers made by 70 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 Engineering

#6 in the United States

#6 in North America

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

2. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Engineering

#24 in the United States

#25 in North America

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

3. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#38 in the United States

#43 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#58 in the United States

#66 in North America

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

5. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Engineering

#127 in the United States

#151 in North America

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

6. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Engineering

#185 in the United States

#213 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Engineering

#200 in the United States

#230 in North America

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

8. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#209 in the United States

#240 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Engineering

#251 in the United States

#286 in North America

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

10. DePaul University

Chicago

For Engineering

#265 in the United States

#302 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Engineering

#275 in the United States

#315 in North America

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

12. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Engineering

#307 in the United States

#348 in North America

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

13. Rush University

Chicago

For Engineering

#349 in the United States

#396 in North America

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

14. Bradley University

Peoria

For Engineering

#381 in the United States

#430 in North America

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

15. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Engineering

#392 in the United States

#441 in North America

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

16. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Engineering

#402 in the United States

#452 in North America

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

17. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Engineering

#418 in the United States

#469 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

18. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#419 in the United States

#470 in North America

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

19. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Engineering

#442 in the United States

#493 in North America

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

20. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Engineering

#466 in the United States

#518 in North America

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

21. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Engineering

#497 in the United States

#550 in North America

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

22. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Engineering

#511 in the United States

#564 in North America

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

23. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#533 in the United States

#587 in North America

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

24. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Engineering

#535 in the United States

#589 in North America

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

25. North Central College

Naperville

For Engineering

#549 in the United States

#603 in North America

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

26. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Engineering

#675 in the United States

#737 in North America

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

27. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Engineering

#686 in the United States

#748 in North America

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

28. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Engineering

#692 in the United States

#754 in North America

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

29. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Engineering

#703 in the United States

#765 in North America

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

30. Knox College

Galesburg

For Engineering

#744 in the United States

#807 in North America

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

31. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Engineering

#753 in the United States

#817 in North America

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

32. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Engineering

#849 in the United States

#916 in North America

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

33. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#878 in the United States

#945 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

34. Governors State University

University Park

For Engineering

#896 in the United States

#963 in North America

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

35. Greenville University

Greenville

For Engineering

#904 in the United States

#971 in North America

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

36. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Engineering

#910 in the United States

#978 in North America

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

37. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Engineering

#923 in the United States

#991 in North America

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

38. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Engineering

#942 in the United States

#1011 in North America

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

39. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Engineering

#950 in the United States

#1019 in North America

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

40. Dominican University

River Forest

For Engineering

#977 in the United States

#1046 in North America

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

41. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Engineering

#1008 in the United States

#1079 in North America

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

42. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Engineering

#1029 in the United States

#1100 in North America

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

43. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Engineering

#1060 in the United States

#1131 in North America

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

44. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#1086 in the United States

#1157 in North America

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

45. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Engineering

#1106 in the United States

#1178 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

46. Millikin University

Decatur

For Engineering

#1121 in the United States

#1194 in North America

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

47. National Louis University

Chicago

For Engineering

#1134 in the United States

#1208 in North America

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

48. Rockford University

Rockford

For Engineering

#1154 in the United States

#1229 in North America

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

49. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Engineering

#1193 in the United States

#1269 in North America

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

50. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Engineering

#1202 in the United States

#1278 in North America

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

51. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Engineering

#1227 in the United States

#1305 in North America

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

52. Kendall College

Chicago

For Engineering

#1228 in the United States

#1306 in North America

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

53. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Engineering

#1239 in the United States

#1317 in North America

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

54. Principia College

Elsah

For Engineering

#1240 in the United States

#1318 in North America

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

55. North Park University

Chicago

For Engineering

#1241 in the United States

#1319 in North America

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

56. Aurora University

Aurora

For Engineering

#1257 in the United States

#1335 in North America

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

57. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Engineering

#1289 in the United States

#1367 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

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

Chicago

For Engineering

#1334 in the United States

#1412 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

59. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Engineering

#1335 in the United States

#1413 in North America

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

60. Eureka College

Eureka

For Engineering

#1382 in the United States

#1462 in North America

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

61. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Engineering

#1431 in the United States

#1512 in North America

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

62. Quincy University

Quincy

For Engineering

#1438 in the United States

#1519 in North America

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

63. Judson University

Elgin

For Engineering

#1442 in the United States

#1523 in North America

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

64. Adler University

Chicago

For Engineering

#1467 in the United States

#1549 in North America

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

65. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#1492 in the United States

#1576 in North America

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

66. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Engineering

#1504 in the United States

#1589 in North America

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

67. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Engineering

#1521 in the United States

#1606 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

68. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Engineering

#1523 in the United States

#1608 in North America

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

69. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Engineering

#1529 in the United States

#1614 in North America

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

70. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Engineering

#1552 in the United States

#1638 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

Closest to Illinois states to learn Engineering

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	32	17
Missouri	36	49
Iowa	29	42
Kentucky	25	70
Wisconsin	32	13
Tennessee	34	55
Ohio	60	23
Michigan	36	5
Arkansas	18	119
West Virginia	18	111
Minnesota	27	15
Mississippi	14	124
Kansas	13	96
Alabama	26	92
Virginia	42	33
Georgia	47	10
North Carolina	41	35
Oklahoma	20	94
Nebraska	12	76
South Carolina	28	82
Pennsylvania	104	12
South Dakota	8	231
District of Columbia	10	102
Louisiana	24	79
Maryland	27	18
Delaware	3	59
New York	137	8
New Jersey	28	19
North Dakota	8	168
Connecticut	20	29
Texas	76	11
Vermont	13	135
Colorado	21	36
Massachusetts	69	2
Rhode Island	9	64
Florida	59	27
New Hampshire	11	99
New Mexico	9	88
Maine	14	181
Montana	8	157
Utah	12	45
Arizona	10	32
Idaho	7	152
Nevada	7	132
Oregon	17	71
Washington	31	7
California	134	1
Puerto Rico	15	277
Alaska	4	184
Hawaii	7	121