68 Best Engineering schools 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 Engineering. A graph of 15.6M citations received by 447K academic papers made by 68 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: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

2. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Engineering

#23 in the United States

#24 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

3. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#40 in the United States

#45 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#59 in the United States

#67 in North America

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

5. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Engineering

#124 in the United States

#146 in North America

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

6. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Engineering

#182 in the United States

#210 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Engineering

#201 in the United States

#231 in North America

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

8. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#210 in the United States

#241 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Engineering

#256 in the United States

#291 in North America

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

10. DePaul University

Chicago

For Engineering

#270 in the United States

#308 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Engineering

#271 in the United States

#309 in North America

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

12. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Engineering

#305 in the United States

#346 in North America

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

13. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Engineering

#343 in the United States

#389 in North America

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

14. Bradley University

Peoria

For Engineering

#364 in the United States

#411 in North America

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

15. Rush University

Chicago

For Engineering

#381 in the United States

#430 in North America

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

16. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Engineering

#392 in the United States

#442 in North America

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

17. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Engineering

#417 in the United States

#468 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 30:70

18. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#425 in the United States

#476 in North America

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

19. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Engineering

#433 in the United States

#485 in North America

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

20. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Engineering

#444 in the United States

#496 in North America

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

21. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Engineering

#461 in the United States

#514 in North America

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

22. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Engineering

#491 in the United States

#544 in North America

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

23. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Engineering

#527 in the United States

#580 in North America

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

24. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#541 in the United States

#596 in North America

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

25. North Central College

Naperville

For Engineering

#588 in the United States

#643 in North America

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

26. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Engineering

#652 in the United States

#711 in North America

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

27. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Engineering

#667 in the United States

#727 in North America

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

28. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Engineering

#707 in the United States

#769 in North America

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

29. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Engineering

#721 in the United States

#783 in North America

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

30. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Engineering

#736 in the United States

#799 in North America

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

31. Knox College

Galesburg

For Engineering

#782 in the United States

#845 in North America

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

32. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Engineering

#799 in the United States

#863 in North America

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

33. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#853 in the United States

#920 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 51:49

34. Governors State University

University Park

For Engineering

#859 in the United States

#926 in North America

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

35. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Engineering

#862 in the United States

#929 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

36. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Engineering

#945 in the United States

#1014 in North America

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

37. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Engineering

#946 in the United States

#1015 in North America

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

38. Greenville University

Greenville

For Engineering

#947 in the United States

#1016 in North America

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

39. Dominican University

River Forest

For Engineering

#949 in the United States

#1018 in North America

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

40. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Engineering

#950 in the United States

#1019 in North America

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

41. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Engineering

#976 in the United States

#1046 in North America

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

42. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Engineering

#985 in the United States

#1055 in North America

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

43. Rockford University

Rockford

For Engineering

#993 in the United States

#1064 in North America

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

44. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Engineering

#1008 in the United States

#1079 in North America

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

45. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Engineering

#1047 in the United States

#1118 in North America

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

46. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#1085 in the United States

#1157 in North America

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

47. National Louis University

Chicago

For Engineering

#1116 in the United States

#1188 in North America

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

48. Millikin University

Decatur

For Engineering

#1127 in the United States

#1199 in North America

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

49. Kendall College

Chicago

For Engineering

#1161 in the United States

#1236 in North America

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

50. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Engineering

#1167 in the United States

#1242 in North America

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

51. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Engineering

#1177 in the United States

#1252 in North America

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

52. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Engineering

#1215 in the United States

#1291 in North America

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

53. Principia College

Elsah

For Engineering

#1232 in the United States

#1308 in North America

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

54. North Park University

Chicago

For Engineering

#1239 in the United States

#1315 in North America

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

55. Aurora University

Aurora

For Engineering

#1243 in the United States

#1319 in North America

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

56. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Engineering

#1244 in the United States

#1320 in North America

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

57. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Engineering

#1253 in the United States

#1330 in North America

Enrollment: 331
Male:Female: 2:98

58. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Engineering

#1287 in the United States

#1364 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Engineering

#1401 in the United States

#1482 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 51:49

60. Quincy University

Quincy

For Engineering

#1406 in the United States

#1487 in North America

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

61. Eureka College

Eureka

For Engineering

#1407 in the United States

#1488 in North America

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

62. Judson University

Elgin

For Engineering

#1426 in the United States

#1507 in North America

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

63. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Engineering

#1432 in the United States

#1514 in North America

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

64. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Engineering

#1469 in the United States

#1552 in North America

Enrollment: 162
Male:Female: 59:41

65. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Engineering

#1479 in the United States

#1562 in North America

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

66. Adler University

Chicago

For Engineering

#1481 in the United States

#1564 in North America

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

67. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Engineering

#1489 in the United States

#1572 in North America

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

68. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Engineering

#1512 in the United States

#1596 in North America

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

Closest to Illinois states to learn Engineering

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	31	25
Missouri	33	50
Iowa	26	36
Kentucky	25	69
Wisconsin	31	13
Tennessee	32	55
Ohio	57	20
Michigan	36	5
Arkansas	17	122
West Virginia	18	112
Minnesota	27	15
Mississippi	14	127
Kansas	13	99
Alabama	24	92
Virginia	41	33
Georgia	43	7
North Carolina	40	34
Oklahoma	18	94
Nebraska	12	76
South Carolina	27	82
Pennsylvania	100	11
South Dakota	8	231
District of Columbia	10	106
Louisiana	24	78
Maryland	26	16
Delaware	3	58
New York	136	9
New Jersey	27	17
North Dakota	8	163
Connecticut	20	31
Texas	75	12
Vermont	13	139
Colorado	21	37
Massachusetts	69	1
Rhode Island	9	65
Florida	55	27
New Hampshire	11	102
New Mexico	9	86
Maine	14	183
Montana	8	156
Utah	11	42
Arizona	10	32
Idaho	7	149
Nevada	6	135
Oregon	17	74
Washington	31	8
California	129	2
Puerto Rico	14	278
Alaska	4	188
Hawaii	7	121