73 Best colleges for Geography and Cartography 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 Geography and Cartography. A graph of 8.08M citations received by 211K academic papers made by 73 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 Geography and Cartography

#8 in the United States

#9 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#29 in the United States

#31 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Geography and Cartography

#46 in the United States

#50 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#66 in the United States

#76 in North America

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

5. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Geography and Cartography

#161 in the United States

#188 in North America

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

6. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#170 in the United States

#197 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Geography and Cartography

#184 in the United States

#212 in North America

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

8. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#186 in the United States

#214 in North America

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

9. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Geography and Cartography

#199 in the United States

#228 in North America

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

10. DePaul University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#216 in the United States

#246 in North America

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

11. Illinois State University

Normal

For Geography and Cartography

#217 in the United States

#247 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

12. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Geography and Cartography

#337 in the United States

#385 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

13. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Geography and Cartography

#344 in the United States

#393 in North America

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

14. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Geography and Cartography

#358 in the United States

#407 in North America

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

15. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Geography and Cartography

#364 in the United States

#413 in North America

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

16. North Central College

Naperville

For Geography and Cartography

#403 in the United States

#454 in North America

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

17. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Geography and Cartography

#429 in the United States

#480 in North America

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

18. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Geography and Cartography

#443 in the United States

#494 in North America

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

19. Bradley University

Peoria

For Geography and Cartography

#450 in the United States

#501 in North America

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

20. Rush University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#486 in the United States

#539 in North America

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

21. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Geography and Cartography

#531 in the United States

#586 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

22. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#553 in the United States

#608 in North America

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

23. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#565 in the United States

#622 in North America

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

24. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Geography and Cartography

#593 in the United States

#654 in North America

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

25. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#624 in the United States

#687 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,021
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1912

26. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#645 in the United States

#709 in North America

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

27. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Geography and Cartography

#692 in the United States

#757 in North America

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

28. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Geography and Cartography

#716 in the United States

#782 in North America

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

29. Knox College

Galesburg

For Geography and Cartography

#731 in the United States

#798 in North America

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

30. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#761 in the United States

#829 in North America

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

31. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#765 in the United States

#833 in North America

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

32. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#806 in the United States

#876 in North America

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

33. Governors State University

University Park

For Geography and Cartography

#807 in the United States

#877 in North America

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

34. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Geography and Cartography

#954 in the United States

#1027 in North America

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

35. Dominican University

River Forest

For Geography and Cartography

#961 in the United States

#1034 in North America

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

36. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Geography and Cartography

#991 in the United States

#1065 in North America

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

37. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1010 in the United States

#1084 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

38. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1011 in the United States

#1085 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

39. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Geography and Cartography

#1023 in the United States

#1098 in North America

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

40. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Geography and Cartography

#1060 in the United States

#1135 in North America

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

41. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Geography and Cartography

#1062 in the United States

#1137 in North America

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

42. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1068 in the United States

#1143 in North America

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

43. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1074 in the United States

#1149 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

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

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1076 in the United States

#1151 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

45. National Louis University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1088 in the United States

#1163 in North America

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

46. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Geography and Cartography

#1095 in the United States

#1170 in North America

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

47. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1096 in the United States

#1171 in North America

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

48. Aurora University

Aurora

For Geography and Cartography

#1113 in the United States

#1189 in North America

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

49. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Geography and Cartography

#1136 in the United States

#1212 in North America

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

50. Millikin University

Decatur

For Geography and Cartography

#1166 in the United States

#1242 in North America

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

51. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Geography and Cartography

#1170 in the United States

#1246 in North America

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

52. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1173 in the United States

#1250 in North America

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

53. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1189 in the United States

#1266 in North America

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

54. Rockford University

Rockford

For Geography and Cartography

#1199 in the United States

#1277 in North America

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

55. North Park University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1222 in the United States

#1301 in North America

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

56. Principia College

Elsah

For Geography and Cartography

#1252 in the United States

#1331 in North America

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

57. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Geography and Cartography

#1274 in the United States

#1355 in North America

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

58. Eureka College

Eureka

For Geography and Cartography

#1289 in the United States

#1370 in North America

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

59. Greenville University

Greenville

For Geography and Cartography

#1342 in the United States

#1424 in North America

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

60. Adler University

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1349 in the United States

#1432 in North America

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

61. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1351 in the United States

#1434 in North America

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

62. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1362 in the United States

#1445 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

63. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Geography and Cartography

#1365 in the United States

#1448 in North America

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

64. Spertus College

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1369 in the United States

#1452 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

65. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1396 in the United States

#1480 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

66. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Geography and Cartography

#1426 in the United States

#1512 in North America

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

67. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Geography and Cartography

#1427 in the United States

#1513 in North America

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

68. Quincy University

Quincy

For Geography and Cartography

#1438 in the United States

#1524 in North America

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

69. Kendall College

Chicago

For Geography and Cartography

#1444 in the United States

#1530 in North America

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

70. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Geography and Cartography

#1450 in the United States

#1537 in North America

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

71. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Geography and Cartography

#1465 in the United States

#1552 in North America

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

72. Judson University

Elgin

For Geography and Cartography

#1493 in the United States

#1581 in North America

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

73. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Geography and Cartography

#1496 in the United States

#1584 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 315
Male:Female: 58:42

Closest to Illinois states to learn Geography and Cartography

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	32	20
Missouri	37	52
Iowa	28	41
Kentucky	24	69
Wisconsin	32	9
Tennessee	32	54
Ohio	58	19
Michigan	35	5
Arkansas	17	135
West Virginia	16	103
Minnesota	27	15
Mississippi	13	109
Kansas	14	61
Alabama	25	101
Virginia	40	45
Georgia	43	30
North Carolina	43	36
Oklahoma	18	65
Nebraska	11	57
South Carolina	25	80
Pennsylvania	98	10
South Dakota	8	190
District of Columbia	9	78
Louisiana	24	68
Maryland	26	18
New York	129	7
New Jersey	25	13
North Dakota	8	181
Connecticut	20	22
Texas	74	14
Vermont	11	128
Colorado	20	26
Massachusetts	68	3
Rhode Island	9	64
Florida	53	17
New Hampshire	11	76
New Mexico	8	95
Maine	14	136
Montana	8	113
Utah	10	49
Arizona	10	25
Idaho	7	118
Nevada	7	121
Oregon	17	44
Washington	29	4
California	122	1
Puerto Rico	14	282
Alaska	4	94
Hawaii	7	70