65 Best colleges for Geology 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 Geology. A graph of 9.17M citations received by 213K academic papers made by 65 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 Geology

#10 in the United States

#11 in North America

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

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Geology

#34 in the United States

#38 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Geology

#41 in the United States

#45 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Geology

#68 in the United States

#80 in North America

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

5. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Geology

#164 in the United States

#192 in North America

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

6. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Geology

#177 in the United States

#205 in North America

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

7. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Geology

#189 in the United States

#218 in North America

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

8. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Geology

#196 in the United States

#225 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Geology

#235 in the United States

#268 in North America

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

10. DePaul University

Chicago

For Geology

#273 in the United States

#313 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Geology

#279 in the United States

#319 in North America

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

12. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Geology

#329 in the United States

#378 in North America

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

13. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Geology

#335 in the United States

#384 in North America

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

14. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Geology

#356 in the United States

#406 in North America

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

15. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Geology

#361 in the United States

#411 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

16. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Geology

#371 in the United States

#422 in North America

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

17. Rush University

Chicago

For Geology

#396 in the United States

#447 in North America

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

18. North Central College

Naperville

For Geology

#433 in the United States

#484 in North America

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

19. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Geology

#435 in the United States

#486 in North America

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

20. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Geology

#469 in the United States

#520 in North America

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

21. Bradley University

Peoria

For Geology

#477 in the United States

#528 in North America

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

22. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Geology

#560 in the United States

#615 in North America

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

23. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Geology

#580 in the United States

#637 in North America

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

24. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Geology

#591 in the United States

#648 in North America

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

25. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Geology

#622 in the United States

#682 in North America

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

26. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Geology

#643 in the United States

#705 in North America

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

27. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Geology

#644 in the United States

#706 in North America

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

28. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Geology

#749 in the United States

#814 in North America

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

29. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Geology

#779 in the United States

#846 in North America

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

30. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Geology

#803 in the United States

#870 in North America

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

31. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Geology

#814 in the United States

#881 in North America

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

32. Governors State University

University Park

For Geology

#830 in the United States

#898 in North America

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

33. Knox College

Galesburg

For Geology

#864 in the United States

#932 in North America

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

34. Rockford University

Rockford

For Geology

#891 in the United States

#959 in North America

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

35. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Geology

#962 in the United States

#1032 in North America

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

36. Dominican University

River Forest

For Geology

#976 in the United States

#1047 in North America

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

37. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Geology

#986 in the United States

#1057 in North America

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

38. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Geology

#989 in the United States

#1060 in North America

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

39. Millikin University

Decatur

For Geology

#1005 in the United States

#1076 in North America

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

40. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Geology

#1026 in the United States

#1098 in North America

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

41. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Geology

#1056 in the United States

#1130 in North America

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

42. Greenville University

Greenville

For Geology

#1072 in the United States

#1147 in North America

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

43. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Geology

#1075 in the United States

#1150 in North America

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

44. National Louis University

Chicago

For Geology

#1077 in the United States

#1152 in North America

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

45. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Geology

#1118 in the United States

#1193 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

46. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Geology

#1133 in the United States

#1208 in North America

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

47. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Geology

#1142 in the United States

#1218 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

48. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Geology

#1163 in the United States

#1239 in North America

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

49. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Geology

#1173 in the United States

#1250 in North America

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

50. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Geology

#1181 in the United States

#1258 in North America

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

51. North Park University

Chicago

For Geology

#1190 in the United States

#1267 in North America

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

52. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Geology

#1198 in the United States

#1275 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Geology

#1217 in the United States

#1294 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

54. Principia College

Elsah

For Geology

#1225 in the United States

#1302 in North America

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

55. Eureka College

Eureka

For Geology

#1229 in the United States

#1306 in North America

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

56. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Geology

#1232 in the United States

#1309 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

57. Aurora University

Aurora

For Geology

#1233 in the United States

#1310 in North America

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

58. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Geology

#1255 in the United States

#1332 in North America

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

59. Quincy University

Quincy

For Geology

#1277 in the United States

#1355 in North America

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

60. Adler University

Chicago

For Geology

#1301 in the United States

#1380 in North America

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

61. Kendall College

Chicago

For Geology

#1323 in the United States

#1403 in North America

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

62. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Geology

#1353 in the United States

#1434 in North America

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

63. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Geology

#1382 in the United States

#1464 in North America

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

64. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Geology

#1383 in the United States

#1465 in North America

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

65. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Geology

#1389 in the United States

#1471 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

Closest to Illinois states to learn Geology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	30	29
Missouri	30	43
Iowa	22	47
Kentucky	22	67
Wisconsin	27	8
Tennessee	30	56
Ohio	54	18
Michigan	29	5
Arkansas	16	130
West Virginia	15	115
Minnesota	25	13
Mississippi	13	114
Kansas	12	55
Alabama	24	94
Virginia	40	46
Georgia	38	39
North Carolina	38	33
Oklahoma	17	64
Nebraska	12	63
South Carolina	25	86
Pennsylvania	90	12
South Dakota	8	188
District of Columbia	9	123
Louisiana	22	58
Maryland	25	21
New York	123	7
New Jersey	23	25
North Dakota	7	173
Connecticut	20	19
Texas	70	15
Vermont	10	128
Colorado	18	24
Massachusetts	63	1
Rhode Island	9	61
Florida	47	16
New Hampshire	11	91
New Mexico	8	83
Maine	14	126
Montana	8	97
Utah	11	42
Arizona	9	20
Idaho	7	127
Nevada	7	109
Oregon	17	37
Washington	29	3
California	113	2
Puerto Rico	13	261
Alaska	4	85
Hawaii	7	70