76 Best colleges for Environmental Science 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 Environmental Science. A graph of 16.8M citations received by 415K 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 Environmental 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 Environmental Science

#30 in the United States

#34 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Environmental Science

#44 in the United States

#48 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#66 in the United States

#78 in North America

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

5. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Environmental Science

#159 in the United States

#185 in North America

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

6. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#173 in the United States

#201 in North America

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

7. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#180 in the United States

#208 in North America

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

8. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Environmental Science

#193 in the United States

#222 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Environmental Science

#214 in the United States

#246 in North America

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

10. DePaul University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#247 in the United States

#282 in North America

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

11. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Environmental Science

#286 in the United States

#328 in North America

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

12. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Environmental Science

#298 in the United States

#341 in North America

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

13. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Environmental Science

#360 in the United States

#409 in North America

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

14. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Environmental Science

#366 in the United States

#415 in North America

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

15. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Environmental Science

#391 in the United States

#443 in North America

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

16. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Environmental Science

#408 in the United States

#460 in North America

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

17. North Central College

Naperville

For Environmental Science

#418 in the United States

#470 in North America

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

18. Rush University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#422 in the United States

#474 in North America

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

19. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Environmental Science

#436 in the United States

#488 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

20. Bradley University

Peoria

For Environmental Science

#464 in the United States

#516 in North America

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

21. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Environmental Science

#504 in the United States

#556 in North America

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

22. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Environmental Science

#508 in the United States

#560 in North America

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

23. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#589 in the United States

#648 in North America

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

24. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#605 in the United States

#664 in North America

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

25. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Environmental Science

#618 in the United States

#677 in North America

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

26. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#687 in the United States

#749 in North America

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

27. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Environmental Science

#715 in the United States

#780 in North America

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

28. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Environmental Science

#717 in the United States

#782 in North America

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

29. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#727 in the United States

#793 in North America

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

30. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#736 in the United States

#803 in North America

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

31. Knox College

Galesburg

For Environmental Science

#738 in the United States

#805 in North America

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

32. Governors State University

University Park

For Environmental Science

#840 in the United States

#909 in North America

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

33. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#846 in the United States

#915 in North America

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

34. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#966 in the United States

#1037 in North America

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

35. Rockford University

Rockford

For Environmental Science

#986 in the United States

#1057 in North America

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

36. Dominican University

River Forest

For Environmental Science

#990 in the United States

#1061 in North America

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

37. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Environmental Science

#1019 in the United States

#1092 in North America

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

38. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Environmental Science

#1034 in the United States

#1108 in North America

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

39. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Environmental Science

#1050 in the United States

#1124 in North America

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

40. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1066 in the United States

#1140 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

41. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Environmental Science

#1084 in the United States

#1158 in North America

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

42. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Environmental Science

#1086 in the United States

#1160 in North America

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

43. National Louis University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1094 in the United States

#1168 in North America

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

44. Millikin University

Decatur

For Environmental Science

#1095 in the United States

#1169 in North America

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

45. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1096 in the United States

#1170 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

46. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1098 in the United States

#1172 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

47. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Environmental Science

#1107 in the United States

#1181 in North America

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

48. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1121 in the United States

#1196 in North America

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

49. Greenville University

Greenville

For Environmental Science

#1131 in the United States

#1206 in North America

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

50. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Environmental Science

#1170 in the United States

#1245 in North America

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

51. Aurora University

Aurora

For Environmental Science

#1185 in the United States

#1261 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1195 in the United States

#1272 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

53. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1212 in the United States

#1290 in North America

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

54. Quincy University

Quincy

For Environmental Science

#1229 in the United States

#1308 in North America

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

55. North Park University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1230 in the United States

#1309 in North America

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

56. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1240 in the United States

#1320 in North America

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

57. Judson University

Elgin

For Environmental Science

#1244 in the United States

#1324 in North America

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

58. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Environmental Science

#1245 in the United States

#1325 in North America

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

59. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1275 in the United States

#1356 in North America

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

60. Eureka College

Eureka

For Environmental Science

#1292 in the United States

#1374 in North America

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

61. Principia College

Elsah

For Environmental Science

#1303 in the United States

#1386 in North America

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

62. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Environmental Science

#1369 in the United States

#1452 in North America

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

63. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1391 in the United States

#1474 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

64. Adler University

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1411 in the United States

#1494 in North America

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

65. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Environmental Science

#1431 in the United States

#1514 in North America

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

66. Kendall College

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1468 in the United States

#1552 in North America

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

67. Spertus College

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1478 in the United States

#1562 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

68. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Environmental Science

#1487 in the United States

#1571 in North America

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

69. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Environmental Science

#1493 in the United States

#1577 in North America

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

70. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1495 in the United States

#1579 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

71. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Environmental Science

#1496 in the United States

#1580 in North America

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

72. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Environmental Science

#1530 in the United States

#1616 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

73. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Environmental Science

#1601 in the United States

#1690 in North America

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

74. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Environmental Science

#1626 in the United States

#1716 in North America

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

75. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Environmental Science

#1631 in the United States

#1721 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Net Price: $13,977
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,073

76. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Environmental Science

#1633 in the United States

#1723 in North America

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

Closest to Illinois states to learn Environmental Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	32	27
Missouri	40	50
Iowa	29	39
Kentucky	27	62
Wisconsin	34	8
Tennessee	36	56
Ohio	62	17
Michigan	41	5
Arkansas	17	123
West Virginia	19	110
Minnesota	27	14
Mississippi	14	105
Kansas	19	65
Alabama	27	83
Virginia	42	45
Georgia	48	37
North Carolina	48	29
Oklahoma	22	72
Nebraska	14	59
South Carolina	28	82
Pennsylvania	103	12
South Dakota	9	176
District of Columbia	11	97
Louisiana	24	63
Maryland	28	20
Delaware	3	67
New York	140	6
New Jersey	27	22
North Dakota	9	156
Connecticut	20	16
Texas	78	18
Vermont	12	133
Colorado	21	28
Massachusetts	73	1
Rhode Island	9	68
Florida	64	11
New Hampshire	12	89
New Mexico	9	88
Maine	16	134
Montana	9	107
Utah	12	46
Arizona	10	23
Idaho	7	118
Nevada	8	126
Oregon	17	41
Washington	36	4
California	137	2
Puerto Rico	15	271
Alaska	4	92
Hawaii	7	70