65 Best colleges for Archaeology 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 Archaeology. A graph of 4.74M citations received by 123K 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 Archaeology

#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 Archaeology

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Archaeology

#38 in the United States

#42 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Archaeology

#55 in the United States

#64 in North America

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

5. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Archaeology

#151 in the United States

#175 in North America

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

6. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Archaeology

#158 in the United States

#182 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Archaeology

#174 in the United States

#201 in North America

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

8. DePaul University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#182 in the United States

#209 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Archaeology

#196 in the United States

#226 in North America

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

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Archaeology

#225 in the United States

#256 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Archaeology

#335 in the United States

#379 in North America

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

12. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Archaeology

#339 in the United States

#384 in North America

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

13. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Archaeology

#400 in the United States

#449 in North America

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

14. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Archaeology

#412 in the United States

#462 in North America

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

15. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Archaeology

#423 in the United States

#473 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Archaeology

#436 in the United States

#486 in North America

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

17. Rush University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#449 in the United States

#499 in North America

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

18. North Central College

Naperville

For Archaeology

#452 in the United States

#503 in North America

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

19. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Archaeology

#461 in the United States

#513 in North America

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

20. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Archaeology

#485 in the United States

#537 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

21. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#502 in the United States

#555 in North America

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

22. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#557 in the United States

#615 in North America

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

23. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Archaeology

#566 in the United States

#625 in North America

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

24. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Archaeology

#592 in the United States

#652 in North America

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

25. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Archaeology

#640 in the United States

#702 in North America

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

26. Knox College

Galesburg

For Archaeology

#656 in the United States

#718 in North America

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

27. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Archaeology

#673 in the United States

#736 in North America

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

28. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Archaeology

#747 in the United States

#814 in North America

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

29. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#776 in the United States

#844 in North America

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

30. Governors State University

University Park

For Archaeology

#782 in the United States

#850 in North America

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

31. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Archaeology

#819 in the United States

#888 in North America

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

32. Dominican University

River Forest

For Archaeology

#852 in the United States

#922 in North America

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

33. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Archaeology

#873 in the United States

#945 in North America

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

34. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Archaeology

#894 in the United States

#967 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

35. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#930 in the United States

#1003 in North America

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

36. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Archaeology

#942 in the United States

#1015 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

37. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Archaeology

#958 in the United States

#1032 in North America

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

38. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Archaeology

#993 in the United States

#1068 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

39. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1006 in the United States

#1081 in North America

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

40. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Archaeology

#1010 in the United States

#1085 in North America

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

41. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1031 in the United States

#1106 in North America

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

42. National Louis University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1051 in the United States

#1126 in North America

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

43. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Archaeology

#1055 in the United States

#1130 in North America

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

44. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Archaeology

#1068 in the United States

#1143 in North America

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

45. Aurora University

Aurora

For Archaeology

#1077 in the United States

#1152 in North America

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

46. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Archaeology

#1081 in the United States

#1156 in North America

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

47. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1085 in the United States

#1160 in North America

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

48. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Archaeology

#1101 in the United States

#1176 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1128 in the United States

#1205 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

50. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Archaeology

#1146 in the United States

#1223 in North America

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

51. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Archaeology

#1148 in the United States

#1225 in North America

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

52. North Park University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1150 in the United States

#1227 in North America

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

53. Millikin University

Decatur

For Archaeology

#1151 in the United States

#1228 in North America

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

54. Rockford University

Rockford

For Archaeology

#1186 in the United States

#1264 in North America

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

55. Spertus College

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1220 in the United States

#1299 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

56. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1227 in the United States

#1307 in North America

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

57. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1234 in the United States

#1314 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

58. Eureka College

Eureka

For Archaeology

#1247 in the United States

#1328 in North America

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

59. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1259 in the United States

#1340 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

60. Greenville University

Greenville

For Archaeology

#1273 in the United States

#1356 in North America

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

61. Adler University

Chicago

For Archaeology

#1292 in the United States

#1375 in North America

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

62. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Archaeology

#1293 in the United States

#1377 in North America

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

63. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Archaeology

#1295 in the United States

#1379 in North America

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

64. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Archaeology

#1327 in the United States

#1413 in North America

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

65. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Archaeology

#1356 in the United States

#1442 in North America

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

Closest to Illinois states to learn Archaeology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	31	31
Missouri	34	45
Iowa	22	43
Kentucky	21	61
Wisconsin	28	12
Tennessee	29	60
Ohio	52	19
Michigan	31	4
Arkansas	16	128
West Virginia	15	90
Minnesota	26	15
Mississippi	11	140
Kansas	11	81
Alabama	24	99
Virginia	40	40
Georgia	37	35
North Carolina	38	30
Oklahoma	15	88
Nebraska	11	57
South Carolina	23	74
Pennsylvania	90	13
South Dakota	8	229
District of Columbia	9	59
Louisiana	22	73
Maryland	26	16
New York	121	6
New Jersey	23	25
North Dakota	5	190
Connecticut	20	11
Texas	68	22
Vermont	9	122
Colorado	19	46
Massachusetts	64	2
Rhode Island	9	65
Florida	45	20
New Hampshire	10	84
New Mexico	7	92
Maine	12	159
Montana	4	143
Utah	10	44
Arizona	8	26
Idaho	6	146
Nevada	6	121
Oregon	16	54
Washington	26	5
California	111	1
Puerto Rico	11	389
Alaska	4	144
Hawaii	6	83