74 Best colleges for History 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 History. A graph of 5.25M citations received by 161K academic papers made by 74 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 Chicago

Chicago

For History

#12 in the United States

#13 in North America

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

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For History

#13 in the United States

#14 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For History

#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 History

#53 in the United States

#61 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For History

#137 in the United States

#160 in North America

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

6. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For History

#151 in the United States

#175 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For History

#167 in the United States

#193 in North America

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

8. DePaul University

Chicago

For History

#179 in the United States

#206 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For History

#194 in the United States

#223 in North America

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

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For History

#246 in the United States

#278 in North America

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

11. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For History

#282 in the United States

#319 in North America

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

12. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For History

#323 in the United States

#363 in North America

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

13. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For History

#340 in the United States

#382 in North America

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

14. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For History

#352 in the United States

#397 in North America

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

15. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For History

#360 in the United States

#405 in North America

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

16. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For History

#423 in the United States

#470 in North America

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

17. Bradley University

Peoria

For History

#451 in the United States

#500 in North America

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

18. North Central College

Naperville

For History

#479 in the United States

#531 in North America

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

19. Rush University

Chicago

For History

#497 in the United States

#549 in North America

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

20. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For History

#503 in the United States

#555 in North America

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

21. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For History

#514 in the United States

#567 in North America

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

22. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For History

#576 in the United States

#631 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

23. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For History

#588 in the United States

#644 in North America

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

24. Augustana College

Rock Island

For History

#591 in the United States

#648 in North America

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

25. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For History

#608 in the United States

#666 in North America

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

26. Knox College

Galesburg

For History

#613 in the United States

#671 in North America

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

27. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For History

#645 in the United States

#707 in North America

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

28. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For History

#752 in the United States

#819 in North America

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

29. Chicago State University

Chicago

For History

#780 in the United States

#849 in North America

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

30. Governors State University

University Park

For History

#784 in the United States

#853 in North America

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

31. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For History

#836 in the United States

#906 in North America

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

32. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For History

#870 in the United States

#941 in North America

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

33. Dominican University

River Forest

For History

#880 in the United States

#952 in North America

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

34. Greenville University

Greenville

For History

#889 in the United States

#961 in North America

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

35. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For History

#895 in the United States

#967 in North America

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

36. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For History

#903 in the United States

#976 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

37. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For History

#910 in the United States

#983 in North America

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

38. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For History

#934 in the United States

#1007 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

39. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For History

#962 in the United States

#1035 in North America

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

40. Lewis University

Romeoville

For History

#971 in the United States

#1044 in North America

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

41. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For History

#986 in the United States

#1059 in North America

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

42. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For History

#993 in the United States

#1066 in North America

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

43. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For History

#1005 in the United States

#1078 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

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

Chicago

For History

#1017 in the United States

#1090 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

45. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For History

#1058 in the United States

#1132 in North America

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

46. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For History

#1061 in the United States

#1135 in North America

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

47. Aurora University

Aurora

For History

#1073 in the United States

#1148 in North America

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

48. Benedictine University

Lisle

For History

#1091 in the United States

#1166 in North America

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

49. Millikin University

Decatur

For History

#1092 in the United States

#1167 in North America

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

50. National Louis University

Chicago

For History

#1098 in the United States

#1173 in North America

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

51. University of St Francis

Joliet

For History

#1115 in the United States

#1190 in North America

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

52. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For History

#1122 in the United States

#1197 in North America

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

53. North Park University

Chicago

For History

#1126 in the United States

#1201 in North America

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

54. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For History

#1160 in the United States

#1236 in North America

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

55. Rockford University

Rockford

For History

#1203 in the United States

#1279 in North America

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

56. McKendree University

Lebanon

For History

#1215 in the United States

#1291 in North America

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

57. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For History

#1251 in the United States

#1330 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

58. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For History

#1269 in the United States

#1349 in North America

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

59. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For History

#1281 in the United States

#1363 in North America

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

60. Eureka College

Eureka

For History

#1283 in the United States

#1365 in North America

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

61. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For History

#1287 in the United States

#1369 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

62. Spertus College

Chicago

For History

#1291 in the United States

#1373 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

63. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For History

#1293 in the United States

#1375 in North America

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

64. Principia College

Elsah

For History

#1308 in the United States

#1390 in North America

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

65. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For History

#1322 in the United States

#1404 in North America

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

66. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For History

#1334 in the United States

#1416 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

67. Adler University

Chicago

For History

#1362 in the United States

#1447 in North America

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

68. Kendall College

Chicago

For History

#1410 in the United States

#1496 in North America

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

69. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For History

#1425 in the United States

#1511 in North America

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

70. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For History

#1428 in the United States

#1514 in North America

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

71. Quincy University

Quincy

For History

#1452 in the United States

#1540 in North America

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

72. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For History

#1461 in the United States

#1549 in North America

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

73. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For History

#1488 in the United States

#1576 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 40:60

74. Judson University

Elgin

For History

#1497 in the United States

#1585 in North America

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

Closest to Illinois states to learn History

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	32	34
Missouri	39	39
Iowa	28	44
Kentucky	24	60
Wisconsin	31	11
Tennessee	33	54
Ohio	59	19
Michigan	38	4
Arkansas	17	128
West Virginia	16	101
Minnesota	26	21
Mississippi	12	156
Kansas	15	76
Alabama	24	94
Virginia	42	36
Georgia	46	40
North Carolina	46	22
Oklahoma	18	91
Nebraska	11	62
South Carolina	26	73
Pennsylvania	97	14
South Dakota	8	254
District of Columbia	10	51
Louisiana	24	69
Maryland	26	18
New York	129	6
New Jersey	27	20
North Dakota	7	209
Connecticut	20	8
Texas	75	17
Vermont	10	119
Colorado	21	47
Massachusetts	69	2
Rhode Island	9	65
Florida	49	23
New Hampshire	11	84
New Mexico	7	95
Maine	13	163
Montana	7	132
Utah	10	46
Arizona	10	28
Idaho	7	141
Nevada	6	131
Oregon	18	64
Washington	26	5
California	123	1
Puerto Rico	13	437
Alaska	4	155
Hawaii	6	88