79 Best colleges for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Illinois

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Illinois ranked based on their research performance in Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 20.4M citations received by 560K academic papers made by 79 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in the United States

#13 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in the United States

#17 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#33 in the United States

#37 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#47 in the United States

#57 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#123 in the United States

#145 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,592

6. DePaul University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#135 in the United States

#157 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $32,129

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#161 in the United States

#186 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,565
Enrollment: 15,504

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#172 in the United States

#197 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 97%

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#182 in the United States

#209 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#198 in the United States

#227 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $25,001

11. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#293 in the United States

#329 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1000
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $11,122

12. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#301 in the United States

#339 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1081
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $17,255

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#345 in the United States

#386 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 93%

14. Rush University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#371 in the United States

#417 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,782
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1972

15. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#385 in the United States

#432 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,620
Enrollment: 7,073

16. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#405 in the United States

#453 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $31,310

17. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#414 in the United States

#462 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,346

18. Bradley University

Peoria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#418 in the United States

#466 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $24,703

19. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#443 in the United States

#494 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

20. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#483 in the United States

#534 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $12,560
Enrollment: 5,504

21. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#522 in the United States

#576 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 1,949
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1912

22. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#541 in the United States

#596 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

23. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#571 in the United States

#627 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 955
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $21,503

24. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#592 in the United States

#648 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 38
Male:Female: 73:27

25. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#636 in the United States

#698 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,695

26. Knox College

Galesburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#642 in the United States

#704 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1253
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $25,524

27. North Central College

Naperville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#652 in the United States

#715 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1173
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,190

28. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#673 in the United States

#738 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1268
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,894

29. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#699 in the United States

#765 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

30. Governors State University

University Park

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#730 in the United States

#796 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,315
Enrollment: 4,337

31. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#746 in the United States

#812 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $19,111
Enrollment: 2,324

32. National Louis University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#822 in the United States

#892 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $15,724
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,722

33. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#827 in the United States

#897 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $55,485
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $18,872

34. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#837 in the United States

#907 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $11,943
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,290

35. Greenville University

Greenville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#840 in the United States

#910 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $21,442

36. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#891 in the United States

#962 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $22,760

37. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#919 in the United States

#991 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

38. Dominican University

River Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#932 in the United States

#1004 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1037
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $16,969

39. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#982 in the United States

#1054 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $19,472

40. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#993 in the United States

#1066 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $29,790
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $20,851

41. Millikin University

Decatur

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1005 in the United States

#1081 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $10,078

42. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1018 in the United States

#1094 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $19,088

43. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1047 in the United States

#1123 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $24,570
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $21,484

44. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1056 in the United States

#1132 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $21,349
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,613

45. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1060 in the United States

#1137 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 299
Male:Female: 44:56

46. North Park University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1070 in the United States

#1147 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $19,910
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,779

47. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1096 in the United States

#1174 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

48. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1104 in the United States

#1182 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $16,455

49. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1109 in the United States

#1187 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $20,319
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,832

50. Aurora University

Aurora

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1123 in the United States

#1201 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1032
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,220

51. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1145 in the United States

#1223 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $31,063

52. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1152 in the United States

#1230 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $17,008
Receiving Aid: 84%
Average Aid: $5,947

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

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1155 in the United States

#1233 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

54. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1172 in the United States

#1250 in North America

Enrollment: 198
Male:Female: 64:36
Founded: 1968

55. Rockford University

Rockford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1187 in the United States

#1265 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $24,098

56. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1221 in the United States

#1299 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 513
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1906

57. Adler University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1252 in the United States

#1331 in North America

Enrollment: 1,674
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1952

58. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1265 in the United States

#1344 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $22,707

59. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1281 in the United States

#1360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $21,260
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,365

60. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1287 in the United States

#1366 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $17,767
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,680

61. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1310 in the United States

#1389 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $17,218

62. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1318 in the United States

#1399 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

63. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1336 in the United States

#1417 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $25,200
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $22,269

64. Eureka College

Eureka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1358 in the United States

#1440 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Net Price: $20,215
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,303

65. Spertus College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1383 in the United States

#1465 in North America

Enrollment: 97
Male:Female: 37:63

66. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1394 in the United States

#1476 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

67. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1398 in the United States

#1480 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 6
Male:Female: 50:50

68. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1448 in the United States

#1534 in North America

Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 42:58

69. Principia College

Elsah

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1454 in the United States

#1540 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $14,904

70. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1458 in the United States

#1544 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 483
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1872

71. Kendall College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1463 in the United States

#1549 in North America

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

72. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1513 in the United States

#1600 in North America

Enrollment: 120
Male:Female: 20:80

73. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1558 in the United States

#1647 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $23,950
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $10,477

74. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1561 in the United States

#1650 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 33:67

75. Quincy University

Quincy

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1563 in the United States

#1652 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $17,424

76. Lincoln Christian University

Lincoln

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1577 in the United States

#1667 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $19,640
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,031

77. Judson University

Elgin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1601 in the United States

#1691 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 970
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $21,331

78. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1615 in the United States

#1705 in North America

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

79. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1634 in the United States

#1725 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $14,394
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $6,547

Closest to Illinois states to learn Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	38	39
Missouri	44	40
Iowa	32	44
Kentucky	29	59
Wisconsin	36	14
Tennessee	39	46
Ohio	67	19
Michigan	47	4
Arkansas	18	146
West Virginia	21	119
Minnesota	30	18
Mississippi	15	178
Kansas	22	74
Alabama	29	84
Virginia	42	37
Georgia	52	42
North Carolina	50	20
Oklahoma	22	104
Nebraska	15	87
South Carolina	32	69
Pennsylvania	114	8
South Dakota	11	330
District of Columbia	13	50
Louisiana	27	79
Maryland	28	10
Delaware	4	96
New York	146	6
New Jersey	29	22
North Dakota	9	215
Connecticut	22	9
Texas	89	21
Vermont	12	122
Colorado	24	52
Massachusetts	75	1
Rhode Island	9	56
Florida	70	31
New Hampshire	13	82
New Mexico	9	100
Maine	16	200
Montana	9	166
Utah	11	45
Arizona	10	30
Idaho	7	194
Nevada	8	152
Oregon	21	97
Washington	39	5
California	146	2
Puerto Rico	15	415
Alaska	4	233
Hawaii	7	107