79 Best colleges for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 21.3M citations received by 572K 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in the United States

#18 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#34 in the United States

#38 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#47 in the United States

#57 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#123 in the United States

#145 in North America

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

6. DePaul University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#135 in the United States

#157 in North America

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

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: $14,387
Enrollment: 15,414

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#172 in the United States

#199 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#182 in the United States

#210 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
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: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $24,796

11. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#293 in the United States

#330 in North America

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

12. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#302 in the United States

#341 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#345 in the United States

#387 in North America

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

14. Rush University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#371 in the United States

#417 in North America

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

15. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#385 in the United States

#433 in North America

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

16. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#406 in the United States

#454 in North America

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

17. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#416 in the United States

#464 in North America

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

18. Bradley University

Peoria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#418 in the United States

#467 in North America

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

19. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#442 in the United States

#493 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

20. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#485 in the United States

#537 in North America

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

21. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#521 in the United States

#576 in North America

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

22. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#543 in the United States

#598 in North America

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

23. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#577 in the United States

#633 in North America

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

24. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#597 in the United States

#654 in North America

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

25. Knox College

Galesburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#639 in the United States

#701 in North America

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

26. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#642 in the United States

#704 in North America

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

27. North Central College

Naperville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#653 in the United States

#718 in North America

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

28. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#677 in the United States

#743 in North America

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

29. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#703 in the United States

#769 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

30. Governors State University

University Park

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#733 in the United States

#800 in North America

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

31. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#748 in the United States

#816 in North America

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

32. National Louis University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#828 in the United States

#898 in North America

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

33. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#835 in the United States

#905 in North America

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

34. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#836 in the United States

#906 in North America

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

35. Greenville University

Greenville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#850 in the United States

#920 in North America

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

36. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#894 in the United States

#966 in North America

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

37. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#924 in the United States

#996 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

38. Dominican University

River Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#928 in the United States

#1000 in North America

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

39. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#971 in the United States

#1043 in North America

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

40. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#994 in the United States

#1070 in North America

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

41. Millikin University

Decatur

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1008 in the United States

#1084 in North America

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

42. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1027 in the United States

#1103 in North America

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

43. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1050 in the United States

#1127 in North America

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

44. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1058 in the United States

#1135 in North America

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

45. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1060 in the United States

#1137 in North America

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

46. North Park University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1078 in the United States

#1155 in North America

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

47. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1103 in the United States

#1181 in North America

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

48. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1104 in the United States

#1182 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

49. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1105 in the United States

#1183 in North America

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

50. Aurora University

Aurora

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1132 in the United States

#1210 in North America

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

51. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1146 in the United States

#1224 in North America

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

52. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1154 in the United States

#1232 in North America

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

53. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1158 in the United States

#1236 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1166 in the United States

#1244 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

55. Rockford University

Rockford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1191 in the United States

#1269 in North America

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

56. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1221 in the United States

#1300 in North America

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

57. Adler University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1229 in the United States

#1309 in North America

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

58. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1267 in the United States

#1347 in North America

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

59. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1270 in the United States

#1350 in North America

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

60. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1285 in the United States

#1365 in North America

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

61. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1319 in the United States

#1400 in North America

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

62. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1325 in the United States

#1406 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

63. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1334 in the United States

#1415 in North America

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

64. Eureka College

Eureka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1359 in the United States

#1441 in North America

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

65. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1383 in the United States

#1465 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

66. Spertus College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1397 in the United States

#1480 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

67. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1401 in the United States

#1484 in North America

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

68. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1449 in the United States

#1535 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

69. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1452 in the United States

#1538 in North America

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

70. Principia College

Elsah

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1458 in the United States

#1544 in North America

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

71. Kendall College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1459 in the United States

#1545 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

#1506 in the United States

#1594 in North America

Enrollment: 121
Male:Female: 24:76

73. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1554 in the United States

#1643 in North America

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

74. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1556 in the United States

#1645 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 40:60

75. Quincy University

Quincy

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1565 in the United States

#1655 in North America

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

76. Lincoln Christian University

Lincoln

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1587 in the United States

#1677 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $19,640
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,031

77. Judson University

Elgin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1593 in the United States

#1683 in North America

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

78. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1612 in the United States

#1702 in North America

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

79. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1620 in the United States

#1710 in North America

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

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	38	39
Missouri	44	40
Iowa	32	44
Kentucky	29	60
Wisconsin	36	14
Tennessee	39	46
Ohio	67	19
Michigan	47	3
Arkansas	18	146
West Virginia	20	120
Minnesota	30	18
Mississippi	15	177
Kansas	22	74
Alabama	30	82
Virginia	42	37
Georgia	52	42
North Carolina	50	20
Oklahoma	22	103
Nebraska	15	87
South Carolina	32	68
Pennsylvania	114	9
South Dakota	12	331
District of Columbia	13	48
Louisiana	27	79
Maryland	28	8
Delaware	4	97
New York	146	6
New Jersey	29	22
North Dakota	9	216
Connecticut	22	10
Texas	89	21
Vermont	12	124
Colorado	24	52
Massachusetts	75	1
Rhode Island	9	56
Florida	70	31
New Hampshire	13	84
New Mexico	9	100
Maine	16	199
Montana	9	166
Utah	11	45
Arizona	10	29
Idaho	7	193
Nevada	8	149
Oregon	21	96
Washington	39	5
California	147	2
Puerto Rico	15	414
Alaska	4	233
Hawaii	7	106