79 Best colleges for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Illinois

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 13.9M citations received by 485K 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

#14 in the United States

#15 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in the United States

#17 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#37 in the United States

#42 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#46 in the United States

#54 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#128 in the United States

#149 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,511

6. DePaul University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#137 in the United States

#159 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $32,151

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#158 in the United States

#182 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,552
Enrollment: 15,649

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#168 in the United States

#192 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1020
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#183 in the United States

#209 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#203 in the United States

#232 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,702

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#280 in the United States

#315 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1043
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $16,296

12. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#284 in the United States

#319 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1010
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,773

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#333 in the United States

#372 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

14. Rush University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#370 in the United States

#416 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1972

15. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#371 in the United States

#417 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $15,632
Enrollment: 7,643

16. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#376 in the United States

#423 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $30,096

17. Bradley University

Peoria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#409 in the United States

#456 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $24,053

18. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#425 in the United States

#473 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 30:70

19. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#453 in the United States

#502 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $29,961

20. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#489 in the United States

#540 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $15,143
Enrollment: 5,756

21. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#497 in the United States

#548 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 1,940
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1912

22. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#504 in the United States

#555 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1104
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

23. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#543 in the United States

#598 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $22,117

24. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#552 in the United States

#607 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

25. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#577 in the United States

#633 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 40
Male:Female: 77:23

26. Knox College

Galesburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#658 in the United States

#721 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $26,882

27. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#660 in the United States

#723 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1247
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $27,839

28. North Central College

Naperville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#672 in the United States

#737 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $25,285

29. Governors State University

University Park

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#692 in the United States

#757 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 945
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,987

30. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#713 in the United States

#778 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $15,891
Enrollment: 2,317

31. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#734 in the United States

#799 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $24,660

32. National Louis University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#791 in the United States

#859 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Net Price: $14,769
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,641

33. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#817 in the United States

#886 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $11,302
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,886

34. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#849 in the United States

#918 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Net Price: $53,923
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,290

35. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#872 in the United States

#943 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $24,108

36. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#928 in the United States

#1000 in North America

Net Price: $20,319
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,832
Enrollment: 242

37. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#931 in the United States

#1003 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $20,237

38. Dominican University

River Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#933 in the United States

#1005 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $18,162

39. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#946 in the United States

#1018 in North America

Enrollment: 331
Male:Female: 2:98

40. Millikin University

Decatur

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#974 in the United States

#1046 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $10,492

41. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1037 in the United States

#1112 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 51:49

42. North Park University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1042 in the United States

#1117 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $19,029
Receiving Aid: 100%

43. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1044 in the United States

#1119 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Net Price: $28,387
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $18,020

44. Greenville University

Greenville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1055 in the United States

#1131 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1009
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,718

45. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1060 in the United States

#1136 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $19,184

46. Aurora University

Aurora

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1064 in the United States

#1140 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1089
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $19,350

47. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1067 in the United States

#1143 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $18,560

48. Rockford University

Rockford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1100 in the United States

#1176 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 963
Average ACT: 16
Net Price: $25,047

49. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1109 in the United States

#1185 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 41
Net Price: $30,112

50. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1122 in the United States

#1198 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $25,658
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,083

51. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1131 in the United States

#1207 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 280
Male:Female: 46:54

52. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1146 in the United States

#1222 in North America

Enrollment: 213
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1968

53. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1164 in the United States

#1240 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $21,575
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,112

54. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1215 in the United States

#1293 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Net Price: $20,059
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,708

55. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1232 in the United States

#1310 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 498
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1906

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

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1236 in the United States

#1314 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 51:49

57. Adler University

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1237 in the United States

#1315 in North America

Enrollment: 1,841
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1952

58. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1260 in the United States

#1338 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $10,288
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $10,468

59. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1293 in the United States

#1373 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Net Price: $22,431
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,145

60. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1301 in the United States

#1381 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $18,832
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,141

61. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1306 in the United States

#1386 in North America

Enrollment: 162
Male:Female: 59:41

62. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1314 in the United States

#1394 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1016
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $16,703

63. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1376 in the United States

#1458 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1010
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $18,822

64. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1384 in the United States

#1466 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 481
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1872

65. Kendall College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1405 in the United States

#1488 in North America

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

66. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1414 in the United States

#1498 in North America

Enrollment: 195
Male:Female: 37:63

67. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1430 in the United States

#1516 in North America

Enrollment: 204
Male:Female: 89:11

68. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1437 in the United States

#1523 in North America

Enrollment: 119
Male:Female: 21:79

69. Eureka College

Eureka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1445 in the United States

#1532 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $19,443
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,367

70. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1471 in the United States

#1558 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 374
Male:Female: 60:40

71. Principia College

Elsah

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1509 in the United States

#1597 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1135
Net Price: $18,039
Receiving Aid: 94%

72. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1546 in the United States

#1634 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $21,368
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $10,560

73. Quincy University

Quincy

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1562 in the United States

#1651 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Net Price: $11,985
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,052

74. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1592 in the United States

#1681 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 30:70

75. Lincoln Christian University

Lincoln

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1604 in the United States

#1693 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $7,706
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,009

76. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1611 in the United States

#1700 in North America

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

77. Judson University

Elgin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1638 in the United States

#1728 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $19,268

78. Spertus College

Chicago

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1650 in the United States

#1740 in North America

Enrollment: 99
Male:Female: 35:65

79. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1690 in the United States

#1781 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $13,808
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $6,284

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	36	54
Missouri	41	39
Iowa	33	43
Kentucky	29	57
Wisconsin	35	13
Tennessee	39	45
Ohio	66	19
Michigan	45	4
Arkansas	18	143
West Virginia	20	121
Minnesota	30	18
Mississippi	15	180
Kansas	20	75
Alabama	28	82
Virginia	42	38
Georgia	51	41
North Carolina	49	21
Oklahoma	22	108
Nebraska	14	88
South Carolina	32	66
Pennsylvania	113	11
South Dakota	10	324
District of Columbia	13	52
Louisiana	26	76
Maryland	27	9
Delaware	4	97
New York	144	6
New Jersey	29	24
North Dakota	9	211
Connecticut	22	10
Texas	85	20
Vermont	12	123
Colorado	24	53
Massachusetts	74	1
Rhode Island	9	60
Florida	69	29
New Hampshire	13	90
New Mexico	9	95
Maine	16	200
Montana	9	165
Utah	11	44
Arizona	10	28
Idaho	7	192
Nevada	8	148
Oregon	20	96
Washington	37	5
California	143	2
Puerto Rico	15	406
Alaska	4	227
Hawaii	7	107