78 Best Law schools 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 Law. A graph of 9.8M citations received by 277K academic papers made by 78 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 Law

#9 in the United States

#10 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 Law

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Law

#29 in the United States

#31 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Law

#44 in the United States

#50 in North America

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

5. DePaul University

Chicago

For Law

#113 in the United States

#131 in North America

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

6. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Law

#120 in the United States

#138 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Law

#158 in the United States

#181 in North America

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

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Law

#169 in the United States

#193 in North America

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

9. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Law

#170 in the United States

#196 in North America

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

10. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Law

#181 in the United States

#207 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Law

#302 in the United States

#337 in North America

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

12. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Law

#324 in the United States

#361 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Law

#340 in the United States

#378 in North America

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

14. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Law

#370 in the United States

#411 in North America

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

15. Rush University

Chicago

For Law

#379 in the United States

#420 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Law

#411 in the United States

#455 in North America

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

17. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Law

#415 in the United States

#459 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

18. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Law

#455 in the United States

#500 in North America

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

19. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Law

#471 in the United States

#516 in North America

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

20. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Law

#484 in the United States

#530 in North America

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

21. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Law

#525 in the United States

#576 in North America

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

22. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Law

#535 in the United States

#587 in North America

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

23. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Law

#589 in the United States

#644 in North America

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

24. Knox College

Galesburg

For Law

#626 in the United States

#683 in North America

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

25. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Law

#675 in the United States

#736 in North America

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

26. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Law

#676 in the United States

#737 in North America

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

27. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Law

#680 in the United States

#741 in North America

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

28. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Law

#686 in the United States

#747 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

29. Governors State University

University Park

For Law

#720 in the United States

#782 in North America

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

30. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Law

#738 in the United States

#802 in North America

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

31. North Central College

Naperville

For Law

#752 in the United States

#816 in North America

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

32. National Louis University

Chicago

For Law

#765 in the United States

#831 in North America

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

33. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Law

#857 in the United States

#927 in North America

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

34. Dominican University

River Forest

For Law

#872 in the United States

#942 in North America

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

35. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Law

#882 in the United States

#952 in North America

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

36. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Law

#907 in the United States

#977 in North America

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

37. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Law

#920 in the United States

#990 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

38. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Law

#956 in the United States

#1027 in North America

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

39. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Law

#981 in the United States

#1052 in North America

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

40. Millikin University

Decatur

For Law

#983 in the United States

#1054 in North America

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

41. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Law

#997 in the United States

#1069 in North America

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

42. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Law

#1050 in the United States

#1124 in North America

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

43. Aurora University

Aurora

For Law

#1054 in the United States

#1128 in North America

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

44. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Law

#1065 in the United States

#1139 in North America

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

45. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Law

#1078 in the United States

#1154 in North America

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

46. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Law

#1109 in the United States

#1185 in North America

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

47. North Park University

Chicago

For Law

#1113 in the United States

#1189 in North America

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

48. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Law

#1114 in the United States

#1190 in North America

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

49. Greenville University

Greenville

For Law

#1124 in the United States

#1200 in North America

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

50. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Law

#1182 in the United States

#1259 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

51. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Law

#1190 in the United States

#1267 in North America

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

52. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Law

#1200 in the United States

#1277 in North America

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

53. Adler University

Chicago

For Law

#1203 in the United States

#1280 in North America

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

54. Rockford University

Rockford

For Law

#1209 in the United States

#1286 in North America

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

55. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Law

#1235 in the United States

#1313 in North America

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

56. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Law

#1238 in the United States

#1316 in North America

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

57. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Law

#1243 in the United States

#1321 in North America

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

58. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Law

#1246 in the United States

#1324 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Law

#1252 in the United States

#1330 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

60. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Law

#1263 in the United States

#1341 in North America

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

61. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Law

#1274 in the United States

#1352 in North America

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

62. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Law

#1289 in the United States

#1367 in North America

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

63. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Law

#1377 in the United States

#1458 in North America

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

64. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Law

#1391 in the United States

#1472 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

65. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Law

#1399 in the United States

#1480 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

66. Spertus College

Chicago

For Law

#1413 in the United States

#1495 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

67. Eureka College

Eureka

For Law

#1435 in the United States

#1518 in North America

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

68. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Law

#1437 in the United States

#1521 in North America

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

69. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Law

#1457 in the United States

#1542 in North America

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

70. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Law

#1470 in the United States

#1555 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

71. Principia College

Elsah

For Law

#1484 in the United States

#1570 in North America

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

72. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Law

#1501 in the United States

#1588 in North America

Enrollment: 121
Male:Female: 24:76

73. Kendall College

Chicago

For Law

#1505 in the United States

#1592 in North America

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

74. Judson University

Elgin

For Law

#1535 in the United States

#1622 in North America

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

75. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Law

#1544 in the United States

#1631 in North America

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

76. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Law

#1545 in the United States

#1632 in North America

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

77. Quincy University

Quincy

For Law

#1580 in the United States

#1668 in North America

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

78. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Law

#1599 in the United States

#1687 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 40:60

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	35	39
Missouri	40	43
Iowa	31	48
Kentucky	28	63
Wisconsin	33	16
Tennessee	37	47
Ohio	63	19
Michigan	41	2
Arkansas	17	128
West Virginia	17	123
Minnesota	28	18
Mississippi	14	175
Kansas	16	67
Alabama	26	96
Virginia	42	33
Georgia	49	45
North Carolina	47	20
Oklahoma	20	92
Nebraska	13	87
South Carolina	28	62
Pennsylvania	99	8
South Dakota	8	334
District of Columbia	11	41
Louisiana	26	83
Maryland	28	13
Delaware	4	86
New York	136	5
New Jersey	28	22
North Dakota	7	223
Connecticut	21	7
Texas	82	21
Vermont	11	127
Colorado	21	57
Massachusetts	71	1
Rhode Island	9	69
Florida	64	34
New Hampshire	12	75
New Mexico	8	107
Maine	14	230
Montana	8	208
Utah	11	50
Arizona	10	24
Idaho	7	234
Nevada	6	131
Oregon	18	102
Washington	32	6
California	132	3
Puerto Rico	12	627
Alaska	4	325
Hawaii	7	111