79 Best colleges for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 9.84M citations received by 260K 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 Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Philosophy

#12 in the United States

#14 in North America

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

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Philosophy

#30 in the United States

#34 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#53 in the United States

#65 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#130 in the United States

#153 in North America

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

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Philosophy

#154 in the United States

#177 in North America

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

7. DePaul University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#160 in the United States

#187 in North America

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

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Philosophy

#171 in the United States

#202 in North America

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

9. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Philosophy

#174 in the United States

#205 in North America

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

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Philosophy

#205 in the United States

#238 in North America

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

11. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Philosophy

#277 in the United States

#316 in North America

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

12. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Philosophy

#311 in the United States

#352 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Philosophy

#324 in the United States

#367 in North America

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

14. Bradley University

Peoria

For Philosophy

#376 in the United States

#422 in North America

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

15. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Philosophy

#385 in the United States

#432 in North America

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

16. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#388 in the United States

#435 in North America

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

17. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Philosophy

#416 in the United States

#464 in North America

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

18. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Philosophy

#423 in the United States

#471 in North America

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

19. Rush University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#485 in the United States

#538 in North America

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

20. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Philosophy

#490 in the United States

#543 in North America

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

21. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#513 in the United States

#568 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 Philosophy

#519 in the United States

#575 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

23. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Philosophy

#526 in the United States

#583 in North America

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

24. Knox College

Galesburg

For Philosophy

#580 in the United States

#641 in North America

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

25. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#641 in the United States

#706 in North America

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

26. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Philosophy

#672 in the United States

#738 in North America

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

27. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Philosophy

#713 in the United States

#780 in North America

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

28. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#731 in the United States

#798 in North America

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

29. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#742 in the United States

#809 in North America

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

30. National Louis University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#775 in the United States

#844 in North America

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

31. Governors State University

University Park

For Philosophy

#783 in the United States

#852 in North America

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

32. North Central College

Naperville

For Philosophy

#789 in the United States

#859 in North America

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

33. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#834 in the United States

#906 in North America

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

34. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Philosophy

#855 in the United States

#928 in North America

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

35. Greenville University

Greenville

For Philosophy

#874 in the United States

#947 in North America

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

36. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Philosophy

#901 in the United States

#975 in North America

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

37. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Philosophy

#903 in the United States

#977 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

38. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#940 in the United States

#1016 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

39. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Philosophy

#943 in the United States

#1019 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

40. Dominican University

River Forest

For Philosophy

#950 in the United States

#1026 in North America

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

41. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Philosophy

#967 in the United States

#1043 in North America

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

42. North Park University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#974 in the United States

#1050 in North America

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

43. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Philosophy

#987 in the United States

#1063 in North America

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

44. Millikin University

Decatur

For Philosophy

#991 in the United States

#1067 in North America

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

45. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1002 in the United States

#1078 in North America

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

46. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1023 in the United States

#1100 in North America

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

47. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1054 in the United States

#1131 in North America

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

48. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Philosophy

#1098 in the United States

#1176 in North America

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

49. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Philosophy

#1104 in the United States

#1182 in North America

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

50. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Philosophy

#1136 in the United States

#1215 in North America

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

51. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Philosophy

#1149 in the United States

#1228 in North America

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

52. Rockford University

Rockford

For Philosophy

#1151 in the United States

#1230 in North America

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

53. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Philosophy

#1164 in the United States

#1244 in North America

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

54. Aurora University

Aurora

For Philosophy

#1165 in the United States

#1245 in North America

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

55. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1189 in the United States

#1269 in North America

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

56. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Philosophy

#1193 in the United States

#1273 in North America

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

57. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Philosophy

#1199 in the United States

#1279 in North America

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

58. Adler University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1212 in the United States

#1293 in North America

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

59. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Philosophy

#1215 in the United States

#1296 in North America

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

60. Eureka College

Eureka

For Philosophy

#1218 in the United States

#1299 in North America

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

61. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Philosophy

#1243 in the United States

#1324 in North America

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

62. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1260 in the United States

#1341 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

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

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1273 in the United States

#1354 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

64. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Philosophy

#1285 in the United States

#1366 in North America

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

65. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Philosophy

#1288 in the United States

#1369 in North America

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

66. Kendall College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1289 in the United States

#1370 in North America

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

67. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1353 in the United States

#1437 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

68. Spertus College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1360 in the United States

#1444 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

69. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Philosophy

#1372 in the United States

#1456 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

70. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1414 in the United States

#1500 in North America

Enrollment: 121
Male:Female: 24:76

71. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1430 in the United States

#1517 in North America

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

72. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1445 in the United States

#1532 in North America

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

73. Principia College

Elsah

For Philosophy

#1453 in the United States

#1540 in North America

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

74. Lincoln Christian University

Lincoln

For Philosophy

#1498 in the United States

#1585 in North America

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

75. Quincy University

Quincy

For Philosophy

#1499 in the United States

#1587 in North America

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

76. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1515 in the United States

#1604 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 40:60

77. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Philosophy

#1529 in the United States

#1618 in North America

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

78. Judson University

Elgin

For Philosophy

#1555 in the United States

#1644 in North America

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

79. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Philosophy

#1560 in the United States

#1650 in North America

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

Closest to Illinois states to learn Philosophy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	35	34
Missouri	39	43
Iowa	29	39
Kentucky	27	67
Wisconsin	34	15
Tennessee	36	44
Ohio	63	22
Michigan	40	4
Arkansas	17	142
West Virginia	16	115
Minnesota	27	26
Mississippi	14	180
Kansas	17	73
Alabama	25	98
Virginia	42	40
Georgia	48	47
North Carolina	46	25
Oklahoma	20	108
Nebraska	12	94
South Carolina	26	77
Pennsylvania	98	9
South Dakota	8	374
District of Columbia	13	57
Louisiana	25	60
Maryland	27	19
New York	135	6
New Jersey	26	14
North Dakota	7	214
Connecticut	22	11
Texas	81	20
Vermont	11	122
Colorado	21	51
Massachusetts	72	3
Rhode Island	9	56
Florida	56	35
New Hampshire	12	79
New Mexico	8	102
Maine	13	215
Montana	7	202
Utah	10	52
Arizona	10	27
Idaho	7	216
Nevada	6	149
Oregon	18	93
Washington	28	7
California	130	1
Puerto Rico	14	299
Alaska	4	325
Hawaii	6	120