79 Best colleges for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 9.37M citations received by 256K 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: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Philosophy

#30 in the United States

#34 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#53 in the United States

#65 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#130 in the United States

#153 in North America

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

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Philosophy

#153 in the United States

#176 in North America

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

7. DePaul University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#160 in the United States

#185 in North America

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

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Philosophy

#170 in the United States

#200 in North America

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

9. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Philosophy

#172 in the United States

#202 in North America

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

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Philosophy

#205 in the United States

#238 in North America

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

11. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Philosophy

#276 in the United States

#314 in North America

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

12. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Philosophy

#310 in the United States

#351 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Philosophy

#324 in the United States

#367 in North America

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

14. Bradley University

Peoria

For Philosophy

#372 in the United States

#418 in North America

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

15. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Philosophy

#384 in the United States

#431 in North America

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

16. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#390 in the United States

#437 in North America

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

17. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Philosophy

#414 in the United States

#462 in North America

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

18. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Philosophy

#421 in the United States

#469 in North America

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

19. Rush University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#485 in the United States

#538 in North America

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

20. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Philosophy

#493 in the United States

#546 in North America

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

21. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#506 in the United States

#560 in North America

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

22. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Philosophy

#522 in the United States

#578 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

23. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Philosophy

#524 in the United States

#580 in North America

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

24. Knox College

Galesburg

For Philosophy

#581 in the United States

#641 in North America

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

25. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#639 in the United States

#702 in North America

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

26. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Philosophy

#673 in the United States

#739 in North America

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

27. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Philosophy

#708 in the United States

#775 in North America

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

28. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#731 in the United States

#798 in North America

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

29. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#741 in the United States

#808 in North America

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

30. National Louis University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#773 in the United States

#842 in North America

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

31. Governors State University

University Park

For Philosophy

#781 in the United States

#850 in North America

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

32. North Central College

Naperville

For Philosophy

#790 in the United States

#859 in North America

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

33. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#833 in the United States

#905 in North America

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

34. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Philosophy

#836 in the United States

#908 in North America

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

35. Greenville University

Greenville

For Philosophy

#863 in the United States

#936 in North America

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

36. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Philosophy

#891 in the United States

#964 in North America

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

37. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Philosophy

#898 in the United States

#972 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

38. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#927 in the United States

#1002 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

39. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Philosophy

#946 in the United States

#1021 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

40. Dominican University

River Forest

For Philosophy

#953 in the United States

#1029 in North America

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

41. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Philosophy

#961 in the United States

#1037 in North America

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

42. North Park University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#970 in the United States

#1046 in North America

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

43. Millikin University

Decatur

For Philosophy

#989 in the United States

#1065 in North America

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

44. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Philosophy

#992 in the United States

#1068 in North America

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

45. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Philosophy

#998 in the United States

#1074 in North America

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

46. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1025 in the United States

#1102 in North America

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

47. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1058 in the United States

#1135 in North America

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

48. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Philosophy

#1097 in the United States

#1175 in North America

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

49. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Philosophy

#1105 in the United States

#1183 in North America

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

50. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Philosophy

#1140 in the United States

#1218 in North America

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

51. Rockford University

Rockford

For Philosophy

#1142 in the United States

#1221 in North America

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

52. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Philosophy

#1149 in the United States

#1228 in North America

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

53. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Philosophy

#1159 in the United States

#1239 in North America

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

54. Aurora University

Aurora

For Philosophy

#1169 in the United States

#1249 in North America

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

55. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1183 in the United States

#1263 in North America

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

56. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Philosophy

#1187 in the United States

#1267 in North America

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

57. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Philosophy

#1206 in the United States

#1287 in North America

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

58. Eureka College

Eureka

For Philosophy

#1219 in the United States

#1300 in North America

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

59. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Philosophy

#1222 in the United States

#1303 in North America

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

60. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Philosophy

#1230 in the United States

#1311 in North America

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

61. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1255 in the United States

#1336 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

62. Adler University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1258 in the United States

#1339 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1259 in the United States

#1340 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

64. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Philosophy

#1283 in the United States

#1364 in North America

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

65. Kendall College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1284 in the United States

#1365 in North America

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

66. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Philosophy

#1287 in the United States

#1368 in North America

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

67. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1342 in the United States

#1424 in North America

Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 42:58

68. Spertus College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1354 in the United States

#1436 in North America

Enrollment: 97
Male:Female: 37:63

69. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Philosophy

#1362 in the United States

#1445 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

70. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1421 in the United States

#1507 in North America

Enrollment: 120
Male:Female: 20:80

71. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1434 in the United States

#1521 in North America

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

72. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1442 in the United States

#1529 in North America

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

73. Principia College

Elsah

For Philosophy

#1443 in the United States

#1530 in North America

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

74. Lincoln Christian University

Lincoln

For Philosophy

#1492 in the United States

#1579 in North America

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

75. Quincy University

Quincy

For Philosophy

#1496 in the United States

#1583 in North America

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

76. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1507 in the United States

#1595 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 33:67

77. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Philosophy

#1523 in the United States

#1611 in North America

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

78. Judson University

Elgin

For Philosophy

#1549 in the United States

#1638 in North America

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

79. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Philosophy

#1562 in the United States

#1652 in North America

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

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	26	26
Mississippi	14	180
Kansas	17	72
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	380
District of Columbia	12	57
Louisiana	25	61
Maryland	27	20
New York	135	6
New Jersey	26	16
North Dakota	7	215
Connecticut	22	11
Texas	79	19
Vermont	11	121
Colorado	21	51
Massachusetts	72	3
Rhode Island	9	56
Florida	55	35
New Hampshire	12	78
New Mexico	8	102
Maine	13	214
Montana	7	202
Utah	10	52
Arizona	10	29
Idaho	7	216
Nevada	6	148
Oregon	18	92
Washington	28	7
California	129	1
Puerto Rico	14	295
Alaska	4	325
Hawaii	6	118