77 Best colleges for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 6.42M citations received by 223K academic papers made by 77 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

#10 in the United States

#11 in North America

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

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#19 in the United States

#21 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Philosophy

#32 in the United States

#36 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#52 in the United States

#63 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#138 in the United States

#161 in North America

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

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Philosophy

#147 in the United States

#170 in North America

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

7. DePaul University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#157 in the United States

#182 in North America

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

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Philosophy

#168 in the United States

#195 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Philosophy

#169 in the United States

#196 in North America

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

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Philosophy

#204 in the United States

#237 in North America

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

11. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Philosophy

#248 in the United States

#284 in North America

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

12. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Philosophy

#282 in the United States

#322 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Philosophy

#310 in the United States

#352 in North America

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

14. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Philosophy

#364 in the United States

#407 in North America

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

15. Bradley University

Peoria

For Philosophy

#365 in the United States

#408 in North America

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

16. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Philosophy

#366 in the United States

#409 in North America

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

17. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#378 in the United States

#424 in North America

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

18. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Philosophy

#426 in the United States

#475 in North America

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

19. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Philosophy

#478 in the United States

#530 in North America

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

20. Rush University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#482 in the United States

#534 in North America

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

21. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Philosophy

#491 in the United States

#545 in North America

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

22. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#494 in the United States

#548 in North America

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

23. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Philosophy

#510 in the United States

#564 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 30:70

24. Knox College

Galesburg

For Philosophy

#597 in the United States

#658 in North America

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

25. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#604 in the United States

#666 in North America

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

26. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Philosophy

#678 in the United States

#743 in North America

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

27. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#706 in the United States

#772 in North America

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

28. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Philosophy

#712 in the United States

#778 in North America

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

29. Governors State University

University Park

For Philosophy

#718 in the United States

#784 in North America

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

30. National Louis University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#741 in the United States

#808 in North America

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

31. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#762 in the United States

#830 in North America

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

32. North Central College

Naperville

For Philosophy

#781 in the United States

#850 in North America

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

33. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#798 in the United States

#867 in North America

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

34. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Philosophy

#871 in the United States

#943 in North America

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

35. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#884 in the United States

#956 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 51:49

36. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Philosophy

#906 in the United States

#979 in North America

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

37. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Philosophy

#932 in the United States

#1006 in North America

Enrollment: 331
Male:Female: 2:98

38. Dominican University

River Forest

For Philosophy

#952 in the United States

#1027 in North America

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

39. North Park University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#954 in the United States

#1029 in North America

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

40. Millikin University

Decatur

For Philosophy

#961 in the United States

#1036 in North America

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

41. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Philosophy

#981 in the United States

#1056 in North America

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

42. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Philosophy

#982 in the United States

#1057 in North America

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

43. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Philosophy

#1002 in the United States

#1078 in North America

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

44. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1013 in the United States

#1089 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

45. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1020 in the United States

#1096 in North America

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

46. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Philosophy

#1056 in the United States

#1133 in North America

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

47. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1058 in the United States

#1135 in North America

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

48. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Philosophy

#1061 in the United States

#1138 in North America

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

49. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Philosophy

#1106 in the United States

#1183 in North America

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

50. Aurora University

Aurora

For Philosophy

#1122 in the United States

#1199 in North America

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

51. Rockford University

Rockford

For Philosophy

#1135 in the United States

#1212 in North America

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

52. Greenville University

Greenville

For Philosophy

#1190 in the United States

#1270 in North America

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

53. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Philosophy

#1192 in the United States

#1272 in North America

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

54. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1194 in the United States

#1274 in North America

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

55. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Philosophy

#1201 in the United States

#1282 in North America

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

56. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Philosophy

#1222 in the United States

#1303 in North America

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

57. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1223 in the United States

#1304 in North America

Enrollment: 162
Male:Female: 59:41

58. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Philosophy

#1225 in the United States

#1306 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1228 in the United States

#1309 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 51:49

60. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Philosophy

#1257 in the United States

#1338 in North America

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

61. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Philosophy

#1281 in the United States

#1362 in North America

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

62. Adler University

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1288 in the United States

#1369 in North America

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

63. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Philosophy

#1292 in the United States

#1373 in North America

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

64. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Philosophy

#1310 in the United States

#1392 in North America

Enrollment: 204
Male:Female: 89:11

65. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1311 in the United States

#1393 in North America

Enrollment: 195
Male:Female: 37:63

66. Kendall College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1320 in the United States

#1402 in North America

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

67. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Philosophy

#1322 in the United States

#1404 in North America

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

68. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1356 in the United States

#1438 in North America

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

69. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1373 in the United States

#1456 in North America

Enrollment: 119
Male:Female: 21:79

70. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1407 in the United States

#1494 in North America

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

71. Eureka College

Eureka

For Philosophy

#1438 in the United States

#1525 in North America

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

72. Quincy University

Quincy

For Philosophy

#1473 in the United States

#1560 in North America

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

73. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1475 in the United States

#1562 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 30:70

74. Principia College

Elsah

For Philosophy

#1491 in the United States

#1578 in North America

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

75. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Philosophy

#1508 in the United States

#1595 in North America

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

76. Spertus College

Chicago

For Philosophy

#1520 in the United States

#1607 in North America

Enrollment: 99
Male:Female: 35:65

77. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Philosophy

#1539 in the United States

#1628 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	33	48
Missouri	39	42
Iowa	29	38
Kentucky	28	66
Wisconsin	33	13
Tennessee	34	43
Ohio	62	21
Michigan	39	4
Arkansas	17	141
West Virginia	16	115
Minnesota	26	25
Mississippi	13	183
Kansas	17	76
Alabama	25	98
Virginia	42	40
Georgia	47	45
North Carolina	45	26
Oklahoma	20	113
Nebraska	12	93
South Carolina	25	81
Pennsylvania	98	11
South Dakota	8	373
District of Columbia	12	60
Louisiana	25	55
Maryland	26	22
New York	132	6
New Jersey	26	17
North Dakota	6	215
Connecticut	22	12
Texas	77	18
Vermont	11	119
Colorado	20	54
Massachusetts	71	3
Rhode Island	9	56
Florida	51	33
New Hampshire	11	84
New Mexico	7	99
Maine	13	207
Montana	7	198
Utah	10	53
Arizona	10	27
Idaho	7	214
Nevada	6	149
Oregon	18	75
Washington	28	7
California	126	1
Puerto Rico	14	325
Alaska	4	320
Hawaii	6	116