78 Best Political Science 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 Political Science. A graph of 10.1M citations received by 295K 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 Political Science

#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 Political Science

#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 Political Science

#31 in the United States

#33 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#44 in the United States

#51 in North America

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

5. DePaul University

Chicago

For Political Science

#107 in the United States

#126 in North America

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

6. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#116 in the United States

#135 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Political Science

#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 Political Science

#165 in the United States

#192 in North America

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

9. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Political Science

#175 in the United States

#203 in North America

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

10. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Political Science

#176 in the United States

#204 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Political Science

#307 in the United States

#344 in North America

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

12. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Political Science

#309 in the United States

#346 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Political Science

#342 in the United States

#386 in North America

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

14. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Political Science

#372 in the United States

#417 in North America

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

15. Rush University

Chicago

For Political Science

#399 in the United States

#445 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Political Science

#422 in the United States

#469 in North America

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

17. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Political Science

#428 in the United States

#475 in North America

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

18. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Political Science

#435 in the United States

#482 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

19. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Political Science

#459 in the United States

#507 in North America

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

20. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Political Science

#476 in the United States

#526 in North America

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

21. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Political Science

#513 in the United States

#567 in North America

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

22. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Political Science

#531 in the United States

#586 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 Political Science

#612 in the United States

#671 in North America

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

24. Knox College

Galesburg

For Political Science

#642 in the United States

#705 in North America

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

25. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Political Science

#674 in the United States

#738 in North America

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

26. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Political Science

#678 in the United States

#742 in North America

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

27. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Political Science

#683 in the United States

#747 in North America

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

28. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Political Science

#688 in the United States

#752 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

29. Governors State University

University Park

For Political Science

#722 in the United States

#789 in North America

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

30. National Louis University

Chicago

For Political Science

#755 in the United States

#824 in North America

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

31. North Central College

Naperville

For Political Science

#756 in the United States

#825 in North America

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

32. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#774 in the United States

#843 in North America

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

33. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Political Science

#860 in the United States

#931 in North America

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

34. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Political Science

#889 in the United States

#960 in North America

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

35. Dominican University

River Forest

For Political Science

#895 in the United States

#966 in North America

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

36. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Political Science

#921 in the United States

#992 in North America

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

37. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Political Science

#928 in the United States

#1000 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

38. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#982 in the United States

#1055 in North America

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

39. Millikin University

Decatur

For Political Science

#995 in the United States

#1070 in North America

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

40. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1001 in the United States

#1076 in North America

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

41. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Political Science

#1004 in the United States

#1079 in North America

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

42. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Political Science

#1031 in the United States

#1107 in North America

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

43. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Political Science

#1055 in the United States

#1131 in North America

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

44. Aurora University

Aurora

For Political Science

#1064 in the United States

#1141 in North America

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

45. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Political Science

#1079 in the United States

#1156 in North America

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

46. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Political Science

#1096 in the United States

#1173 in North America

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

47. North Park University

Chicago

For Political Science

#1125 in the United States

#1202 in North America

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

48. Greenville University

Greenville

For Political Science

#1132 in the United States

#1209 in North America

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

49. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Political Science

#1147 in the United States

#1224 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Political Science

#1172 in the United States

#1249 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

51. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1205 in the United States

#1282 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

52. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Political Science

#1216 in the United States

#1294 in North America

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

53. Adler University

Chicago

For Political Science

#1220 in the United States

#1298 in North America

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

54. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Political Science

#1229 in the United States

#1307 in North America

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

55. Rockford University

Rockford

For Political Science

#1236 in the United States

#1314 in North America

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

56. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Political Science

#1237 in the United States

#1315 in North America

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

57. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Political Science

#1238 in the United States

#1316 in North America

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

58. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Political Science

#1239 in the United States

#1317 in North America

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

59. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1256 in the United States

#1335 in North America

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

60. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Political Science

#1269 in the United States

#1348 in North America

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

61. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Political Science

#1297 in the United States

#1376 in North America

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

62. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Political Science

#1320 in the United States

#1399 in North America

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

63. Spertus College

Chicago

For Political Science

#1369 in the United States

#1450 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

64. Eureka College

Eureka

For Political Science

#1402 in the United States

#1485 in North America

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

65. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Political Science

#1406 in the United States

#1489 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

66. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Political Science

#1408 in the United States

#1491 in North America

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

67. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Political Science

#1418 in the United States

#1501 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

68. Principia College

Elsah

For Political Science

#1458 in the United States

#1544 in North America

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

69. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Political Science

#1464 in the United States

#1550 in North America

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

70. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Political Science

#1488 in the United States

#1576 in North America

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

71. Kendall College

Chicago

For Political Science

#1496 in the United States

#1585 in North America

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

72. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Political Science

#1510 in the United States

#1599 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

73. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Political Science

#1516 in the United States

#1605 in North America

Enrollment: 121
Male:Female: 24:76

74. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Political Science

#1526 in the United States

#1615 in North America

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

75. Judson University

Elgin

For Political Science

#1560 in the United States

#1649 in North America

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

76. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Political Science

#1565 in the United States

#1654 in North America

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

77. Quincy University

Quincy

For Political Science

#1574 in the United States

#1663 in North America

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

78. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Political Science

#1620 in the United States

#1710 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	49
Kentucky	28	63
Wisconsin	34	16
Tennessee	37	46
Ohio	63	19
Michigan	43	2
Arkansas	17	130
West Virginia	17	123
Minnesota	29	18
Mississippi	14	178
Kansas	17	68
Alabama	26	97
Virginia	42	32
Georgia	50	45
North Carolina	47	20
Oklahoma	20	92
Nebraska	13	83
South Carolina	31	61
Pennsylvania	101	8
South Dakota	9	338
District of Columbia	12	41
Louisiana	26	84
Maryland	28	13
Delaware	4	86
New York	139	5
New Jersey	28	21
North Dakota	8	229
Connecticut	21	7
Texas	82	22
Vermont	11	129
Colorado	22	57
Massachusetts	71	1
Rhode Island	9	66
Florida	64	34
New Hampshire	12	75
New Mexico	8	105
Maine	14	227
Montana	8	202
Utah	11	50
Arizona	10	24
Idaho	7	240
Nevada	6	133
Oregon	19	106
Washington	32	6
California	133	3
Puerto Rico	13	527
Alaska	4	331
Hawaii	7	113