78 Best Political Science schools 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 Political Science. A graph of 9.64M citations received by 289K 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: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Political Science

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Political Science

#31 in the United States

#33 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#44 in the United States

#51 in North America

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

5. DePaul University

Chicago

For Political Science

#101 in the United States

#120 in North America

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

6. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#116 in the United States

#135 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Political Science

#156 in the United States

#179 in North America

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

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Political Science

#164 in the United States

#189 in North America

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

9. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Political Science

#174 in the United States

#201 in North America

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

10. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Political Science

#176 in the United States

#203 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Political Science

#306 in the United States

#343 in North America

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

12. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Political Science

#308 in the United States

#345 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Political Science

#341 in the United States

#385 in North America

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

14. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Political Science

#374 in the United States

#419 in North America

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

15. Rush University

Chicago

For Political Science

#399 in the United States

#445 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Political Science

#421 in the United States

#467 in North America

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

17. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Political Science

#425 in the United States

#472 in North America

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

18. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Political Science

#434 in the United States

#481 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

19. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Political Science

#460 in the United States

#508 in North America

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

20. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Political Science

#475 in the United States

#524 in North America

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

21. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Political Science

#509 in the United States

#562 in North America

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

22. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Political Science

#529 in the United States

#584 in North America

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

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: 1,949
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1912

24. Knox College

Galesburg

For Political Science

#645 in the United States

#708 in North America

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

25. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Political Science

#674 in the United States

#738 in North America

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

26. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Political Science

#675 in the United States

#739 in North America

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

27. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Political Science

#681 in the United States

#745 in North America

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

28. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Political Science

#686 in the United States

#750 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

29. Governors State University

University Park

For Political Science

#722 in the United States

#788 in North America

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

30. National Louis University

Chicago

For Political Science

#750 in the United States

#818 in North America

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

31. North Central College

Naperville

For Political Science

#754 in the United States

#822 in North America

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

32. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#764 in the United States

#832 in North America

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

33. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Political Science

#865 in the United States

#936 in North America

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

34. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Political Science

#889 in the United States

#960 in North America

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

35. Dominican University

River Forest

For Political Science

#895 in the United States

#966 in North America

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

36. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Political Science

#920 in the United States

#991 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

37. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Political Science

#943 in the United States

#1015 in North America

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

38. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#979 in the United States

#1051 in North America

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

39. Millikin University

Decatur

For Political Science

#994 in the United States

#1067 in North America

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

40. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Political Science

#996 in the United States

#1069 in North America

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

41. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1001 in the United States

#1074 in North America

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

42. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Political Science

#1027 in the United States

#1102 in North America

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

43. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Political Science

#1043 in the United States

#1118 in North America

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

44. Aurora University

Aurora

For Political Science

#1058 in the United States

#1133 in North America

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

45. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Political Science

#1079 in the United States

#1155 in North America

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

46. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Political Science

#1098 in the United States

#1174 in North America

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

47. North Park University

Chicago

For Political Science

#1120 in the United States

#1196 in North America

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

48. Greenville University

Greenville

For Political Science

#1125 in the United States

#1201 in North America

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

49. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Political Science

#1147 in the United States

#1224 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Political Science

#1161 in the United States

#1238 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

51. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1193 in the United States

#1270 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

52. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Political Science

#1208 in the United States

#1285 in North America

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

53. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Political Science

#1220 in the United States

#1297 in North America

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

54. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Political Science

#1232 in the United States

#1310 in North America

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

55. Rockford University

Rockford

For Political Science

#1233 in the United States

#1311 in North America

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

56. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Political Science

#1235 in the United States

#1313 in North America

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

57. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Political Science

#1242 in the United States

#1320 in North America

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

58. Adler University

Chicago

For Political Science

#1244 in the United States

#1322 in North America

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

59. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Political Science

#1267 in the United States

#1345 in North America

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

60. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1280 in the United States

#1359 in North America

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

61. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Political Science

#1294 in the United States

#1373 in North America

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

62. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Political Science

#1316 in the United States

#1395 in North America

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

63. Spertus College

Chicago

For Political Science

#1359 in the United States

#1440 in North America

Enrollment: 97
Male:Female: 37:63

64. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Political Science

#1391 in the United States

#1473 in North America

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

65. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Political Science

#1402 in the United States

#1485 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

66. Eureka College

Eureka

For Political Science

#1408 in the United States

#1491 in North America

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

67. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Political Science

#1427 in the United States

#1510 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

68. Principia College

Elsah

For Political Science

#1450 in the United States

#1535 in North America

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

69. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Political Science

#1466 in the United States

#1552 in North America

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

70. Kendall College

Chicago

For Political Science

#1487 in the United States

#1573 in North America

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

71. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Political Science

#1503 in the United States

#1592 in North America

Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 42:58

72. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Political Science

#1516 in the United States

#1605 in North America

Enrollment: 120
Male:Female: 20:80

73. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Political Science

#1520 in the United States

#1609 in North America

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

74. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Political Science

#1526 in the United States

#1615 in North America

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

75. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Political Science

#1560 in the United States

#1649 in North America

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

76. Judson University

Elgin

For Political Science

#1573 in the United States

#1662 in North America

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

77. Quincy University

Quincy

For Political Science

#1576 in the United States

#1665 in North America

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

78. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Political Science

#1617 in the United States

#1707 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 33:67

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	35	39
Missouri	40	43
Iowa	31	48
Kentucky	27	63
Wisconsin	34	16
Tennessee	37	47
Ohio	63	19
Michigan	43	2
Arkansas	16	131
West Virginia	17	122
Minnesota	29	18
Mississippi	14	181
Kansas	17	68
Alabama	26	97
Virginia	42	32
Georgia	50	45
North Carolina	47	20
Oklahoma	20	92
Nebraska	13	82
South Carolina	31	61
Pennsylvania	101	8
South Dakota	9	338
District of Columbia	12	41
Louisiana	26	84
Maryland	28	14
Delaware	4	86
New York	140	5
New Jersey	28	21
North Dakota	8	230
Connecticut	21	7
Texas	82	22
Vermont	11	127
Colorado	21	57
Massachusetts	71	1
Rhode Island	9	66
Florida	64	34
New Hampshire	12	75
New Mexico	8	104
Maine	14	229
Montana	8	203
Utah	11	50
Arizona	10	24
Idaho	7	242
Nevada	6	134
Oregon	19	105
Washington	32	6
California	133	3
Puerto Rico	13	528
Alaska	4	331
Hawaii	7	111