76 Best Political Science schools 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 Political Science. A graph of 6.48M citations received by 250K academic papers made by 76 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

#7 in the United States

#8 in North America

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

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Political Science

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Political Science

#36 in the United States

#40 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#41 in the United States

#48 in North America

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

5. DePaul University

Chicago

For Political Science

#116 in the United States

#135 in North America

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

6. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#121 in the United States

#140 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Political Science

#154 in the United States

#176 in North America

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

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Political Science

#167 in the United States

#192 in North America

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

9. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Political Science

#169 in the United States

#195 in North America

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

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Political Science

#181 in the United States

#209 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Political Science

#282 in the United States

#315 in North America

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

12. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Political Science

#308 in the United States

#344 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Political Science

#329 in the United States

#368 in North America

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

14. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Political Science

#350 in the United States

#390 in North America

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

15. Rush University

Chicago

For Political Science

#389 in the United States

#434 in North America

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

16. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Political Science

#414 in the United States

#460 in North America

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

17. Bradley University

Peoria

For Political Science

#417 in the United States

#463 in North America

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

18. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Political Science

#441 in the United States

#488 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 30:70

19. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Political Science

#469 in the United States

#517 in North America

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

20. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Political Science

#485 in the United States

#533 in North America

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

21. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Political Science

#508 in the United States

#557 in North America

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

22. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Political Science

#512 in the United States

#562 in North America

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

23. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Political Science

#592 in the United States

#648 in North America

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

24. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Political Science

#638 in the United States

#700 in North America

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

25. Knox College

Galesburg

For Political Science

#647 in the United States

#710 in North America

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

26. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Political Science

#665 in the United States

#728 in North America

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

27. Governors State University

University Park

For Political Science

#695 in the United States

#759 in North America

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

28. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Political Science

#706 in the United States

#770 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

29. National Louis University

Chicago

For Political Science

#717 in the United States

#781 in North America

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

30. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Political Science

#754 in the United States

#821 in North America

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

31. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#786 in the United States

#855 in North America

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

32. North Central College

Naperville

For Political Science

#794 in the United States

#864 in North America

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

33. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Political Science

#839 in the United States

#909 in North America

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

34. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Political Science

#847 in the United States

#917 in North America

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

35. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Political Science

#872 in the United States

#942 in North America

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

36. Dominican University

River Forest

For Political Science

#899 in the United States

#970 in North America

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

37. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#911 in the United States

#982 in North America

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

38. Millikin University

Decatur

For Political Science

#938 in the United States

#1010 in North America

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

39. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Political Science

#952 in the United States

#1024 in North America

Enrollment: 331
Male:Female: 2:98

40. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Political Science

#999 in the United States

#1071 in North America

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

41. Aurora University

Aurora

For Political Science

#1001 in the United States

#1073 in North America

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

42. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1010 in the United States

#1083 in North America

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

43. Greenville University

Greenville

For Political Science

#1041 in the United States

#1114 in North America

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

44. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Political Science

#1047 in the United States

#1120 in North America

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

45. Rockford University

Rockford

For Political Science

#1051 in the United States

#1124 in North America

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

46. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Political Science

#1054 in the United States

#1127 in North America

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

47. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Political Science

#1055 in the United States

#1128 in North America

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

48. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Political Science

#1076 in the United States

#1150 in North America

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

49. North Park University

Chicago

For Political Science

#1093 in the United States

#1167 in North America

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

50. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Political Science

#1150 in the United States

#1225 in North America

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

51. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Political Science

#1160 in the United States

#1235 in North America

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

52. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Political Science

#1162 in the United States

#1237 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Political Science

#1167 in the United States

#1242 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 51:49

54. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Political Science

#1184 in the United States

#1259 in North America

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

55. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1188 in the United States

#1263 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 51:49

56. Adler University

Chicago

For Political Science

#1231 in the United States

#1306 in North America

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

57. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Political Science

#1250 in the United States

#1326 in North America

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

58. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Political Science

#1260 in the United States

#1337 in North America

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

59. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Political Science

#1267 in the United States

#1344 in North America

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

60. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Political Science

#1285 in the United States

#1364 in North America

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

61. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Political Science

#1321 in the United States

#1400 in North America

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

62. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Political Science

#1360 in the United States

#1442 in North America

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

63. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Political Science

#1362 in the United States

#1444 in North America

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

64. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Political Science

#1395 in the United States

#1477 in North America

Enrollment: 162
Male:Female: 59:41

65. Kendall College

Chicago

For Political Science

#1425 in the United States

#1509 in North America

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

66. Principia College

Elsah

For Political Science

#1455 in the United States

#1540 in North America

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

67. Eureka College

Eureka

For Political Science

#1461 in the United States

#1546 in North America

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

68. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Political Science

#1466 in the United States

#1551 in North America

Enrollment: 119
Male:Female: 21:79

69. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Political Science

#1475 in the United States

#1562 in North America

Enrollment: 195
Male:Female: 37:63

70. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Political Science

#1476 in the United States

#1563 in North America

Enrollment: 204
Male:Female: 89:11

71. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Political Science

#1478 in the United States

#1565 in North America

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

72. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Political Science

#1506 in the United States

#1593 in North America

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

73. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Political Science

#1542 in the United States

#1630 in North America

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

74. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Political Science

#1546 in the United States

#1635 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 30:70

75. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Political Science

#1572 in the United States

#1661 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $13,808
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $6,284

76. Judson University

Elgin

For Political Science

#1578 in the United States

#1668 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $19,268

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	35	52
Missouri	39	43
Iowa	32	45
Kentucky	26	60
Wisconsin	34	16
Tennessee	35	46
Ohio	62	19
Michigan	42	2
Arkansas	17	136
West Virginia	17	124
Minnesota	28	18
Mississippi	13	183
Kansas	17	69
Alabama	25	97
Virginia	42	30
Georgia	48	44
North Carolina	47	21
Oklahoma	20	93
Nebraska	13	87
South Carolina	28	59
Pennsylvania	101	10
South Dakota	9	334
District of Columbia	11	42
Louisiana	26	82
Maryland	27	15
Delaware	3	86
New York	136	5
New Jersey	28	23
North Dakota	7	215
Connecticut	21	8
Texas	79	20
Vermont	11	130
Colorado	21	62
Massachusetts	71	1
Rhode Island	9	74
Florida	61	34
New Hampshire	12	78
New Mexico	7	98
Maine	14	222
Montana	8	197
Utah	11	47
Arizona	9	25
Idaho	7	240
Nevada	6	132
Oregon	18	102
Washington	30	6
California	130	3
Puerto Rico	13	544
Alaska	4	322
Hawaii	6	110