77 Best colleges for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 8.9M citations received by 240K 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 Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#11 in the United States

#12 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 Sociology

#19 in the United States

#21 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Sociology

#35 in the United States

#38 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#43 in the United States

#48 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#117 in the United States

#138 in North America

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

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Sociology

#150 in the United States

#172 in North America

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

7. DePaul University

Chicago

For Sociology

#153 in the United States

#175 in North America

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

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Sociology

#164 in the United States

#188 in North America

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

9. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Sociology

#169 in the United States

#193 in North America

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

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Sociology

#244 in the United States

#273 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Sociology

#319 in the United States

#356 in North America

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

12. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Sociology

#330 in the United States

#369 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Sociology

#333 in the United States

#372 in North America

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

14. Rush University

Chicago

For Sociology

#342 in the United States

#382 in North America

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

15. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Sociology

#360 in the United States

#401 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Sociology

#393 in the United States

#438 in North America

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

17. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Sociology

#407 in the United States

#453 in North America

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

18. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Sociology

#445 in the United States

#493 in North America

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

19. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Sociology

#463 in the United States

#513 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

20. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Sociology

#479 in the United States

#531 in North America

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

21. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Sociology

#507 in the United States

#560 in North America

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

22. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Sociology

#536 in the United States

#591 in North America

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

23. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Sociology

#540 in the United States

#595 in North America

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

24. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Sociology

#595 in the United States

#652 in North America

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

25. Knox College

Galesburg

For Sociology

#633 in the United States

#691 in North America

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

26. Governors State University

University Park

For Sociology

#648 in the United States

#709 in North America

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

27. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Sociology

#650 in the United States

#711 in North America

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

28. North Central College

Naperville

For Sociology

#661 in the United States

#722 in North America

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

29. National Louis University

Chicago

For Sociology

#662 in the United States

#723 in North America

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

30. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Sociology

#698 in the United States

#761 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

31. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Sociology

#719 in the United States

#786 in North America

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

32. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Sociology

#788 in the United States

#856 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

33. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Sociology

#817 in the United States

#885 in North America

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

34. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Sociology

#820 in the United States

#888 in North America

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

35. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#866 in the United States

#934 in North America

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

36. Greenville University

Greenville

For Sociology

#886 in the United States

#955 in North America

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

37. Dominican University

River Forest

For Sociology

#888 in the United States

#957 in North America

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

38. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Sociology

#909 in the United States

#978 in North America

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

39. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#915 in the United States

#985 in North America

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

40. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Sociology

#927 in the United States

#997 in North America

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

41. Aurora University

Aurora

For Sociology

#991 in the United States

#1065 in North America

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

42. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Sociology

#1011 in the United States

#1085 in North America

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

43. Millikin University

Decatur

For Sociology

#1013 in the United States

#1087 in North America

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

44. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Sociology

#1056 in the United States

#1131 in North America

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

45. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#1074 in the United States

#1149 in North America

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

46. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Sociology

#1078 in the United States

#1153 in North America

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

47. North Park University

Chicago

For Sociology

#1098 in the United States

#1173 in North America

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

48. Adler University

Chicago

For Sociology

#1100 in the United States

#1175 in North America

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

49. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Sociology

#1138 in the United States

#1215 in North America

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

50. Rockford University

Rockford

For Sociology

#1155 in the United States

#1232 in North America

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

51. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Sociology

#1168 in the United States

#1245 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Sociology

#1176 in the United States

#1253 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

53. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#1177 in the United States

#1254 in North America

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

54. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Sociology

#1178 in the United States

#1255 in North America

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

55. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Sociology

#1183 in the United States

#1260 in North America

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

56. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#1231 in the United States

#1308 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

57. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Sociology

#1232 in the United States

#1309 in North America

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

58. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Sociology

#1238 in the United States

#1315 in North America

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

59. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Sociology

#1264 in the United States

#1341 in North America

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

60. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Sociology

#1280 in the United States

#1358 in North America

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

61. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Sociology

#1287 in the United States

#1365 in North America

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

62. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Sociology

#1314 in the United States

#1394 in North America

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

63. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Sociology

#1320 in the United States

#1401 in North America

Enrollment: 120
Male:Female: 20:80

64. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Sociology

#1361 in the United States

#1442 in North America

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

65. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Sociology

#1367 in the United States

#1449 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

66. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Sociology

#1375 in the United States

#1457 in North America

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

67. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Sociology

#1428 in the United States

#1512 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 33:67

68. Eureka College

Eureka

For Sociology

#1458 in the United States

#1544 in North America

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

69. Judson University

Elgin

For Sociology

#1462 in the United States

#1548 in North America

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

70. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Sociology

#1473 in the United States

#1559 in North America

Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 42:58

71. Principia College

Elsah

For Sociology

#1488 in the United States

#1575 in North America

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

72. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Sociology

#1505 in the United States

#1592 in North America

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

73. Quincy University

Quincy

For Sociology

#1508 in the United States

#1595 in North America

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

74. Kendall College

Chicago

For Sociology

#1524 in the United States

#1611 in North America

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

75. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Sociology

#1557 in the United States

#1645 in North America

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

76. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Sociology

#1567 in the United States

#1656 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

77. Spertus College

Chicago

For Sociology

#1590 in the United States

#1679 in North America

Enrollment: 97
Male:Female: 37:63

Closest to Illinois states to learn Sociology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	35	42
Missouri	39	38
Iowa	31	44
Kentucky	27	59
Wisconsin	31	13
Tennessee	36	46
Ohio	62	17
Michigan	42	2
Arkansas	17	159
West Virginia	17	116
Minnesota	28	15
Mississippi	13	181
Kansas	15	64
Alabama	25	74
Virginia	42	39
Georgia	49	37
North Carolina	48	14
Oklahoma	21	114
Nebraska	13	84
South Carolina	29	61
Pennsylvania	101	10
South Dakota	8	315
District of Columbia	11	49
Louisiana	24	92
Maryland	28	5
Delaware	3	104
New York	138	6
New Jersey	27	27
North Dakota	7	217
Connecticut	21	12
Texas	80	23
Vermont	11	122
Colorado	21	55
Massachusetts	72	1
Rhode Island	9	67
Florida	56	30
New Hampshire	12	94
New Mexico	8	89
Maine	13	209
Montana	8	157
Utah	11	41
Arizona	10	21
Idaho	7	192
Nevada	6	148
Oregon	17	107
Washington	29	4
California	129	3
Puerto Rico	14	518
Alaska	4	274
Hawaii	6	95