77 Best colleges for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 9.3M citations received by 245K 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

#12 in the United States

#13 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 Sociology

#19 in the United States

#21 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Sociology

#35 in the United States

#38 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#43 in the United States

#48 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#119 in the United States

#140 in North America

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

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Sociology

#151 in the United States

#173 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $14,387
Enrollment: 15,414

7. DePaul University

Chicago

For Sociology

#154 in the United States

#177 in North America

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

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Sociology

#164 in the United States

#188 in North America

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

9. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Sociology

#170 in the United States

#197 in North America

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

10. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Sociology

#246 in the United States

#275 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Sociology

#320 in the United States

#357 in North America

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

12. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Sociology

#331 in the United States

#370 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Sociology

#334 in the United States

#374 in North America

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

14. Rush University

Chicago

For Sociology

#342 in the United States

#382 in North America

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

15. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Sociology

#364 in the United States

#406 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Sociology

#392 in the United States

#437 in North America

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

17. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Sociology

#407 in the United States

#453 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $12,876
Enrollment: 5,734

18. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Sociology

#446 in the United States

#495 in North America

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

19. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Sociology

#462 in the United States

#513 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

20. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Sociology

#482 in the United States

#534 in North America

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

21. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Sociology

#506 in the United States

#559 in North America

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

22. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Sociology

#536 in the United States

#592 in North America

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

23. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Sociology

#542 in the United States

#598 in North America

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

24. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Sociology

#597 in the United States

#654 in North America

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

25. Knox College

Galesburg

For Sociology

#630 in the United States

#689 in North America

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

26. Governors State University

University Park

For Sociology

#650 in the United States

#711 in North America

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

27. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Sociology

#654 in the United States

#715 in North America

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

28. North Central College

Naperville

For Sociology

#662 in the United States

#723 in North America

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

29. National Louis University

Chicago

For Sociology

#664 in the United States

#725 in North America

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

30. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Sociology

#703 in the United States

#768 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

31. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Sociology

#723 in the United States

#790 in North America

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

32. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Sociology

#793 in the United States

#861 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

33. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Sociology

#812 in the United States

#880 in North America

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

34. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Sociology

#822 in the United States

#890 in North America

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

35. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#874 in the United States

#943 in North America

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

36. Dominican University

River Forest

For Sociology

#879 in the United States

#948 in North America

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

37. Greenville University

Greenville

For Sociology

#894 in the United States

#963 in North America

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

38. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Sociology

#911 in the United States

#981 in North America

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

39. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Sociology

#916 in the United States

#986 in North America

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

40. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#921 in the United States

#991 in North America

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

41. Aurora University

Aurora

For Sociology

#994 in the United States

#1068 in North America

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

42. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Sociology

#1002 in the United States

#1076 in North America

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

43. Millikin University

Decatur

For Sociology

#1021 in the United States

#1095 in North America

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

44. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Sociology

#1067 in the United States

#1142 in North America

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

45. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#1080 in the United States

#1155 in North America

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

46. Adler University

Chicago

For Sociology

#1082 in the United States

#1157 in North America

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

47. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Sociology

#1088 in the United States

#1163 in North America

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

48. North Park University

Chicago

For Sociology

#1097 in the United States

#1172 in North America

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

49. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Sociology

#1131 in the United States

#1208 in North America

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

50. Rockford University

Rockford

For Sociology

#1155 in the United States

#1232 in North America

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

51. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Sociology

#1165 in the United States

#1242 in North America

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

52. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#1169 in the United States

#1246 in North America

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

53. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Sociology

#1179 in the United States

#1256 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Sociology

#1186 in the United States

#1263 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

55. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Sociology

#1193 in the United States

#1270 in North America

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

56. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Sociology

#1227 in the United States

#1304 in North America

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

57. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Sociology

#1233 in the United States

#1310 in North America

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

58. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Sociology

#1241 in the United States

#1318 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

59. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Sociology

#1267 in the United States

#1345 in North America

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

60. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Sociology

#1290 in the United States

#1368 in North America

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

61. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Sociology

#1294 in the United States

#1372 in North America

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

62. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Sociology

#1304 in the United States

#1383 in North America

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

63. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Sociology

#1315 in the United States

#1397 in North America

Enrollment: 121
Male:Female: 24:76

64. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Sociology

#1367 in the United States

#1450 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

65. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Sociology

#1373 in the United States

#1456 in North America

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

66. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Sociology

#1374 in the United States

#1457 in North America

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

67. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Sociology

#1401 in the United States

#1484 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 40:60

68. Judson University

Elgin

For Sociology

#1464 in the United States

#1550 in North America

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

69. Eureka College

Eureka

For Sociology

#1466 in the United States

#1552 in North America

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

70. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Sociology

#1476 in the United States

#1562 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

71. Principia College

Elsah

For Sociology

#1493 in the United States

#1580 in North America

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

72. Kendall College

Chicago

For Sociology

#1505 in the United States

#1592 in North America

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

73. Quincy University

Quincy

For Sociology

#1506 in the United States

#1593 in North America

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

74. MacMurray College

Jacksonville

For Sociology

#1516 in the United States

#1603 in North America

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

75. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Sociology

#1546 in the United States

#1634 in North America

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

76. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Sociology

#1574 in the United States

#1663 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

77. Spertus College

Chicago

For Sociology

#1597 in the United States

#1686 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

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	45
Kentucky	28	59
Wisconsin	33	13
Tennessee	36	46
Ohio	62	17
Michigan	42	2
Arkansas	17	158
West Virginia	17	116
Minnesota	28	16
Mississippi	13	177
Kansas	15	64
Alabama	25	73
Virginia	42	39
Georgia	49	37
North Carolina	48	14
Oklahoma	21	113
Nebraska	13	85
South Carolina	29	60
Pennsylvania	101	10
South Dakota	8	313
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	216
Connecticut	21	11
Texas	80	23
Vermont	11	122
Colorado	22	55
Massachusetts	72	1
Rhode Island	9	66
Florida	56	30
New Hampshire	12	94
New Mexico	8	89
Maine	13	211
Montana	8	157
Utah	11	41
Arizona	10	21
Idaho	7	190
Nevada	6	147
Oregon	17	108
Washington	30	4
California	130	3
Puerto Rico	15	517
Alaska	4	274
Hawaii	6	95