55 Best Theology / Divinity / Religious studies 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies. A graph of 805K citations received by 38.4K academic papers made by 55 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#6 in the United States

#7 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#21 in the United States

#23 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#41 in the United States

#44 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#64 in the United States

#72 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#83 in the United States

#95 in North America

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

6. DePaul University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#108 in the United States

#126 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#147 in the United States

#171 in North America

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

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#160 in the United States

#184 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#180 in the United States

#207 in North America

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

10. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#186 in the United States

#213 in North America

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

11. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#295 in the United States

#327 in North America

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

12. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#309 in the United States

#341 in North America

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

13. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#311 in the United States

#343 in North America

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

14. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#345 in the United States

#380 in North America

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

15. Knox College

Galesburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#346 in the United States

#382 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#415 in the United States

#457 in North America

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

17. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#420 in the United States

#463 in North America

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

18. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#447 in the United States

#492 in North America

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

19. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#459 in the United States

#505 in North America

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

20. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#480 in the United States

#527 in North America

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

21. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#571 in the United States

#623 in North America

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

22. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#588 in the United States

#640 in North America

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

23. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#593 in the United States

#646 in North America

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

24. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#610 in the United States

#663 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

25. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#622 in the United States

#675 in North America

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

26. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#627 in the United States

#680 in North America

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

27. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#642 in the United States

#696 in North America

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

28. North Park University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#675 in the United States

#732 in North America

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

29. Rush University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#680 in the United States

#737 in North America

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

30. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#691 in the United States

#748 in North America

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

31. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#703 in the United States

#760 in North America

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

32. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#704 in the United States

#761 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

33. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#732 in the United States

#790 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

34. Dominican University

River Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#735 in the United States

#794 in North America

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

35. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#757 in the United States

#818 in North America

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

36. National Louis University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#759 in the United States

#820 in North America

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

37. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#797 in the United States

#861 in North America

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

38. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#845 in the United States

#912 in North America

Enrollment: 202
Male:Female: 42:58

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

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#853 in the United States

#920 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

40. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#860 in the United States

#927 in North America

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

41. Governors State University

University Park

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#907 in the United States

#977 in North America

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

42. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#912 in the United States

#983 in North America

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

43. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#924 in the United States

#995 in North America

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

44. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#928 in the United States

#999 in North America

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

45. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#967 in the United States

#1038 in North America

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

46. North Central College

Naperville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#975 in the United States

#1046 in North America

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

47. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1000 in the United States

#1073 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

48. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1002 in the United States

#1075 in North America

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

49. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1017 in the United States

#1090 in North America

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

50. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1031 in the United States

#1104 in North America

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

51. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1061 in the United States

#1137 in North America

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

52. Spertus College

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1090 in the United States

#1166 in North America

Enrollment: 97
Male:Female: 37:63

53. Greenville University

Greenville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1098 in the United States

#1174 in North America

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

54. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1102 in the United States

#1178 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 33:67

55. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1116 in the United States

#1192 in North America

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

Closest to Illinois states to learn Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	27	24
Missouri	25	46
Iowa	17	37
Kentucky	20	48
Wisconsin	23	13
Tennessee	28	38
Ohio	43	19
Michigan	29	2
Arkansas	12	104
West Virginia	5	136
Minnesota	25	27
Mississippi	8	168
Kansas	10	62
Alabama	18	78
Virginia	36	29
Georgia	29	35
North Carolina	32	1
Oklahoma	11	79
Nebraska	7	97
South Carolina	17	84
Pennsylvania	78	9
South Dakota	5	474
District of Columbia	10	34
Louisiana	19	86
Maryland	22	22
New York	107	8
New Jersey	21	16
North Dakota	3	248
Connecticut	17	7
Texas	62	15
Vermont	5	90
Colorado	17	50
Massachusetts	53	5
Rhode Island	8	58
Florida	34	26
New Hampshire	11	77
New Mexico	5	109
Maine	7	258
Utah	6	54
Arizona	6	23
Idaho	4	306
Oregon	14	111
Washington	18	14
California	99	3
Puerto Rico	4	773
Hawaii	5	103