55 Best Theology / Divinity / Religious studies schools 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies. A graph of 846K citations received by 38.9K 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

2. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#21 in the United States

#23 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#41 in the United States

#45 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#64 in the United States

#72 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#83 in the United States

#95 in North America

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

6. DePaul University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#106 in the United States

#124 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#148 in the United States

#172 in North America

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

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#162 in the United States

#186 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#180 in the United States

#207 in North America

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

10. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#186 in the United States

#213 in North America

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

11. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#293 in the United States

#324 in North America

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

12. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#309 in the United States

#341 in North America

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

13. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#315 in the United States

#347 in North America

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

14. Knox College

Galesburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#341 in the United States

#375 in North America

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

15. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#345 in the United States

#380 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#416 in the United States

#458 in North America

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

17. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#422 in the United States

#466 in North America

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

18. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#450 in the United States

#495 in North America

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

19. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#466 in the United States

#513 in North America

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

20. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#481 in the United States

#528 in North America

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

21. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#573 in the United States

#625 in North America

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

22. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#591 in the United States

#644 in North America

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

23. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#600 in the United States

#653 in North America

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

24. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#623 in the United States

#677 in North America

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

25. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#624 in the United States

#678 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

26. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#636 in the United States

#691 in North America

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

27. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#646 in the United States

#701 in North America

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

28. Rush University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#670 in the United States

#727 in North America

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

29. North Park University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#687 in the United States

#744 in North America

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

30. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#690 in the United States

#747 in North America

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

31. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#708 in the United States

#766 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

32. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#716 in the United States

#774 in North America

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

33. Dominican University

River Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#727 in the United States

#785 in North America

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

34. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#745 in the United States

#807 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

35. National Louis University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#767 in the United States

#830 in North America

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

36. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#768 in the United States

#831 in North America

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

37. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#795 in the United States

#858 in North America

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

38. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#847 in the United States

#914 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

39. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#860 in the United States

#927 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#870 in the United States

#937 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

41. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#887 in the United States

#956 in North America

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

42. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#897 in the United States

#966 in North America

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

43. Governors State University

University Park

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#901 in the United States

#970 in North America

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

44. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#928 in the United States

#998 in North America

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

45. North Central College

Naperville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#966 in the United States

#1037 in North America

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

46. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#975 in the United States

#1047 in North America

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

47. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1003 in the United States

#1076 in North America

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

48. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1009 in the United States

#1082 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $21,614
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $12,742

49. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1010 in the United States

#1083 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

50. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1015 in the United States

#1088 in North America

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

51. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1070 in the United States

#1146 in North America

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

52. Spertus College

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1098 in the United States

#1174 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

53. Greenville University

Greenville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1107 in the United States

#1183 in North America

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

54. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1112 in the United States

#1188 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 40:60

55. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1120 in the United States

#1196 in North America

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

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

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	27	25
Missouri	25	46
Iowa	17	37
Kentucky	20	48
Wisconsin	24	12
Tennessee	28	38
Ohio	43	19
Michigan	30	2
Arkansas	12	103
West Virginia	5	134
Minnesota	25	27
Mississippi	8	167
Kansas	10	62
Alabama	18	77
Virginia	36	28
Georgia	29	35
North Carolina	32	1
Oklahoma	11	79
Nebraska	7	96
South Carolina	17	84
Pennsylvania	78	9
South Dakota	5	469
District of Columbia	10	34
Louisiana	19	89
Maryland	22	23
New York	107	8
New Jersey	21	16
North Dakota	3	245
Connecticut	17	7
Texas	62	14
Vermont	6	91
Colorado	17	50
Massachusetts	53	5
Rhode Island	8	56
Florida	34	26
New Hampshire	11	78
New Mexico	5	108
Maine	7	258
Utah	6	54
Arizona	6	22
Idaho	4	305
Oregon	14	109
Washington	18	15
California	101	3
Puerto Rico	3	775
Hawaii	5	102