53 Best Theology / Divinity / Religious studies 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies. A graph of 517K citations received by 33.5K academic papers made by 53 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

#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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#20 in the United States

#22 in North America

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

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#49 in the United States

#55 in North America

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

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: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#88 in the United States

#100 in North America

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

6. DePaul University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#116 in the United States

#133 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#141 in the United States

#163 in North America

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

8. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#155 in the United States

#177 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#179 in the United States

#204 in North America

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

10. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#187 in the United States

#214 in North America

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

11. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#301 in the United States

#333 in North America

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

12. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#308 in the United States

#340 in North America

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

13. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#316 in the United States

#349 in North America

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

14. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#326 in the United States

#360 in North America

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

15. Knox College

Galesburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#363 in the United States

#399 in North America

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

16. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#399 in the United States

#437 in North America

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

17. Bradley University

Peoria

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#401 in the United States

#439 in North America

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

18. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#462 in the United States

#506 in North America

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

19. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#503 in the United States

#551 in North America

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

20. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#514 in the United States

#563 in North America

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

21. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#552 in the United States

#604 in North America

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

22. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#569 in the United States

#621 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 51:49

23. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#581 in the United States

#633 in North America

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

24. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#597 in the United States

#650 in North America

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

25. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#609 in the United States

#663 in North America

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

26. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#610 in the United States

#664 in North America

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

27. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#622 in the United States

#676 in North America

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

28. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#682 in the United States

#738 in North America

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

29. North Park University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#686 in the United States

#742 in North America

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

30. Rush University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#687 in the United States

#743 in North America

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

31. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#737 in the United States

#797 in North America

Enrollment: 162
Male:Female: 59:41

32. Dominican University

River Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#741 in the United States

#801 in North America

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

33. National Louis University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#777 in the United States

#840 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#781 in the United States

#845 in North America

Enrollment: 62
Male:Female: 51:49

35. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lisle

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#806 in the United States

#870 in North America

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

36. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#826 in the United States

#893 in North America

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

37. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#839 in the United States

#906 in North America

Enrollment: 195
Male:Female: 37:63

38. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#840 in the United States

#907 in North America

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

39. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#846 in the United States

#914 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

40. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#870 in the United States

#938 in North America

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

41. Governors State University

University Park

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#881 in the United States

#949 in North America

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

42. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#902 in the United States

#971 in North America

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

43. North Central College

Naperville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#910 in the United States

#980 in North America

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

44. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#935 in the United States

#1006 in North America

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

45. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#965 in the United States

#1036 in North America

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

46. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#976 in the United States

#1049 in North America

Enrollment: 204
Male:Female: 89:11

47. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#979 in the United States

#1052 in North America

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

48. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#988 in the United States

#1062 in North America

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

49. Moody Bible Institute

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1002 in the United States

#1077 in North America

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

50. Meadville Lombard Theological School

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1024 in the United States

#1100 in North America

Enrollment: 69
Male:Female: 30:70

51. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1040 in the United States

#1116 in North America

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

52. Spertus College

Chicago

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1046 in the United States

#1122 in North America

Enrollment: 99
Male:Female: 35:65

53. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1056 in the United States

#1132 in North America

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

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

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	27	28
Missouri	22	41
Iowa	17	38
Kentucky	19	47
Wisconsin	22	10
Tennessee	27	46
Ohio	40	18
Michigan	26	2
Arkansas	10	106
West Virginia	3	133
Minnesota	23	29
Mississippi	8	158
Kansas	9	72
Alabama	17	95
Virginia	34	30
Georgia	28	34
North Carolina	31	1
Oklahoma	9	80
Nebraska	6	101
South Carolina	17	81
Pennsylvania	74	13
South Dakota	4	452
District of Columbia	10	37
Louisiana	17	86
Maryland	21	26
New York	99	8
New Jersey	21	16
North Dakota	4	250
Connecticut	17	6
Texas	61	15
Vermont	5	82
Colorado	17	52
Massachusetts	52	4
Rhode Island	8	58
Florida	34	24
New Hampshire	8	77
New Mexico	5	105
Maine	7	254
Utah	6	50
Arizona	6	22
Idaho	3	303
Oregon	14	107
Washington	17	12
California	98	3
Puerto Rico	3	766
Hawaii	5	125