63 Best colleges for Mathematics 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 Mathematics. A graph of 11.5M citations received by 250K academic papers made by 63 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 Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Mathematics

#12 in the United States

#13 in North America

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

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Mathematics

#24 in the United States

#25 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

3. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Mathematics

#30 in the United States

#32 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Mathematics

#57 in the United States

#66 in North America

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

5. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Mathematics

#142 in the United States

#163 in North America

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

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Mathematics

#159 in the United States

#184 in North America

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

7. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Mathematics

#162 in the United States

#188 in North America

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

8. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Mathematics

#169 in the United States

#196 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Mathematics

#200 in the United States

#229 in North America

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

10. DePaul University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#206 in the United States

#236 in North America

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

11. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Mathematics

#270 in the United States

#304 in North America

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

12. Rush University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#298 in the United States

#333 in North America

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

13. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Mathematics

#324 in the United States

#360 in North America

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

14. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#331 in the United States

#369 in North America

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

15. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Mathematics

#333 in the United States

#371 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

16. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Mathematics

#336 in the United States

#374 in North America

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

17. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Mathematics

#356 in the United States

#397 in North America

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

18. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Mathematics

#375 in the United States

#417 in North America

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

19. Bradley University

Peoria

For Mathematics

#389 in the United States

#433 in North America

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

20. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Mathematics

#456 in the United States

#502 in North America

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

21. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#464 in the United States

#510 in North America

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

22. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Mathematics

#508 in the United States

#557 in North America

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

23. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Mathematics

#537 in the United States

#589 in North America

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

24. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Mathematics

#555 in the United States

#608 in North America

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

25. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#571 in the United States

#624 in North America

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

26. North Central College

Naperville

For Mathematics

#653 in the United States

#714 in North America

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

27. National Louis University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#711 in the United States

#774 in North America

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

28. Knox College

Galesburg

For Mathematics

#741 in the United States

#804 in North America

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

29. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Mathematics

#742 in the United States

#805 in North America

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

30. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#743 in the United States

#806 in North America

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

31. Governors State University

University Park

For Mathematics

#746 in the United States

#810 in North America

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

32. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Mathematics

#825 in the United States

#890 in North America

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

33. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Mathematics

#858 in the United States

#923 in North America

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

34. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Mathematics

#867 in the United States

#933 in North America

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

35. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Mathematics

#878 in the United States

#947 in North America

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

36. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Mathematics

#887 in the United States

#957 in North America

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

37. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Mathematics

#921 in the United States

#991 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

38. Millikin University

Decatur

For Mathematics

#948 in the United States

#1019 in North America

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

39. Dominican University

River Forest

For Mathematics

#949 in the United States

#1020 in North America

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

40. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Mathematics

#961 in the United States

#1032 in North America

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

41. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Mathematics

#963 in the United States

#1034 in North America

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

42. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Mathematics

#1009 in the United States

#1081 in North America

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

43. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Mathematics

#1013 in the United States

#1085 in North America

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

44. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Mathematics

#1038 in the United States

#1110 in North America

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

45. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1053 in the United States

#1126 in North America

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

46. Aurora University

Aurora

For Mathematics

#1077 in the United States

#1151 in North America

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

47. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1079 in the United States

#1153 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

48. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Mathematics

#1102 in the United States

#1176 in North America

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

49. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Mathematics

#1139 in the United States

#1214 in North America

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

50. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Mathematics

#1143 in the United States

#1218 in North America

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

51. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1155 in the United States

#1230 in North America

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

52. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1167 in the United States

#1242 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

53. Greenville University

Greenville

For Mathematics

#1185 in the United States

#1260 in North America

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

54. Adler University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1224 in the United States

#1300 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1233 in the United States

#1309 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

56. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Mathematics

#1240 in the United States

#1316 in North America

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

57. North Park University

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1241 in the United States

#1317 in North America

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

58. Rockford University

Rockford

For Mathematics

#1255 in the United States

#1332 in North America

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

59. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1328 in the United States

#1408 in North America

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

60. Judson University

Elgin

For Mathematics

#1367 in the United States

#1447 in North America

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

61. Eureka College

Eureka

For Mathematics

#1380 in the United States

#1460 in North America

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

62. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Mathematics

#1398 in the United States

#1478 in North America

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

63. Spertus College

Chicago

For Mathematics

#1409 in the United States

#1490 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

Closest to Illinois states to learn Mathematics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	30	31
Missouri	34	41
Iowa	27	44
Kentucky	24	70
Wisconsin	31	14
Tennessee	32	50
Ohio	55	21
Michigan	34	4
Arkansas	17	148
West Virginia	15	118
Minnesota	26	13
Mississippi	13	147
Kansas	12	80
Alabama	23	72
Virginia	38	46
Georgia	41	28
North Carolina	38	19
Oklahoma	17	112
Nebraska	12	84
South Carolina	23	66
Pennsylvania	92	11
South Dakota	8	311
District of Columbia	9	73
Louisiana	23	91
Maryland	25	7
New York	124	9
New Jersey	26	20
North Dakota	7	199
Connecticut	20	23
Texas	70	17
Vermont	8	132
Colorado	19	56
Massachusetts	60	1
Rhode Island	9	55
Florida	50	32
New Hampshire	11	97
New Mexico	9	92
Maine	11	223
Montana	7	203
Utah	11	47
Arizona	9	34
Idaho	7	192
Nevada	6	156
Oregon	17	94
Washington	27	5
California	114	2
Puerto Rico	14	374
Alaska	4	263
Hawaii	6	120

Mathematics subfields in Illinois

Actuarial Science13

Applied Mathematics16

Blockchain and Cryptography13

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics24

Math Teachers44

Operations Research12

Statistics56