68 Best Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 22.3M citations received by 511K academic papers made by 68 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 Physics

#6 in the United States

#6 in North America

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

2. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Physics

#22 in the United States

#23 in North America

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

3. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#28 in the United States

#29 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#60 in the United States

#69 in North America

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

5. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Physics

#133 in the United States

#156 in North America

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

6. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Physics

#178 in the United States

#206 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Physics

#189 in the United States

#217 in North America

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

8. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#204 in the United States

#232 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Physics

#241 in the United States

#275 in North America

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

10. DePaul University

Chicago

For Physics

#278 in the United States

#318 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Physics

#293 in the United States

#333 in North America

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

12. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Physics

#295 in the United States

#335 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Physics

#305 in the United States

#345 in North America

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

14. Rush University

Chicago

For Physics

#347 in the United States

#392 in North America

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

15. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Physics

#400 in the United States

#447 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Physics

#407 in the United States

#456 in North America

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

17. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Physics

#409 in the United States

#458 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

18. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Physics

#433 in the United States

#485 in North America

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

19. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#442 in the United States

#494 in North America

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

20. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#455 in the United States

#507 in North America

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

21. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Physics

#463 in the United States

#516 in North America

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

22. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Physics

#472 in the United States

#525 in North America

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

23. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Physics

#476 in the United States

#529 in North America

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

24. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Physics

#552 in the United States

#607 in North America

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

25. North Central College

Naperville

For Physics

#593 in the United States

#649 in North America

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

26. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Physics

#611 in the United States

#668 in North America

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

27. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Physics

#626 in the United States

#684 in North America

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

28. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Physics

#636 in the United States

#694 in North America

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

29. Knox College

Galesburg

For Physics

#693 in the United States

#754 in North America

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

30. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Physics

#699 in the United States

#760 in North America

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

31. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Physics

#721 in the United States

#784 in North America

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

32. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Physics

#843 in the United States

#910 in North America

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

33. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Physics

#891 in the United States

#958 in North America

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

34. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Physics

#905 in the United States

#972 in North America

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

35. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#920 in the United States

#987 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

36. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Physics

#940 in the United States

#1009 in North America

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

37. Governors State University

University Park

For Physics

#945 in the United States

#1014 in North America

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

38. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Physics

#961 in the United States

#1030 in North America

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

39. Greenville University

Greenville

For Physics

#966 in the United States

#1035 in North America

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

40. Dominican University

River Forest

For Physics

#974 in the United States

#1043 in North America

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

41. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#993 in the United States

#1062 in North America

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

42. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Physics

#1014 in the United States

#1083 in North America

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

43. National Louis University

Chicago

For Physics

#1047 in the United States

#1117 in North America

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

44. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Physics

#1070 in the United States

#1142 in North America

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

45. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Physics

#1071 in the United States

#1143 in North America

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

46. Rockford University

Rockford

For Physics

#1085 in the United States

#1159 in North America

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

47. Millikin University

Decatur

For Physics

#1093 in the United States

#1167 in North America

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

48. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Physics

#1142 in the United States

#1217 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

49. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Physics

#1182 in the United States

#1259 in North America

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

50. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Physics

#1199 in the United States

#1276 in North America

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

51. North Park University

Chicago

For Physics

#1213 in the United States

#1290 in North America

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

52. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Physics

#1230 in the United States

#1307 in North America

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

53. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Physics

#1238 in the United States

#1315 in North America

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

54. Principia College

Elsah

For Physics

#1268 in the United States

#1345 in North America

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

55. Aurora University

Aurora

For Physics

#1271 in the United States

#1348 in North America

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

56. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Physics

#1277 in the United States

#1354 in North America

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

57. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Physics

#1297 in the United States

#1375 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

58. Kendall College

Chicago

For Physics

#1299 in the United States

#1377 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Physics

#1317 in the United States

#1396 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

60. Adler University

Chicago

For Physics

#1356 in the United States

#1436 in North America

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

61. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Physics

#1448 in the United States

#1530 in North America

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

62. Quincy University

Quincy

For Physics

#1452 in the United States

#1534 in North America

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

63. Eureka College

Eureka

For Physics

#1463 in the United States

#1545 in North America

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

64. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Physics

#1491 in the United States

#1575 in North America

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

65. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Physics

#1505 in the United States

#1590 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

66. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#1512 in the United States

#1598 in North America

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

67. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Physics

#1514 in the United States

#1600 in North America

Enrollment: 200
Male:Female: 85:15

68. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Physics

#1519 in the United States

#1605 in North America

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

Closest to Illinois states to learn Physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	32	25
Missouri	35	51
Iowa	29	42
Kentucky	25	72
Wisconsin	32	14
Tennessee	32	55
Ohio	59	24
Michigan	37	5
Arkansas	18	121
West Virginia	18	113
Minnesota	26	16
Mississippi	14	141
Kansas	15	92
Alabama	24	97
Virginia	41	45
Georgia	45	17
North Carolina	39	36
Oklahoma	19	93
Nebraska	11	83
South Carolina	27	82
Pennsylvania	103	12
South Dakota	8	247
District of Columbia	9	111
Louisiana	24	75
Maryland	27	18
Delaware	3	58
New York	134	8
New Jersey	28	11
North Dakota	8	172
Connecticut	20	26
Texas	76	13
Vermont	11	136
Colorado	20	35
Massachusetts	69	1
Rhode Island	9	57
Florida	56	29
New Hampshire	11	96
New Mexico	9	84
Maine	14	185
Montana	7	149
Utah	11	44
Arizona	10	30
Idaho	7	157
Nevada	6	127
Oregon	17	77
Washington	31	10
California	134	2
Puerto Rico	15	284
Alaska	4	180
Hawaii	7	114