68 Best Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 21.4M citations received by 502K 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: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

2. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Physics

#22 in the United States

#23 in North America

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

3. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#27 in the United States

#28 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#60 in the United States

#69 in North America

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

5. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Physics

#131 in the United States

#154 in North America

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

6. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Physics

#178 in the United States

#206 in North America

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

7. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Physics

#187 in the United States

#215 in North America

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

8. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#203 in the United States

#231 in North America

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

9. Illinois State University

Normal

For Physics

#242 in the United States

#276 in North America

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

10. DePaul University

Chicago

For Physics

#278 in the United States

#318 in North America

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

11. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Physics

#291 in the United States

#331 in North America

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

12. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Physics

#295 in the United States

#335 in North America

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

13. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Physics

#303 in the United States

#343 in North America

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

14. Rush University

Chicago

For Physics

#349 in the United States

#394 in North America

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

15. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Physics

#399 in the United States

#445 in North America

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

16. Bradley University

Peoria

For Physics

#409 in the United States

#457 in North America

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

17. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Physics

#410 in the United States

#459 in North America

Enrollment: 75
Male:Female: 32:68

18. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Physics

#433 in the United States

#485 in North America

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

19. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#443 in the United States

#495 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 38
Male:Female: 73:27

20. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#450 in the United States

#502 in North America

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

21. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Physics

#464 in the United States

#517 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $20,319
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $12,832

22. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Physics

#466 in the United States

#519 in North America

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

23. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Physics

#477 in the United States

#530 in North America

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

24. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Physics

#549 in the United States

#604 in North America

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

25. North Central College

Naperville

For Physics

#594 in the United States

#649 in North America

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

26. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Physics

#611 in the United States

#667 in North America

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

27. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Physics

#622 in the United States

#680 in North America

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

28. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Physics

#656 in the United States

#714 in North America

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

29. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Physics

#695 in the United States

#755 in North America

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

30. Knox College

Galesburg

For Physics

#696 in the United States

#756 in North America

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

31. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Physics

#724 in the United States

#785 in North America

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

32. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Physics

#838 in the United States

#905 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 483
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1872

33. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Physics

#890 in the United States

#957 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $24,570
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $21,484

34. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Physics

#904 in the United States

#971 in North America

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

35. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#921 in the United States

#988 in North America

Enrollment: 114
Male:Female: 44:56

36. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Physics

#928 in the United States

#995 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $21,349
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,613

37. Governors State University

University Park

For Physics

#935 in the United States

#1004 in North America

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

38. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Physics

#960 in the United States

#1029 in North America

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

39. Greenville University

Greenville

For Physics

#962 in the United States

#1031 in North America

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

40. Dominican University

River Forest

For Physics

#988 in the United States

#1057 in North America

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

41. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#991 in the United States

#1060 in North America

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

42. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Physics

#1008 in the United States

#1077 in North America

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

43. National Louis University

Chicago

For Physics

#1048 in the United States

#1118 in North America

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

44. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Physics

#1055 in the United States

#1125 in North America

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

45. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Physics

#1066 in the United States

#1137 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $31,063

46. Rockford University

Rockford

For Physics

#1077 in the United States

#1151 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $24,098

47. Millikin University

Decatur

For Physics

#1088 in the United States

#1162 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1015
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $10,078

48. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Physics

#1131 in the United States

#1206 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

49. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Physics

#1177 in the United States

#1254 in North America

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

50. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Physics

#1197 in the United States

#1274 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 513
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1906

51. North Park University

Chicago

For Physics

#1219 in the United States

#1296 in North America

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

52. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Physics

#1224 in the United States

#1301 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $16,455

53. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Physics

#1229 in the United States

#1306 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $25,200
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $22,269

54. Principia College

Elsah

For Physics

#1257 in the United States

#1334 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $14,904

55. Aurora University

Aurora

For Physics

#1274 in the United States

#1351 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1032
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $19,220

56. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Physics

#1275 in the United States

#1352 in North America

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

57. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Physics

#1290 in the United States

#1367 in North America

Enrollment: 368
Male:Female: 2:98

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

Chicago

For Physics

#1302 in the United States

#1379 in North America

Enrollment: 76
Male:Female: 47:53

59. Kendall College

Chicago

For Physics

#1303 in the United States

#1380 in North America

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

60. Adler University

Chicago

For Physics

#1373 in the United States

#1453 in North America

Enrollment: 1,674
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1952

61. Quincy University

Quincy

For Physics

#1448 in the United States

#1529 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $17,424

62. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Physics

#1453 in the United States

#1534 in North America

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

63. Eureka College

Eureka

For Physics

#1456 in the United States

#1537 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Net Price: $20,215
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,303

64. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Physics

#1492 in the United States

#1576 in North America

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

65. University of Saint Mary of the Lake

Mundelein

For Physics

#1506 in the United States

#1591 in North America

Enrollment: 203
Male:Female: 85:15

66. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Physics

#1507 in the United States

#1592 in North America

Enrollment: 133
Male:Female: 63:37

67. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Physics

#1511 in the United States

#1597 in North America

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

68. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Physics

#1523 in the United States

#1609 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $14,394
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $6,547

Closest to Illinois states to learn Physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	31	25
Missouri	35	51
Iowa	29	41
Kentucky	25	72
Wisconsin	32	14
Tennessee	32	56
Ohio	59	24
Michigan	37	5
Arkansas	18	121
West Virginia	17	113
Minnesota	26	16
Mississippi	14	142
Kansas	15	91
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	250
District of Columbia	9	111
Louisiana	24	75
Maryland	27	18
Delaware	3	58
New York	134	8
New Jersey	27	11
North Dakota	8	174
Connecticut	20	26
Texas	76	13
Vermont	11	136
Colorado	20	35
Massachusetts	69	1
Rhode Island	9	57
Florida	55	29
New Hampshire	11	96
New Mexico	9	84
Maine	14	185
Montana	7	150
Utah	11	44
Arizona	10	30
Idaho	7	157
Nevada	6	129
Oregon	17	77
Washington	31	10
California	132	2
Puerto Rico	15	284
Alaska	4	180
Hawaii	7	114