71 Best colleges for Psychology 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 Psychology. A graph of 15.2M citations received by 352K academic papers made by 71 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. Northwestern University

Evanston

For Psychology

#20 in the United States

#23 in North America

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

2. University of Chicago

Chicago

For Psychology

#26 in the United States

#29 in North America

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

3. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Champaign

For Psychology

#29 in the United States

#32 in North America

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

4. University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

For Psychology

#45 in the United States

#52 in North America

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

5. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago

For Psychology

#130 in the United States

#148 in North America

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

6. Northern Illinois University

DeKalb

For Psychology

#171 in the United States

#194 in North America

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

7. DePaul University

Chicago

For Psychology

#194 in the United States

#220 in North America

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

8. Illinois State University

Normal

For Psychology

#197 in the United States

#224 in North America

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

9. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Carbondale

For Psychology

#202 in the United States

#229 in North America

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

10. Illinois College

Jacksonville

For Psychology

#210 in the United States

#238 in North America

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

11. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

North Chicago

For Psychology

#226 in the United States

#255 in North America

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

12. Rush University

Chicago

For Psychology

#232 in the United States

#261 in North America

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

13. Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago

For Psychology

#242 in the United States

#272 in North America

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

14. NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

Evanston

For Psychology

#267 in the United States

#298 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 25:75

15. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Edwardsville

For Psychology

#346 in the United States

#385 in North America

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

16. Eastern Illinois University

Charleston

For Psychology

#354 in the United States

#393 in North America

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

17. Bradley University

Peoria

For Psychology

#375 in the United States

#418 in North America

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

18. Western Illinois University

Macomb

For Psychology

#381 in the United States

#424 in North America

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

19. Wheaton College - Illinois

Wheaton

For Psychology

#509 in the United States

#560 in North America

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

20. Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago

For Psychology

#517 in the United States

#568 in North America

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

21. Roosevelt University

Chicago

For Psychology

#527 in the United States

#578 in North America

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

22. Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington

For Psychology

#530 in the United States

#581 in North America

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

23. Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago

Chicago

For Psychology

#560 in the United States

#612 in North America

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

24. Knox College

Galesburg

For Psychology

#569 in the United States

#622 in North America

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

25. University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield

For Psychology

#585 in the United States

#639 in North America

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

26. Chicago State University

Chicago

For Psychology

#670 in the United States

#729 in North America

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

27. Governors State University

University Park

For Psychology

#702 in the United States

#761 in North America

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

28. North Central College

Naperville

For Psychology

#722 in the United States

#782 in North America

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

29. Elmhurst College

Elmhurst

For Psychology

#731 in the United States

#791 in North America

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

30. National Louis University

Chicago

For Psychology

#744 in the United States

#805 in North America

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

31. Erikson Institute

Chicago

For Psychology

#781 in the United States

#843 in North America

Enrollment: 297
Male:Female: 3:97

32. Greenville University

Greenville

For Psychology

#805 in the United States

#869 in North America

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

33. Lake Forest College

Lake Forest

For Psychology

#845 in the United States

#910 in North America

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

34. Lewis University

Romeoville

For Psychology

#874 in the United States

#942 in North America

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

35. John Marshall Law School

Chicago

For Psychology

#881 in the United States

#949 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1899

36. Saint Xavier University

Chicago

For Psychology

#895 in the United States

#963 in North America

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

37. Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford

For Psychology

#922 in the United States

#990 in North America

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

38. Augustana College

Rock Island

For Psychology

#942 in the United States

#1010 in North America

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

39. Adler University

Chicago

For Psychology

#943 in the United States

#1011 in North America

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

40. Blackburn College

Carlinville

For Psychology

#955 in the United States

#1024 in North America

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

41. Illinois College of Optometry

Chicago

For Psychology

#958 in the United States

#1027 in North America

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

42. Millikin University

Decatur

For Psychology

#971 in the United States

#1040 in North America

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

43. Aurora University

Aurora

For Psychology

#990 in the United States

#1059 in North America

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

44. School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago

For Psychology

#991 in the United States

#1060 in North America

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

45. University of St Francis

Joliet

For Psychology

#1006 in the United States

#1075 in North America

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

46. Dominican University

River Forest

For Psychology

#1007 in the United States

#1076 in North America

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

47. National University of Health Sciences

Lombard

For Psychology

#1009 in the United States

#1078 in North America

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

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

Chicago

For Psychology

#1053 in the United States

#1125 in North America

Enrollment: 80
Male:Female: 41:59

49. Monmouth College

Monmouth

For Psychology

#1078 in the United States

#1150 in North America

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

50. Benedictine University

Lisle

For Psychology

#1091 in the United States

#1163 in North America

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

51. Columbia College Chicago

Chicago

For Psychology

#1105 in the United States

#1178 in North America

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

52. Rockford University

Rockford

For Psychology

#1118 in the United States

#1192 in North America

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

53. Concordia University - Chicago

River Forest

For Psychology

#1130 in the United States

#1204 in North America

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

54. DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago

For Psychology

#1191 in the United States

#1267 in North America

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

55. North Park University

Chicago

For Psychology

#1202 in the United States

#1278 in North America

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

56. Institute for Clinical Social Work

Chicago

For Psychology

#1205 in the United States

#1281 in North America

Enrollment: 121
Male:Female: 24:76

57. Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais

For Psychology

#1221 in the United States

#1297 in North America

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

58. McKendree University

Lebanon

For Psychology

#1245 in the United States

#1321 in North America

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

59. Saint Augustine College

Chicago

For Psychology

#1262 in the United States

#1338 in North America

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

60. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Evanston

For Psychology

#1326 in the United States

#1404 in North America

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

61. Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights

For Psychology

#1347 in the United States

#1426 in North America

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

62. Kendall College

Chicago

For Psychology

#1358 in the United States

#1437 in North America

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

63. Spertus College

Chicago

For Psychology

#1368 in the United States

#1447 in North America

Enrollment: 89
Male:Female: 38:62

64. Trinity International University - Illinois

Deerfield

For Psychology

#1408 in the United States

#1488 in North America

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

65. Eureka College

Eureka

For Psychology

#1453 in the United States

#1535 in North America

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

66. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Chicago

For Psychology

#1459 in the United States

#1541 in North America

Enrollment: 101
Male:Female: 46:54

67. Chicago Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Psychology

#1486 in the United States

#1569 in North America

Enrollment: 215
Male:Female: 46:54

68. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Chicago

For Psychology

#1535 in the United States

#1621 in North America

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

69. Judson University

Elgin

For Psychology

#1537 in the United States

#1623 in North America

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

70. American InterContinental University

Schaumburg

For Psychology

#1538 in the United States

#1624 in North America

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

71. McCormick Theological Seminary

Chicago

For Psychology

#1548 in the United States

#1635 in North America

Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 55:45

Closest to Illinois states to learn Psychology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Indiana	35	57
Missouri	35	18
Iowa	31	31
Kentucky	26	56
Wisconsin	32	17
Tennessee	37	42
Ohio	60	23
Michigan	37	3
Arkansas	17	125
West Virginia	17	100
Minnesota	28	16
Mississippi	14	158
Kansas	14	75
Alabama	26	52
Virginia	43	39
Georgia	46	21
North Carolina	44	14
Oklahoma	20	129
Nebraska	13	111
South Carolina	25	73
Pennsylvania	101	6
South Dakota	8	260
District of Columbia	10	71
Louisiana	25	90
Maryland	28	2
New York	132	8
New Jersey	27	32
North Dakota	7	209
Connecticut	21	7
Texas	77	33
Vermont	11	97
Colorado	21	58
Massachusetts	68	1
Rhode Island	9	51
Florida	58	27
New Hampshire	13	95
New Mexico	8	89
Maine	13	253
Montana	7	231
Utah	11	43
Arizona	11	40
Idaho	7	269
Nevada	7	149
Oregon	18	55
Washington	30	5
California	130	4
Puerto Rico	16	421
Alaska	4	387
Hawaii	6	139