The average acceptance rate of the 45 Illinois colleges that have competitive admission is 73.36% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is higher by 1.84%. The acceptance rate at 21 Illinois colleges increased and the rate of 23 colleges decreased.
University of Chicago has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 4.48%. Northwestern University (7.69%) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (42.37%) are following it in the list of Tightest Illinois Colleges to Get In.
This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.
University of Chicago stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Northwestern University also maintained its second place in the ranking.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $39,545 and graduate tuition & fees is $27,542 for the academic year 2024-2025.
We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.| School Name | Acceptance Rate | Yield | SAT Score | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Total Population | Graduation Rate | Students to Faculty Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate, 4-year | 4.48% 0.31% | 88.29% | 1,550 | $69,324 | 18,566 | 96.00% | 5 to 1 |
| 2 - | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate, 4-year | 7.69% 0.54% | 55.31% | 1,540 | $68,322 | 23,856 | 95.00% | 6 to 1 |
| 3 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, ILPublic, 4-year | 42.37% 1.32% | 28.83% | 1,440 | $40,096 ($18,267) | 59,238 | 85.00% | 20 to 1 |
| 4 1 | Chicago State University Chicago, ILPublic, 4-year | 43.26% 2.74% | 3.76% | - | $12,757 ($12,757) | 2,238 | 15.00% | 9 to 1 |
| 5 6 | Judson University Elgin, ILPrivate, 4-year | 47.59% 15.53% | 39.24% | 930 | $30,297 | 960 | 60.00% | 10 to 1 |
| 6 | Governors State University University Park, ILPublic, 4-year | 48.27% | 16.82% | - | $12,004 ($12,004) | 4,397 | 22.00% | 11 to 1 |
| 7 - | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate, 4-year | 54.93% 0.49% | 7.73% | 1,300 | $52,202 | 8,834 | 75.00% | 14 to 1 |
| 8 6 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, ILPrivate, 4-year | 55.86% 11.04% | 24.46% | 1,100 | $38,900 | 3,339 | 61.00% | 15 to 1 |
| 9 1 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest, ILPrivate, 4-year | 56.81% 2.60% | 13.64% | 1,320 | $56,402 | 1,837 | 78.00% | 13 to 1 |
| 10 29 | Hebrew Theological College Skokie, ILPrivate, 4-year | 57.14% 34.86% | 87.50% | - | $15,150 | 182 | 50.00% | 5 to 1 |
| Average | 41.84% | 36.56% | 1,311 | $39,545 ($14,343) | 12,345 | 63.70% | 11 to 1 |