Illinois Public Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 12 public Illinois colleges that have competitive admission is 70.88% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 2.51%. The acceptance rate at 4 public Illinois colleges increased and the rate of 7 colleges decreased.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 42.37%. Chicago State University (43.26%) and Governors State University (48.27%) are following it in the list of Tightest Illinois Public 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranked 1st, up 1 place from 2nd last year. Chicago State University ranked second, a drop from first place last year.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $19,656 and graduate tuition & fees is $20,391 for the academic year 2024-2025.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.

Comparison between Tightest Illinois Public Colleges To Get In

Table. Tightest Illinois Public Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
1		University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, ILPublic, 4-year 42.37%
1.32%		28.83%1,440$40,096
($18,267)		59,23885.00%20 to 1
2
1		Chicago State University Chicago, ILPublic, 4-year 43.26%
2.74%		3.76%-$12,757
($12,757)		2,23815.00%9 to 1
3Governors State University University Park, ILPublic, 4-year 48.27%16.82%-$12,004
($12,004)		4,39722.00%11 to 1
4
1		Eastern Illinois University Charleston, ILPublic, 4-year 65.35%
2.40%		9.81%1,000$15,859
($13,377)		8,50547.00%14 to 1
5
-		Northern Illinois University Dekalb, ILPublic, 4-year 69.79%
0.66%		12.06%-$13,060
($13,060)		15,41449.00%15 to 1
6
-		Western Illinois University Macomb, ILPublic, 4-year 71.18%
3.78%		10.27%-$14,572
($14,572)		6,33245.00%12 to 1
7
3		Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, ILPublic, 4-year 74.60%
4.20%		8.49%-$22,726
($12,383)		5,73422.00%9 to 1
8
1		University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublic, 4-year 77.35%
1.15%		21.09%1,240$32,009
($15,949)		33,90662.00%17 to 1
9
1		University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, ILPublic, 4-year 85.88%
1.51%		12.55%1,070$20,139
($12,557)		4,62853.00%13 to 1
10
-		Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublic, 4-year 86.88%
3.56%		18.64%1,040$13,334
($13,334)		11,79062.00%11 to 1
Average66.49%14.23%1,158$19,656
($13,826)		15,21846.20%13 to 1