A Complete Guide to Colleges in Chicago

The Windy City has more than frigid breezes. Colleges in Chicago range from prestigious to artsy and include schools like UChicago and Northwestern.
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Updated August 31, 2023 · 3 Min Read

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10 Popular Colleges in Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago area is home to 40 nonprofit four-year colleges and universities. We've compiled a list of all Chicago colleges below.

Before that, though, let's take a look at 10 popular colleges in Chicago based on student enrollment, overall reputation, and academic prestige.

All school data below comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Tuition and fees are from 2022-2023, while acceptance rates, enrollment statistics, net prices, and number of applicants are from 2021.

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List of All Colleges in Chicago

Below is a list of all four-year nonprofit colleges and universities in Chicago, including the Chicago suburbs. You can find information on enrollment, net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants for each school.

All Colleges in Chicago
School Total Student Enrollment Avg. Annual Net Price Acceptance Rate Number of Applicants
Adler University 1,864 N/A N/A N/A
American Islamic College 19 N/A N/A N/A
Aurora University 6,165 $17,410 86% 3,101
Benedictine University 3,378 $24,746 80% 2,908
Chicago State University 2,366 $4,846 47% 4,805
Columbia College Chicago 6,736 $25,262 96% 7,218
Concordia University-Chicago 6,086 $18,817 88% 5,620
DePaul University 21,670 $31,872 69% 32,075
Dominican University 3,066 $18,476 81% 3,845
East-West University 487 $16,223 N/A N/A
Elmhurst University 3,518 $24,018 N/A N/A
Governors State University 4,395 $9,943 52% 1,168
Hebrew Theological College 170 $3,914 80% 5
Illinois Institute of Technology 6,486 $26,789 66% 6,521
Judson University 1,173 $18,266 62% 984
Lake Forest College 1,690 $25,126 64% 4,358
Lewis University 6,183 $18,312 71% 4,311
Loyola University Chicago 17,498 $29,371 77% 37,824
Moody Bible Institute 2,606 $21,399 98% 298
National Louis University 7,315 $14,665 97% 1,518
National University of Health Sciences 466 N/A N/A N/A
North Central College 2,728 $26,207 68% 4,551
North Park University 2,749 $20,260 67% 4,053
Northeastern Illinois University 6,440 $14,133 62% 3,399
Northwestern University 23,409 $29,999 7% 47,636
Oak Point University 566 N/A 71% 3,762
Roosevelt University 4,127 $23,964 92% 3,541
Rush University 2,889 N/A N/A N/A
Saint Xavier University 3,749 $13,419 85% 7,780
School of the Art Institute of Chicago 3,559 $50,214 81% 5,835
St. Augustine College 737 $15,337 N/A N/A
Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago 88 $6,993 93% 15
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago 1,297 N/A N/A N/A
Trinity Christian College 985 $14,700 76% 1,048
Trinity International University 1,330 $20,328 91% 373
University of Chicago 18,832 $33,727 6% 37,974
University of Illinois Chicago 34,199 $10,725 79% 22,791
University of St. Francis 3,426 $16,949 68% 1,574
VanderCook College of Music 252 $20,855 100% 26
Wheaton College 3,047 $28,319 86% 1,993

Source: NCES

Frequently Asked Questions About Chicago Colleges and Universities

How many colleges and universities are in Chicago?

There are 21 nonprofit colleges and universities in Chicago, according to NCES. If you count Chicago's suburbs, the total increases to 40 — four public universities and 36 private schools.

More than 217,000 students were enrolled in Chicago-area colleges and universities as of fall 2021.

Is there an Ivy League school in Chicago?

There are no Ivy League schools in Chicago. The Ivy League is a collegiate conference comprising eight private research universities, all of which are based in the Northeast.

That said, Chicago is home to two top-ranked private institutions — the University of Chicago and Northwestern University — which many often consider to be on par with the Ivies.

What is the most prestigious school in Chicago?

Most would agree that the two most prestigious colleges in Chicago are the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.

UChicago has consistently ranked among the most elite universities in the U.S. since its inception in 1890. Located in the suburb of Evanston, Northwestern is highly ranked in many subjects and is best known for its top journalism, music, and STEM programs.

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