Colleges in Illinois

The Land of Lincoln offers a wide range of educational settings, from the bustle of the Windy City to quiet rural and suburban areas. There are 146 colleges in Illinois, 60 public and 84 private, offering a wide range of programs and majors. Illinois has both small schools (defined as less than 2000 students) and "very large" ones (10,000 or more students) and everything in between, including community colleges, in urban and rural environments.

According to Jamie P., a student at the University of Illinois, "The best part of going to school in Illinois is the diversity. Illinois is predominantly rural, but Chicago is very accessible and a great place to hang out on weekends. The weather is never too hot or too cold, but is dynamic enough to keep it interesting. Illinois colleges are also world-renown. You can meet international students from China, France, and Australia on the same street."

Northwestern University in Evanston is a large, private Illinois college with about 19,000 students. Evanston is a beautiful college town, full of unusual shops, fantastic restaurants, and cultural events. Northwestern is known for its great pre-medical program and is a member of the Big Ten. In the 2012 edition of America's Best Colleges as determined by the U.S. News & World Report, Northwestern ranked 12th in the country.

If you're looking to enjoy a phenomenal education while being surrounded by a lively city atmosphere, the University of Chicago, located in the heart of the city, may be the school for you. Known for the out-of-the-ordinary essay questions on its application, the University of Chicago educates 15,000 of the country's most promising students each year.

If you're interested in becoming an engineer, Illinois is definitely the place for you. The University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign is home to one of the nation's finest engineering programs. From biological to physics engineering, UIUC offers the latest in classroom and laboratory engineering experiences.

Other Illinois colleges include Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois State University in Normal, and many, many more.

Cappex has tons of resources for students considering a college in Illinois, including plenty of ways to help you find and apply for scholarships. Begin by browsing the complete list of colleges and universities below.