Best Colleges in Illinois

Illinois is a Midwestern state with largely hot, humid summers and cold winters. While Chicago may be the most widely-known city, considered a microcosm of the US, the state capital is actually Springfield, a city in the Southern part of the a state. Colleges in Illinois include 2-year, 4-year, and technical institutions, among non- and for-profit options. The largest institution in the state is the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, while the highest-ranking is the University of Chicago. Illinois is a hotbed for business. Home to the CME Group and the Chicago Board Options Exchange, financial and business services are top industries in the Land of Lincoln. Advanced manufacturing (primarily of machinery), education, and agriculture all play significant roles in the Prairie State’s economy. The Magnificent Mile, Starved Rock State Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Dana-Thomas House built by Frank Lloyd Wright are just a few attractions Illinois offers.

How Were the Top Schools in Illinois Chosen?

Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.

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Located adjacent to the Illinois Institute of Technology campus on Chicago’s south side, the VanderCook College of Music is the only music teacher training institution in the United States. VanderCook’s educational curriculum culminates in a Bachelor...

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VanderCook College of Music is a great learning environment. The students and faculty become more of a family, and they will be there to help you with anything whether it's related to school or not. VanderCook provides its students with a unique...

” – Michelle from Romeoville, IL
Parkland College

Parkland College is a two-year community college based in Champaign, Illinois, that confers associate’s degrees and workforce certificates. Serving 54 communities across central Illinois, Parkland offers over 100 degree and certificate programs and a...

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Parkland is a really great way to get accustomed to the college life! From my personal experience thus far, the professors truly care about their students and are passionate about the subjects they teach. They are there to help and answer any...

” – Lauren from Champaign, IL
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Kaskaskia College is a 2-year community college serving a nine county area in southwest Illinois. Kaskaskia offers 54 associate degree and 103 certificate-granting programs among its 35 academic departments. During every school year, KC sponsors a...

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kaskaskia college is based in centralia, il, but is also quite spread out in the surrounding area. it's a great school to attend for cosmetology, nursing, automotive, or for quickly (and cheaply) getting your generals out of the way for other degrees...

” – Michelle from Vandalia, IL
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William Rainey Harper College is a public institution established in Palatine, Illinois. As the school is located in Chicago’s northwestern suburbs, Harper College serves one of the largest community college student populations in the US. New...

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I can honestly say I have never been at a school where the teachers care so much about their students. My professors have always made themselves available for out of classroom assistance and are willing to go over tricky topics if you find yourself...

” – Courtney from Wonder Lake, IL
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Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a nurse training academy in central Illinois. Saint Francis features a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an RN to BSN program, both of which require students to complete a pre-nursing curriculum at...

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Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences is a nurse training school in western Illinois and one of America’s first accredited nursing schools. Blessing Rieman offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Nursing as well as...

St. Augustine College

With five campus locations throughout Chicago, St. Augustine College is the first bilingual higher learning institution in the state of Illinois. Founded by the Episcopal diocese with a mission to celebrate the culture and deliver a college education...

Rush University

Rush University is a private, 4-year institution established in Chicago, Illinois, and is associated with the Rush University Medical Center. Academics at Rush University primarily focus on Health Sciences. Along with their traditional studies...

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From what I've researched..Rush University has a great student to teacher ratio. I feel like Rush will offer me the Education and experience I need to be the best Nurse Anesthetist I can possibly be :)

” – Linda from Rockford, IL
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Formerly located in the suburbs, Resurrection University is a nursing and healthcare training school in the north side of Chicago. ResU offers a bachelor’s degree in Nursing program in both day and evening/weekend tracks as well as undergraduate...

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Established in 1886, St. John's College-Department of Nursing is a private, medical education institution located in Springfield, Illinois. St. John's College offers five bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Nursing, including a general program...

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Morrison Institute of Technology is an institution in northwest Illinois specializing in engineering and computer science. Morrison Tech offers programs in Engineering Technology and Network Administration and the engineering program features...

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With a campus built on the edge of the Rock River, Sauk Valley Community College is a 2-year institution in northwest Illinois. SVCC is home to nine academic departments conferring 59 degrees and 47 certificates including programs in Agribusiness and...

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I am extremely impressed with the effort the teachers and faculty put into all of us students to succeed! After my first semester, my SVCC GPA is 3.14, with help from tools at programs and clubs, like the Student Support Services/Trio, that assists...

” – DeAndre from Dixon, IL
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Wilbur Wright College is a 2-year community college and part of the City Colleges of Chicago system on the northwest side of The Windy City. Wilbur Wright confers degrees and certificates in 10 academic focus areas as well as a transfer partner with...

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There are a great variety of interesting and pertinent courses at Wright which are taught at the same level as typical univeristy courses. I am able to comprehend more of what I am taught now in comparison to my time in high school.

” – Bianca from Chicago, IL
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McHenry County College is a 2-year community college serving the northwest suburbs in the Chicagoland area. MCC confers degrees in 20 academic departments as well as numerous career and technical program certificates. For students who need academic...

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Modeled after Talmudic academies of Eastern Europe and Middle Eastern Torah centers, Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago is a Jewish yeshiva dedicated to training scholars and future rabbis. Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago offers Talmudic Studies undergrad and graduate...

Generations College

Established in 1904, MacCormac College is a private, 2-year institution located in Chicago, Illinois. As the oldest institution of its kind in the state, MC offers on-campus associate’s degree programs in Court Reporting, Criminal Justice, and...

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From its campus on Chicago’s south side, the Illinois College of Optometry is America’s first optometry institution and also its largest. The core curriculum at ICO features intensive coursework over students’ first three years in subjects such as...

Lakeview College of Nursing

Lakeview College of Nursing is a nursing academy with campus locations in Danville and Charleston, Illinois. Lakeview is a 4-year institution for college juniors and seniors and specializes in offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. ...

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Midwestern University in Downers Grove is a graduate-level medical school in the western suburbs of Chicago ranked 20th in the nation by US News & World Report. The MU Downers Grove campus offers academic programs from six colleges of medicine. MU...

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Midwestern University, Downers Grove is a very organized, clean, friendly college. The faculty, staff, and students are all very caring and responsible. Additionally the facilities and amenities it has to offer are world class.

” – Parth from Downers Grove, IL
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Named for the doctor who discovered the structure of DNA, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is a graduate school of health care in the north Chicagoland area. RFU offers over 30 health science programs through its colleges of...

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Unlike other schools that you are going to apply to in hopes of furthering your medical education, Rosalind Franklin is a school that is dedicated to the medical profession. Every single student at this school is enrolled in a program in the medical...

” – Candace from Scott Air Force Base, IL