Private Colleges in Illinois: Complete List of Schools
- UChicago, DePaul, and Northwestern are some of the most popular schools in Illinois.
- Northwestern boasts a student body of 23,161, the largest school by enrollment in Illinois.
- There are many scholarships to help Illinois students pay for private college.
In Illinois, you don’t have to attend a public college to get state financial aid. Grants such as the Monetary Award Program, which received a $100 million increase in 2023, help students with demonstrated financial need afford a private or public college.
State grants and scholarships can help you pay for private college in Illinois.
Here, we highlight some popular private colleges in Illinois and provide a full list of schools. We also go over the cost of college in Illinois and the highest-paying jobs in the state.
5 Popular Private Colleges in Illinois
Below are some popular private colleges in Illinois to consider applying to. We chose these schools based on a variety of factors, including number of applicants, academic prestige, and overall reputation.
1. University of Chicago
- Avg. Annual Net Price: $36,991
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Total Student Enrollment: 18,339
Founded in 1890, UChicago is one of the most selective colleges in Illinois, not to mention the country. About 38,000 people applied to UChicago in fall 2022, and only 5% were admitted.
This medium-sized university offers 53 majors and 47 minors. UChicago boasts a 217-acre campus in Chicago’s Hyde Park and global campuses in Beijing, Delhi, Hong Kong, London, and Paris. Attending UChicago means joining a global alumni association of about 193,885.
2. Northwestern University
- Avg. Annual Net Price: $22,095
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Total Student Enrollment: 23,161
Since 1851, Northwestern has been one of the most exclusive private colleges in Illinois. Every year, Northwestern accepts just 7% of the 50,000 or so applications it receives.
Northwestern has 12 colleges and schools, and campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Qatar. In addition to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, the university offers dual-degree options and bachelor’s/master’s programs in 70 subjects.
3. DePaul University
- Avg. Annual Net Price: $32,151
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Total Student Enrollment: 20,917
Founded in 1898, DePaul houses 10 colleges and schools and offers more than 170 graduate programs and 130 undergraduate majors. There are campuses in Chicago and Lincoln Park, Illinois.
With a 16-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, DePaul has small classrooms, with courses taught mostly by professors instead of teaching assistants.
Featured Online Programs
4. Loyola University Chicago
- Avg. Annual Net Price: $37,511
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Total Student Enrollment: 16,899
Established in 1870, Loyola has a higher-than-average acceptance rate, admitting 79% of people who apply. This private university boasts 13 schools and colleges that offer more than 80 undergraduate majors, 80 minors, and 140 graduate programs. You can study online and choose from more than 100 online courses.
On-campus learning is available at Loyola’s six campuses, including the John Felice Rome Center in Italy. Additionally, the school offers study abroad programs in more than 50 countries.
5. Saint Xavier University
- Avg. Annual Net Price: $11,302
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Total Student Enrollment: 3,523
A Catholic institution, SXU opened in 1846 in the Mount Greenwood area of Illinois. Today, the private college accepts around 84% of applicants.
SXU’s College of Arts and Sciences, Graham School of Management, and School of Nursing Health Sciences offer 61 undergraduate programs and 25 graduate programs.
List of Private Colleges in Illinois
We’ve created a complete list of four-year nonprofit private colleges in Illinois. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.
All data below comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). We did not include schools with fewer than 500 undergraduates.
| School | Total Student Enrollment | Avg. Annual Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Number of Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augustana College | 2,349 | $24,660 | 61% | 6,965 |
| Aurora University | 5,918 | $19,350 | 82% | 2,922 |
| Benedictine University | 3,123 | $25,658 | 93% | 2,746 |
| Bradley University | 5,552 | $24,053 | 75% | 11,352 |
| Columbia College Chicago | 6,646 | $28,387 | 95% | 7,701 |
| Concordia University-Chicago | 5,354 | $18,832 | 93% | 4,296 |
| DePaul University | 20,917 | $32,151 | 70% | 31,785 |
| Dominican University | 3,196 | $18,162 | 90% | 5,117 |
| East-West University | 529 | $19,792 | 100% | N/A |
| Elmhurst University | 3,731 | $24,108 | 76% | 5,731 |
| Eureka College | 559 | $19,443 | 87% | 934 |
| Greenville University | 1,088 | $20,718 | 94% | 1,275 |
| Illinois College | 1,029 | $16,296 | 77% | 3,243 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | 6,943 | $28,702 | 61% | 7,243 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | 1,527 | $30,096 | 42% | 4,408 |
| Judson University | 973 | $19,268 | 58% | 1,153 |
| Knox College | 1,058 | $26,882 | 73% | 2,987 |
| Lake Forest College | 1,753 | $27,839 | 60% | 4,665 |
| Lewis University | 6,513 | $19,184 | 74% | 4,746 |
| Loyola University Chicago | 16,899 | $37,511 | 79% | 40,909 |
| McKendree University | 1,960 | $22,431 | 68% | 2,332 |
| Millikin University | 1,807 | $10,492 | 75% | 2,902 |
| Monmouth College | 767 | $20,237 | 91% | 1,818 |
| Moody Bible Institute | 2,410 | $21,368 | 94% | 324 |
| National Louis University | 7,525 | $14,769 | 92% | 3,181 |
| North Central College | 2,695 | $25,285 | 61% | 5,099 |
| North Park University | 2,660 | $19,029 | 68% | 5,039 |
| Northwestern University | 23,161 | $22,095 | 7% | 51,261 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | 3,255 | $20,059 | 58% | 6,196 |
| Quincy University | 1,307 | $11,985 | 62% | 1,760 |
| Rockford University | 1,181 | $25,047 | 55% | 2,779 |
| Roosevelt University | 3,725 | $22,117 | 88% | 2,997 |
| Saint Xavier University | 3,523 | $11,302 | 84% | 7,833 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 3,532 | $53,923 | 79% | 6,075 |
| Trinity Christian College | 908 | $18,822 | 71% | 706 |
| University of Chicago | 18,339 | $36,991 | 5% | 37,522 |
| University of St. Francis | 3,297 | $18,560 | 58% | 2,198 |
| Wheaton College | 2,885 | $29,961 | 88% | 1,893 |
Scholarships for Illinois Students
Private colleges in Illinois, on average, cost more than public institutions.
According to 2020-2021 NCES data, a public in-state university in Illinois costs $14,579 in tuition and fees per year, whereas a private university costs $35,894.
Grants, loans, and scholarships can help you afford a private college in Illinois. Here are some scholarships you can apply for today.
George M. Pullman Educational Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: February
Amount: $10,000 per year for four years
The George M. Pullman Educational Foundation Scholarship began in 1950 and has since helped about 12,000 students. You can apply for this scholarship if you’re a high school senior and a Cook County resident. You must also be admitted for fall enrollment in a bachelor’s program. Eligible applicants must be high-achieving students with a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need.
Hope Chicago Scholarship
Deadline: Varies
Amount: Full tuition and required fees
The Hope Chicago Scholarship offers gap-closing
financial support to college students and parents. Eligible students receive awards that cover full tuition, room and board, and fees for four years. Any high school graduate of participating high schools in Illinois can apply, regardless of their GPA or test scores. You can apply if you have been admitted to a two- or four-year college.
Wentcher Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: Varies
Amount: Up to $10,000 for four years
The Wentcher Foundation offers scholarships to Chicago high school students with strong academic records and demonstrated financial need. To date, the Wentcher Foundation has awarded more than 900 scholarships. The foundation offers not only scholarship money but also academic and social support throughout your college career.
Highest-Paying Jobs in Illinois
Many of the highest-earning jobs in Illinois are in the medical industry. Dermatologists make the most money in Illinois, with an average salary of $360,560 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Nurse anesthetists also earn a high average annual salary of $238,440.
As the following table shows, you can find lucrative careers in a variety of Illinois industries, not just healthcare.
| Job | Annual Mean Salary (May 2022) |
|---|---|
| Dermatologists | $360,560 |
| Chief Executives | $268,560 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $238,440 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $221,580 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $162,640 |
| Lawyers | $158,030 |
| Financial Managers | $155,070 |
| Sales Managers | $151,100 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Private Colleges in Illinois
How many private colleges are in Illinois?
In total, there are 184 two- and four-year private colleges in Illinois, according to NCES. Illinois has both private nonprofit and for-profit institutions that award degrees, vocational diplomas, and certificates.
Some of the most popular private colleges in Illinois include the University of Chicago, which receives around 38,000 applications annually, and Northwestern, which receives about 50,000 applications every year.
What is the most expensive private college in Chicago?
The most expensive private college in Illinois is the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, which costs an average net price of $53,923 a year. Loyola University Chicago charges the second-highest tuition rate, with students paying an average net price of $37,511 every year.
What is the hardest private college to get into in Illinois?
The University of Chicago is the hardest college to get into in the state, with an acceptance rate of 5% in fall 2022, according to NCES. This means of the 37,522 applications the school received in 2022, only around 1,876 people received acceptance letters.
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