Best Social Sciences Colleges in Illinois
45 accredited institutions in Illinois offering social sciences programs, ranked by annual graduates (IPEDS 2023–24).
45
Colleges
11,718
Graduates/yr
12
Public
Master's
Top Degree
Ranked: Social Sciences Programs in Illinois
1
Private NonprofitMaster's
University of Chicago
Chicago
2,649
Graduates/yr
5%
Acceptance
$63,801
Tuition
95%
Grad Rate
$958
Net Price <$30K
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2
PublicBachelor's
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign
1,779
Graduates/yr
44%
Acceptance
$14,768
In-State Tuition
85%
Grad Rate
View →
3
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Northwestern University
Evanston
1,197
Graduates/yr
7%
Acceptance
$64,887
Tuition
96%
Grad Rate
$3,393
Net Price <$30K
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4
PublicBachelor's
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago
735
Graduates/yr
79%
Acceptance
$12,656
In-State Tuition
60%
Grad Rate
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5
Private NonprofitBachelor's
DePaul University
Chicago
645
Graduates/yr
74%
Acceptance
$43,379
Tuition
70%
Grad Rate
$25,281
Net Price <$30K
View →
6
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago
603
Graduates/yr
81%
Acceptance
$50,270
Tuition
76%
Grad Rate
$29,189
Net Price <$30K
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7
PublicBachelor's
Illinois State University
Normal
555
Graduates/yr
89%
Acceptance
$11,000
In-State Tuition
66%
Grad Rate
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8
PublicBachelor's
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb
414
Graduates/yr
70%
Acceptance
$9,792
In-State Tuition
50%
Grad Rate
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9
PublicBachelor's
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale
330
Graduates/yr
90%
Acceptance
$9,638
In-State Tuition
54%
Grad Rate
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10
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Wheaton College
Wheaton
273
Graduates/yr
90%
Acceptance
$43,670
Tuition
87%
Grad Rate
$17,110
Net Price <$30K
View →
11
Private NonprofitBachelor's
National Louis University
Chicago
201
Graduates/yr
93%
Acceptance
$13,776
Tuition
37%
Grad Rate
$13,834
Net Price <$30K
View →
12
PublicBachelor's
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Edwardsville
201
Graduates/yr
97%
Acceptance
$8,846
In-State Tuition
53%
Grad Rate
View →
13
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest
159
Graduates/yr
59%
Acceptance
$53,300
Tuition
70%
Grad Rate
$17,663
Net Price <$30K
View →
14
Private NonprofitBachelor's
North Central College
Naperville
153
Graduates/yr
58%
Acceptance
$44,114
Tuition
71%
Grad Rate
$24,087
Net Price <$30K
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15
PublicBachelor's
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago
126
Graduates/yr
70%
Acceptance
$10,343
In-State Tuition
17%
Grad Rate
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16
PublicBachelor's
Western Illinois University
Macomb
123
Graduates/yr
75%
Acceptance
$9,359
In-State Tuition
45%
Grad Rate
View →
17
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Knox College
Galesburg
108
Graduates/yr
71%
Acceptance
$54,768
Tuition
68%
Grad Rate
$19,700
Net Price <$30K
View →
18
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Illinois College
Jacksonville
102
Graduates/yr
75%
Acceptance
$36,870
Tuition
61%
Grad Rate
$12,642
Net Price <$30K
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19
PublicBachelor's
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston
102
Graduates/yr
68%
Acceptance
$9,624
In-State Tuition
45%
Grad Rate
View →
20
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Dominican University
River Forest
102
Graduates/yr
80%
Acceptance
$37,194
Tuition
62%
Grad Rate
$16,033
Net Price <$30K
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21
PublicMaster's
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield
99
Graduates/yr
84%
Acceptance
$9,865
In-State Tuition
61%
Grad Rate
View →
22
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Augustana College
Rock Island
96
Graduates/yr
68%
Acceptance
$49,674
Tuition
79%
Grad Rate
$10,202
Net Price <$30K
View →
23
Private NonprofitBachelor's
McKendree University
Lebanon
90
Graduates/yr
64%
Acceptance
$32,660
Tuition
60%
Grad Rate
$19,286
Net Price <$30K
View →
24
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst
78
Graduates/yr
76%
Acceptance
$41,258
Tuition
65%
Grad Rate
$17,050
Net Price <$30K
View →
25
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Roosevelt University
Chicago
72
Graduates/yr
94%
Acceptance
$20,000
Tuition
46%
Grad Rate
$19,186
Net Price <$30K
View →
26
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Bradley University
Peoria
66
Graduates/yr
77%
Acceptance
$39,248
Tuition
72%
Grad Rate
$17,128
Net Price <$30K
View →
27
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington
60
Graduates/yr
45%
Acceptance
$55,500
Tuition
83%
Grad Rate
$16,117
Net Price <$30K
View →
28
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Lewis University
Romeoville
57
Graduates/yr
73%
Acceptance
$37,592
Tuition
62%
Grad Rate
$10,744
Net Price <$30K
View →
29
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Concordia University-Chicago
River Forest
57
Graduates/yr
93%
Acceptance
$35,200
Tuition
46%
Grad Rate
$15,860
Net Price <$30K
View →
30
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Benedictine University
Lisle
57
Graduates/yr
77%
Acceptance
$31,028
Tuition
51%
Grad Rate
$22,419
Net Price <$30K
View →
31
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Aurora University
Aurora
48
Graduates/yr
85%
Acceptance
$28,000
Tuition
58%
Grad Rate
$15,022
Net Price <$30K
View →
32
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Monmouth College
Monmouth
48
Graduates/yr
87%
Acceptance
$43,320
Tuition
57%
Grad Rate
$15,459
Net Price <$30K
View →
33
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Saint Xavier University
Chicago
48
Graduates/yr
86%
Acceptance
$35,680
Tuition
59%
Grad Rate
$9,778
Net Price <$30K
View →
34
PublicBachelor's
Chicago State University
Chicago
48
Graduates/yr
41%
Acceptance
$8,040
In-State Tuition
17%
Grad Rate
View →
35
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Rockford University
Rockford
45
Graduates/yr
57%
Acceptance
$36,500
Tuition
38%
Grad Rate
$26,471
Net Price <$30K
View →
36
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais
42
Graduates/yr
67%
Acceptance
$36,950
Tuition
60%
Grad Rate
$16,024
Net Price <$30K
View →
37
PublicBachelor's
Governors State University
University Park
33
Graduates/yr
$7,872
In-State Tuition
20%
Grad Rate
View →
38
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Quincy University
Quincy
27
Graduates/yr
50%
Acceptance
$35,740
Tuition
43%
Grad Rate
$13,187
Net Price <$30K
View →
39
Private NonprofitBachelor's
North Park University
Chicago
27
Graduates/yr
73%
Acceptance
$34,685
Tuition
56%
Grad Rate
$17,420
Net Price <$30K
View →
40
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Principia College
Elsah
21
Graduates/yr
44%
Acceptance
$32,250
Tuition
76%
Grad Rate
View →
41
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Millikin University
Decatur
15
Graduates/yr
54%
Acceptance
$42,778
Tuition
59%
Grad Rate
$3,367
Net Price <$30K
View →
42
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago
12
Graduates/yr
55%
Acceptance
$49,607
Tuition
72%
Grad Rate
$18,815
Net Price <$30K
View →
43
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Eureka College
Eureka
6
Graduates/yr
88%
Acceptance
$27,450
Tuition
39%
Grad Rate
$14,640
Net Price <$30K
View →
44
Private NonprofitBachelor's
Trinity International University-Illinois
Deerfield
6
Graduates/yr
93%
Acceptance
$11,760
Tuition
46%
Grad Rate
$13,948
Net Price <$30K
View →
45
Private NonprofitBachelor's
University of St Francis
Joliet
3
Graduates/yr
64%
Acceptance
$37,000
Tuition
65%
Grad Rate
$14,515
Net Price <$30K
View →
Studying Social Sciences in Illinois
Illinois has 45 accredited colleges offering social sciences programs, producing 11,718 graduates annually. Of these, 12 are public institutions with subsidized in-state tuition for Illinois residents.
When evaluating programs, consider accreditation, internship placement rates, and faculty expertise. Always file the FAFSA — the net price after grants can be dramatically lower than sticker tuition, especially at public institutions.
Other Programs in Illinois
Communications TechnologyComputer SciencePersonal & Culinary ServicesEducationEngineeringEngineering TechnologyForeign LanguagesFamily & Consumer SciencesLegal Studies / Pre-LawEnglishLiberal ArtsLibrary ScienceBiologyMathematics & StatisticsMilitary ScienceInterdisciplinary StudiesParks & RecreationPhilosophy & Religious StudiesTheology & MinistryPhysical Sciences
Data source: Graduate counts from IPEDS 2023–24 C2023_A Completions survey (NCES). Tuition, acceptance rate, and graduation rate from IPEDS HD2023, ADM2023, DRVGR2023.