Ivy League Schools in Illinois: Does Illinois Have Ivies?
What’s Covered:
- Are There Ivy League Schools in Illinois?
- Top 10 Non-Ivy League Schools in Illinois
- What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Although there are no Ivy League schools in Illinois, the Prairie State is home to a number of fantastic colleges and universities, including top-ranked schools (like the University of Chicago and Northwestern University), Public Ivies (like UIUC), and Jesuit institutions (like Loyola University Chicago).
Are There Ivy League Schools in Illinois?
There are no Ivy League schools in Illinois. The Ivy League is a group of eight academically excellent universities located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic known for their long histories, selective admissions, and extensive resources.
Academics are what spring to mind when most people think of the Ivy League, but the name actually comes from athletics. The term “Ivy League” is believed to have been coined by sportswriter Caswell Adams in the 1930s, when writing about a football game between Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, he referred to the schools as old “ivy-covered” universities.
While Illinois is not home to any of the eight historic Ivy League schools—Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale—it does boast some prestigious and academically rigorous institutions of its own.
Top 10 Non-Ivy League Schools in Illinois
Illinois doesn’t have any Ivy League schools, but it does offer several top-tier colleges that are nationally respected and academically comparable to the Ivies.
|
School |
Location |
Acceptance Rate |
Undergraduate Enrollment |
|
Chicago, IL |
4% |
7,519 |
|
|
Evanston, IL |
8% |
9.060 |
|
|
Champaign, IL |
42% |
37,140 |
|
|
Bloomington, IL |
39% |
1,582 |
|
|
Chicago, IL |
55% |
3,316 |
|
|
Wheaton, IL |
90% |
2,119 |
|
|
Chicago, IL |
82% |
12,538 |
|
|
Chicago, IL |
76% |
14,188 |
|
|
Rock Island, IL |
63% |
2,522 |
|
|
Peoria, IL |
77% |
3,596 |
1. University of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,519
The University of Chicago isn’t a member of the Ivy League, but that doesn’t keep it from being considered one of the best colleges in the country. CollegeVine ranks the University of Chicago as the seventh-best school in the country.
The University of Chicago is known for attracting quirky, intellectually curious students. Applicants can showcase their personality through an optional two-minute video as part of the application. Another way the university uncovers idiosyncratic undergraduates is through its renowned essay prompts. For example, look at this 2025-2026 prompt, which was inspired by Kristin Yi, Class of 2029:
“Statistically speaking, ice cream doesn’t cause shark attacks, pet spending doesn’t drive the number of lawyers in California, and margarine consumption isn’t responsible for Maine’s divorce rate—at least, not according to conventional wisdom. But what if the statisticians got it wrong? Choose your favorite spurious correlation and make the case for why it might actually reveal a deeper, causative truth.”
2. Northwestern University
Location: Evanston, IL
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,060
There is no shortage of famous Northwestern alumni, including author George R. R. Martin, actress Kathryn Hahn, actor/director Zach Braff, supermodel Cindy Crawford, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers. Musician Pharrell Williams also attended Northwestern for two years before dropping out.
Almost as well-known as Northwestern’s illustrious alumni is the University’s academic quarter system (three quarters of 10 weeks each), which allows students to engage in a balanced and wide range of activities. For example, 60% of students double-major across different curricula and about half of undergraduates participate in a global learning experience.
3. University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | UIUC
Location: Champaign, IL
Acceptance Rate: 42%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 37,140
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign isn’t an Ivy League school, but it’s commonly grouped with a number of colleges considered Public Ivies—a collection of public institutions of higher learning known for excellent academics, abundant resources, and high rankings. In addition to a stellar academic environment, UIUC has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s top party schools.
Fraternities and sororities have been on UIUC’s campus for more than 150 years. Today, 90 Greek organizations are found on campus—49 fraternities, 40 sororities, and one coed—and 6,023 undergraduates participate in Greek life.
4. Illinois Wesleyan University
Location: Bloomington, IL
Acceptance Rate: 39%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,582
Illinois Wesleyan University is relatively small compared to the preceding colleges on this list; however, it delivers big results to its undergraduates. The school boasts an average retention rate of 82% and a 77% six-year graduation rate (well above the approximate 68% average for private nonprofit schools).
Benefitting Illinois Wesleyan students are small classes—the average class size is just 18 students. The school prioritizes experiential learning, with 73% of students participating in at least one internship during their time at the university and 28% completing multiple internships. The school provides study abroad programs in more than 70 countries and delivers a program to serve just about every academic discipline it offers.
5. Illinois Institute of Technology | Illinois Tech
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: 55%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,316
The Illinois Institute of Technology is the only technology-focused university in Chicago, the third-largest city in the U.S. The school offers more than 50 majors in tech-focused disciplines like engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, and applied technology.
Illinois Tech is one of just 21 schools that are members of the Association of Independent Technological Universities (AITU), a group of private engineering colleges that includes Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and the Cooper Union. Illinois Tech attracts students from across the globe; 52% of undergraduates are classified as international students and come from 111 countries.
6. Wheaton College
Location: Wheaton, IL
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,119
Wheaton is a private college guided by the Christian faith. Its Christ at the Core curriculum fosters a distinctly Christian understanding of the liberal arts—combining traditional liberal arts classes with biblical and theological foundation courses.
Students at Wheaton are required to attend chapel three times a week to graduate (they’re allowed just 11 absences per semester). The school follows a strict set of rules known as the Community Covenant, which prohibits alcohol and tobacco and forbids premarital sex.
LGBTQ+ youth will want to know that Wheaton College makes Campus Pride’s Worst List, a list of the “absolute worst, most unsafe campuses for LGBTQ+ youth” in the United States.
7. Loyola University Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: 82%%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 12,538
Loyola University Chicago is one of the 27 Jesuit colleges in the U.S. The University stresses the Jesuit principle of cura personalis, which translates to “care for the whole person.” The school encourages students to not only grow their minds, but also their bodies and spirits. The Jesuit tradition also prioritizes community, and during the 2024-2025 academic year, Loyola students logged more than 240,000 volunteer hours annually in Chicago.
Loyola University Chicago is renowned for its stunning campus, situated in the heart of the city and on the shores of Lake Michigan. Architectural Digest ranked the University’s library among the world’s most beautiful. While the Chicago campus is what attracts many students, the school has another campus in Rome.
8. DePaul University
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,188
DePaul University offers more than 130 majors in fields ranging from Accountancy to Women’s and Gender Studies. It even provides unique majors like Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies; Comedy Arts; and Jazz Studies. The university features a low 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small classes (the average class size is roughly 20 ). 97% of courses are taught by professors.
Chicago plays a large role in the education of DePaul students. Approximately 124,000 alumni live in the Chicago metro area and thousands of internship and career opportunities are available to students. Students are encouraged to get off campus and explore—they receive an unlimited pass (for the time they’re enrolled) on CTA buses and trails, allowing them to take in the culture of one of the nation’s largest and most interesting cities.
9. Augustana College
Location: Rock Island, IL
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,522
Augustana is a small private liberal arts college that has taken big steps to improve its affordability. It’s committed to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need of high-achieving students from families with lower incomes. Every student may receive up to $2,000 through Augie Choice to support an internship, research project, or travel experience.
Augustana College believes in the power of mentorship. First-year students are supported by a first-year advisor, a first-year peer group, and an advisor in their major and minor fields. A network of advisors and career coaches continues to provide assistance throughout a student’s entire college experience.
10. Bradley University
Location: Peoria, IL
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,596
Bradley was founded in 1897 and originally called the Bradley Polytechnic Institute. The University is located in Peoria, which is three hours from Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, offering students a vast number of internship and career opportunities. Peoria is the second-largest metropolitan area in Illinois and offers a charming blend of big-city benefits and small-town charm.
Bradley’s architecture is notable in Peoria. Its ten-story residence hall is the tallest point in the area, while the University’s Olin Hall has a greenhouse on its rooftop. The University’s Bradley Hall, Westlake Hall, Hayden-Clark Alumni Center, and Hartmann Center all feature limestone from the same Indiana quarry.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Whether you’re applying to an elite Ivy or to one of the best schools in Illinois, CollegeVine can help add clarity to college admissions. The ten schools listed above are highly selective, but your odds will vary based on the strength of your personal profile.
CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator uses data points like GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities to estimate your admissions odds at more than 1,600 schools nationwide. It can even show you how you stack up against the competition.
