List of colleges and universities in Illinois.
Public colleges and universities
Four-year institutions
Chicago State University: Chicago State University was established in 1867 and is home to 4,767 students. Its mascot is the Cougar. Current president of the university is Thomas J. Calhoon. It was founded through the efforts of John F. Eberhart under the name of Cook County Normal School. The acceptance rate of the university is 43%.Visit Site
Eastern Illinois University: Eastern Illinois University was founded in 1895 and it’s enrollment is 8,913 students. David M. Glassman is the president of the university. The acceptance rate is 68% and the mascot is the Panther.Visit Site
Governors State University: Governors State University is home to 7,775 students. It was established in 1969 and its mascot is the Jaguar. The president is Elaine P. Maimon and the university holds a 94.3% acceptance rate.Visit Site
Illinois State University: Illinois State University was founded in 1857 and has an enrollment of 20,788 students. The Reggie Redbird is the mascot and the university has a 74% acceptance rate. Larry Dietz is the current president.Visit Site
Northeastern Illinois University: Northeastern Illinois University is home to 10,275 students with an acceptance rate of 64%. The university mascot is the Golden Eagle and Dr. Sharon K. Hahs is the president. It was founded in 1949.Visit Site
Northern Illinois University: Northern Illinois University was established in 1895. The enrollment is 20,130 students and Douglas D. Baker is the current president of the university. The Huskie is the mascot. Northern Illinois has an acceptance rate of 50.9%.Visit Site
Southern Illinois University: Southern Illinois University was founded in 1869 and its acceptance rate is 79.3%. The university is home to 17,989 students with Randy Dunn as its president. The mascots are the Gray and Brown Dawgs.Visit Site
University of Illinois at Chicago: University of Illinois at Chicago has an enrollment of 29,048 students with an acceptance rate of 72.7%. It was founded in 1858. Sparky D. Dragon is the school mascot. The president of the whole system of Illinois universities is Timothy L. Killeen.Visit Site
University of Illinois at Springfield: University of Illinois at Springfield was founded in 1969. It holds a 60% acceptance rate and enrolls 5,431 students. Timothy L. Killeen is the president of the university and of the Illinois school system. The Prairie Stars name their mascots after constellations, with Orion being the current one.Visit Site
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is a university of 44,087 students, founded in 1867. Timothy L. Killen is the president of the university. It has no official mascot since 2007. The acceptance rate runs at 62.7%.Visit Site
Western Illinois University: Western Illinois University was established in 1899 and has a 66% acceptance rate. Jack Thomas is the current president of the university. It is home to 11,458 students and has Rocky the Bulldog as the mascot.Visit Site
Private institutions
Colleges
Augustana College: Augustana College is home to 2,524 students. It has a 62% acceptance rate and the Viking as its mascot. It was founded in 1860 by the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod. The current president is Steven C. Bahls.Visit Site
Blackburn College: Blackburn College was founded in 1837 by Gideon Blackburn. Dr. John Cornerford is the president of Blackburn. It holds a 68% acceptance rate and enrolls 598 students. Barney the Beaver is the mascot.Visit Site
Columbia College Chicago: Columbia College Chicago was established in 1890 by William Russo. Its current president is Kwang-Wu Kim. It has an acceptance rate of 90.5% and enrollment of 9,442 students. The mascot of the university is the Renegade.Visit Site
Elmhurst College: Elmhurst College has an acceptance rate of 72%. It was founded in 1871 by Jennie and Thomas Bryan. Today it has an enrollment of 3,200 students with Dr. Troy VanAken serving as the president. The Bluejay is the mascot of Elmhurst.Visit Site
Eureka College: Eureka College was founded in 1855 and holds 785 students. The mascot of the university is the Red Devil. Jamel Santa Cruz Bell is the current president of Eureka. The acceptance rate is 72%.Visit Site
Greenville College: Greenville College is home to 1,100 students. It was founded in 1892 by Stephen Morse and Almira Blanchard. It has an acceptance rate of 74%. The current president of Greenville is Ivan Fibly and the Panther is the mascot.Visit Site
Illinois College: Illinois College was founded in 1829 by Rev. John M. Ellis. Dr. Barbara A. Farley is the current president. It enrolls approximately 1000 students and has a 65% acceptance rate. The school mascots are the Blueboys and the Lady Blues.Visit Site
Knox College: Knox College has an acceptance rate of 72%. It was founded in 1837 by George Washington Gale. It is home to 1,420 students. Teresa Arnott is the current school president. Prairie Fire is the school mascot.Visit Site
Lake Forest College: Lake Forest College was founded by Robert W. Patterson in 1857. It has an acceptance rate of 54% and enrolls 1,592 students. Stephen D. Schutt is Lake Forest’s president. The school mascot is Boomer the Bear.Visit Site
Lakeview College of Nursing: Lakeview College of Nursing was founded in 1894. Its current president is Shella Mingee and the school has an enrollment of 302 students. The acceptance rate is 81%. Lakeview has no mascot.Visit Site
Lincoln College: Lincoln College has an enrollment of 1,100 students with an acceptance rate of 74%. Its mascot is the Lynx. It was founded in 1865 and the current president is Dr. David Gerlach.Visit Site
MacMurray College: MacMurray College has an acceptance rate of 71%. It has an enrollment of 570 students with the Highlander as the mascot. It was founded in 1846 by Methodist clergymen. Mark Tierno is the current school president.Visit Site
Monmouth College: Monmouth College was founded by the Second Presbytery of Illinois in 1853. Its mascots are the Big Red and the Fighting Scot. The approximate enrollment is at 1,300 students. The acceptance rate is 65%. Clarence Wyatt is the school president.Visit Site
North Central College: North Central College was established in 1861. It has an enrollment of 2,989 students with the Cardinal being their mascot . Troy D. Hammond is North Central’s president. The acceptance rate is at 65%.Visit Site
Principia College: Principia College was founded in 1912 by Mary Kimball Morgan. The school has 480 students and an 80% acceptance rate. The president of the college is Dr. Jonathan Palmer. The Principia Panther is the mascot of the college.Visit Site
Saint Anthony College of Nursing: Saint Anthony College of Nursing is a nursing school in Rockford, Illinois that was founded in 1915. The current president of the college is Sandie Soldwisch.Visit Site
Shimer College: Shimer College was founded in 1853 as the Mt. Carroll Seminary by Frances Shimer and Cinderella Gregory. The school has 125 students on an average and has an acceptance rate of 46.3%. The current president of the school is Susan Henking. The mascot of the school is Flaming Smelt.Visit Site
Trinity Christian College: Trinity Christian College was established in 1952. The school enrolls about 1,500 students and has an acceptance rate of about 46%. The president of the college is Kurt D. Dykstra. The college mascot is Troll.Visit Site
Trinity International University: Trinity International University was founded in 1897. The school enrolls about 2,500 students and has an acceptance rate of about 98%. The president of the university is David Dockery.Visit Site
VanderCook College of Music: VanderCook College of Music was founded by Hale Ascher VanderCook in 1909. The school has about 400 students and an acceptance rate of about 69%. The current president of the school is Dr. Charles T. Menghini.Visit Site
Wheaton College: Wheaton College was established in 1860. The college has about 3,000 students on its rolls and an acceptance rate of 65%. The current president of the college is Philip Graham Ryken. Thunder is the college mascot.Visit Site
Universities
Aurora University: Aurora University was founded as Mendota Seminary in 1893. The university has about 5,000 students and an acceptance rate of 74%. The current president of the university is Rebecca L. Sherrick.Visit Site
Benedictine University: Benedictine University was established in 1887. The university has about 6,000 students and an acceptance rate of 76%. The current president of the university is Michael S. Brophy. The mascot of the university is Eagle.Visit Site
Bradley University: Bradley University was founded as Bradley Polytechnic Institute by Lydia Moss Bradley in 1897. The university has an enrollment of about 5,500 students and an acceptance rate of 67%. The current president of the university is Gary R. Roberts. The university mascot is “Kaboom!” the gargoyle.Visit Site
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology was founded by the Midwestern Psychology Development Foundation in 1979. The school has over 4,300 students. The current president of the school is Michele Nealon-Woods.Visit Site
University of Chicago: The University of Chicago was established in 1890 with a donation from John D. Rockefeller. The university enrolls more than 15,000 students and has an acceptance rate of 7.8%. The president of the university is Robert J. Zimmer. Phoenix is the mascot of the university.Visit Site
Concordia University Chicago: Concordia University Chicago was founded by Friedrich Johann Carl Lochner and Philipp Fleischmann in 1855. The university has more than 5,000 students on its rolls and has an acceptance rate of 70%. The current president of the university is Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Gard. The mascot of the university is Charlie T. Cougar.Visit Site
DePaul University: DePaul University was founded in 1898 as St. Vincent’s College. The university has an enrollment of about 24,000 with an acceptance rate of 70%. The current president of the university is Dennis H. Holtschneider. The mascot of the university is DIBS (Devil In a Blue Suit).Visit Site
Dominican University: Dominican University was established in 1901. The school has enrolled about 3,900 students and has an acceptance rate of 59%. Donna M. Carroll is the current president of the university.Visit Site
East West University: East-West University was founded in 1980 by Dr. M. Wasiullah Khan. The university enrolls about 1,200 students. The current chancellor of the university is Dr. M. Wasiullah Khan. The mascot of the university is Phantoms.Visit Site
Erikson Institute: Erikson Institute was founded by Barbara T. Bowman in 1960. The institute enrolls about 300 students. The president of the institute is Geoffrey A. Nagle.Visit Site
Illinois Institute of Technology: Illinois Institute of Technology was founded in 1890. The university accepts about 8,000 students and has an acceptance rate of 50.6%. Alan W. Cramb is the president of the university. The university mascot is Talon the Hawk.Visit Site
Illinois Wesleyan University: Illinois Wesleyan University was established in 1890. The college has about 2,000 students on its rolls and has an acceptance rate of about 61%. The president of the college is Eric R. Jensen. Tommy the Titan is the college mascot.Visit Site
Judson University: Judson University was established in 1963. The university has about 1,200 students enrolled and has an acceptance rate of about 64%. The president of the university is Dr. Gene C. Crume, Jr. Eagles is the mascot of the university.Visit Site
Lewis University: Lewis University was founded by the Archdiocese of Chicago and Bishop Bernard J. Scheil in 1932. The university has about 7,000 students and an acceptance rate of 62%. The current president of the university is Br. James Gaffney. The university mascot is Bedcheck Charlie.Visit Site
Lincoln Christian University: Lincoln Christian University was founded in 1944. The university has about 1,000 students and an acceptance rate of about 45%. The president of the university is Don Green. Red Lions is the mascot of the university.Visit Site
Lindenwood University Belleville: Lindenwood University-Belleville was established in 2003. The university has about 2,300 students. Brett Barger is the current president of the university.Visit Site
Loyola University Chicago: Loyola University Chicago was established by Fr. Arnold Damen in 1870 as St. Ignatius College. The university has an enrollment of over 16,000 and an acceptance rate of about 71%. The university president is John Peter Pelissero. The university mascot is Lu Wolf.Visit Site
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago: Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago was founded in 1962. The school has about 200 students. The president of the school is Rev. Dr. James Nieman.Visit Site
McKendree University: McKendree University was established in 1828 by Bishop William McKendree, the first American-born bishop of the Methodist church. It has over 3000 students enrolled, with an acceptance rate of 61%. The school’s mascot is Bogey.Visit Site
Midwestern University: Midwestern University was established in 1900 by J. Martin Littlejohn, Ph.D. with the goal being to teach osteopathic medicine, surgery, anatomy and basic science. The current president is Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D. It has over 2900 students enrolled at its Downers Grove IL campus, and over 2300 students enrolled at its Glendale AZ campus. The acceptance rate is 61%. The school’s nickname is the Fighting Geese.Visit Site
Millikin University: Millikin University was founded in 1901 by prominent Decatur IL businessman James Millikin. The current president is Patrick E. White. It has 2400 students enrolled. The admission rate for Millikin University is 63%. The sports mascot is named Big Blue.Visit Site
Moody Bible Institute: Moody Bible Institute was founded in 1886 by Dwight Lyman Moody. The current president is Paul Nyquist. The institute has over 3700 students enrolled. The admission rate is 88%. The school mascot is the Archers.Visit Site
National Louis University: National Louis University was founded in 1886 by Elizabeth Harrison. The current president is Nivine Megahed, Ph. D. Over 4700 students are enrolled. The acceptance rate is 86%.Visit Site
National University of Health Sciences: National University of Health Sciences was founded in 1906 by John Fitz Allen Howard. The current president of university is Joseph P.D. Stiefel. Degree programs are offered in chiropractic, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, Chinese medicine and biomedical sciences. The university’s mascot is Cyggey the Swan.Visit Site
North Park University: North Park University was established in 1891 by E. August Skogsbergh. The current president is David Parkyn. There are over 3000 students enrolled. The school’s acceptance rate is 47%. The mascot for the university is the Viking.Visit Site
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary: Northern Baptist Theological Seminary was founded in 1917. It’s current president is William D. Shiell. The schools current enrollment is 221 students.Visit Site
Northwestern University: Northwestern University was founded in 1851 by John Evans. The current president is Morton O. Schapiro. The institution has over 20,000 students enrolled, with an admission rate of 10.7%. The school nickname is the Wildcats. The mascot name is Willy the Wildcat.Visit Site
Olivet Nazarene University: Olivet Nazarene University was founded in 1907 by Mary Nesbitt. The current president John C. Bowling. There are over 6000 students enrolled. The acceptance rate is 80%. The mascot name is Toby the Tiger.Visit Site
Quincy University: Quincy University was established in 1860 by the Franciscan friars. The current president is Robert Gervasi. There are close to 1500 students enrolled. The school’s acceptance rate is 91%. The name of the mascot is “the Hawks”.Visit Site
Resurrection University: Resurrection University was established in 1914 by Dr. Charles E. Humiston. The current president is Therese A. Scanlan, EdD. It has a total enrollment of 406 students. There is no information available regarding the university’s acceptance rate.Visit Site
Robert Morris University: Robert Morris University was founded in 1921 by Andrew Blass. The current president is Christopher B. Howard. There are over 5000 students enrolled at this university. It’s acceptance rate is 80%. The school mascot’s name is RoMo.Visit Site
Rockford University: Rockford University was established in 1847. Dr. Robert L. Head is the current university president. There are around 1280 students enrolled here. The school has a 44% acceptance rate. The name of the mascot is Reggie the Regent.Visit Site
Roosevelt University: Roosevelt University was founded in 1945 by Edward J. Sparling. It’s current university president is Dr. Ali Malekzadeh. There are over 7300 students enrolled. The school’s acceptance rate is 74%.Visit Site
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science was founded in 1912. The current president is K. Michael Welch, MB, ChB, FRCP. The school’s enrollment is 2157 students. It has an acceptance rate of 1.5%.Visit Site
Rush University: Rush University was founded in 1837 by Daniel Brainard, M.D. The current president is Larry J. Goodman, M.D. There are nearly 2000 students enrolled. It has an acceptance rate of 75%.Visit Site
University of St. Francis: University of St. Francis was founded in 1920 by the Franciscan friars. The current president is Arvid C. Johnson III, Ph.D. There are around 3352 students enrolled. It has an enrollment rate of 45.5%. The mascot name is “the Fighting Saints”.Visit Site
Saint Xavier University: Saint Xavier University was founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy at the request of Bishop William Quarter. The current president is Christine Wiseman, J.D. There are about 6000 students enrolled. It has an admission rate of 83%. The school’s mascot is “the Cougars”.Visit Site
School of the Art Institute of Chicago: School of the Art Institute of Chicago was founded in 1866. The current president is Walter E. Massey, Ph.D. There are over 3000 students enrolled. It has an acceptance rate of 78%. The mascot is Artie the Lion.Visit Site
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership: Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership was established in 2007. The current president and CEO is President and CEO Dr. Hal M. Lewis.Visit Site
Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago: Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago was opened in 2003 and founded by the Toyota Technological Institute (TTI) of Japan.Visit Site
Trinity International University: Trinity International University was founded in 1897 by the Swedish Evangelical Free Church. The current president is David S. Dockery. It has approximately 3000 students enrolled. The school’s acceptance rate is 98%.Visit Site
Please let us know if we have missed any college and we will add it to the list.