State Hub

Colleges in Illinois

CampusPin tracks 150 colleges in Illinois — 91 universities and 59 community colleges. Compare tuition, acceptance, size, and setting to build a shortlist that fits.

Colleges tracked

150

Universities

91

Community colleges

59

Avg. in-state tuition

$19k

About college search in Illinois

How Illinois's higher-education landscape shapes a search

Illinois’s public higher-education sector is anchored by the University of Illinois System with three campuses (Urbana-Champaign flagship, Chicago, and Springfield). Other major publics include Illinois State University (Normal), Northern Illinois University (DeKalb), Southern Illinois University (Carbondale and Edwardsville), Eastern Illinois (Charleston), Western Illinois (Macomb), Chicago State (HBCU-aligned predominantly Black institution), and Governors State. The private sector is unusually deep: Northwestern (Evanston), the University of Chicago, IIT, Loyola Chicago, DePaul, and many liberal-arts colleges. The Illinois Community College System operates 48 community college districts — one of the larger CC networks in the U.S.

The Monetary Award Program (MAP grant) supports eligible in-state students; the AIM HIGH program adds merit-based grants at public universities. Geography matters — students searching in Illinois typically narrow first between the Chicago metro and downstate institutions.

U of I System (3 campuses)

The University of Illinois System runs Urbana-Champaign (flagship), Chicago (UIC), and Springfield.

48 community college districts

The Illinois Community College Board coordinates 48 community college districts — one of the larger CC networks in the U.S. The Illinois Articulation Initiative formalizes transfer.

Northwestern and U Chicago private anchors

Northwestern (Evanston) and the University of Chicago are major private research universities in the Chicago metro.

MAP and AIM HIGH grants

The Monetary Award Program (MAP) is a need-based grant for in-state students at Illinois colleges. AIM HIGH adds merit-based grants at public universities. Verify eligibility with the institution.

Public university system

U of I System + Illinois state universities

Illinois’s public four-year sector includes the U of I System (Urbana, Chicago, Springfield) and the state universities (ISU, NIU, SIU Carbondale and Edwardsville, EIU, WIU, Chicago State, Governors State, Northeastern Illinois).

Community college network

Illinois Community College System (48 districts)

Illinois operates 48 community college districts coordinated by the Illinois Community College Board. The Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) formalizes credit transfer to four-year public and many private institutions.

In-state vs. out-of-state tuition

Illinois in-state public tuition at U of I is in the upper range of U.S. publics. State universities and community colleges post materially lower rates. The MAP grant reduces costs for eligible in-state students. Verify residency rules with the institution.

Top metros for college search

Where Illinois's higher-education density concentrates

  • Chicago metro

    Chicago concentrates Northwestern (Evanston), the University of Chicago, UIC, DePaul, Loyola Chicago, IIT, Roosevelt, Columbia College Chicago, and the City Colleges of Chicago.

  • Champaign-Urbana

    Champaign-Urbana is built around the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the state’s primary public flagship.

  • Normal-Bloomington

    The Bloomington-Normal area hosts Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan (private).

  • Carbondale / Edwardsville

    Southern Illinois hosts SIU Carbondale and SIU Edwardsville, plus several community colleges across the region.

  • DeKalb / Charleston / Macomb

    Downstate regional university towns: DeKalb (NIU), Charleston (EIU), and Macomb (WIU).

Midwest region overview

What students weigh when searching colleges in Illinois

Across Illinois (IL), CampusPin currently indexes 150 institutions: 60 public and 90 private, split between 91 universities and 59 community colleges. Students often balance affordability, campus culture, public systems, and the tradeoff between local value and out-of-state reach.

Use size and setting filters after your first pass to separate flagship, regional, and smaller-campus experiences.
Look closely at support services and career pathways when several schools seem similar on cost.
Keep community-college transfer routes in the mix when price discipline matters from day one.

Browse by major

Illinois colleges by program

Jump straight to Illinois colleges and universities that offer a specific major. Each page compares tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment for that program across Illinois.

Every college we track

Colleges and universities in Illinois

Showing 60 of 150 — use search or filters to see the rest.

Filter all Illinois schools

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How to use the Illinois hub

Start with CampusPin results filtered to Illinois so your first pass stays geographically focused.
Use school profiles to compare tuition, admissions, program format, and campus fit before building a shortlist.
If you are looking for lower-cost or transfer-first options, compare community colleges and four-year destinations separately.
Use blog guides and help-center content when you need stronger decision frameworks, not just more schools.

Next actions for Illinois

Explore all colleges in IllinoisView community colleges in IllinoisView online programs in IllinoisRead planning guides before you compare

Frequently asked questions

Questions families ask about colleges in Illinois

Which is the public flagship university in Illinois?
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the state’s primary public flagship and land-grant research university. UIC (University of Illinois Chicago) is the system’s major urban research presence.
How does the MAP grant work?
The Monetary Award Program (MAP) is a state need-based grant for eligible Illinois residents attending eligible Illinois colleges and universities. Award amounts are tied to financial need and state funding levels — verify current details with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the institution.
How many HBCUs are in Illinois?
Illinois has no federally designated HBCUs. Chicago State University is a predominantly Black public institution with strong historical ties to the Black community in Chicago but is not federally designated as an HBCU.
How does the Illinois Articulation Initiative help transfer students?
The IAI is a statewide framework for general-education and major-pathway credit transfer between Illinois community colleges, public universities, and many participating private colleges. Students completing the IAI General Education Core can transfer those credits to any participating institution.

Related blog clusters

Guides that pair well with a Illinois search

Cost and Financial Aid

College affordability, net price, aid interpretation, borrowing decisions, and budgeting guidance for students and families using CampusPin to compare higher-ed options with more discipline.

Community College

Community-college strategy, affordability, transfer readiness, and credential pathway content for students exploring two-year options through CampusPin.

College Search Strategy

Filter-first search strategy, shortlist building, and planning content for students and parents using CampusPin to discover best-fit colleges and universities.

Help Center

Workflow guides for students searching in Illinois

Getting Started With CampusPin

A fast orientation to the CampusPin workflow, from your first search through profile review, pins, and next-step planning.

How to Use Filters to Narrow Your College List

A practical help article on how to use CampusPin filters without over-filtering or locking yourself into the wrong criteria too early.

How to Read a CampusPin School Profile

A guide to the major sections inside a CampusPin institution profile and how to interpret them effectively. Each page is designed to connect search intent to clearer next steps, internal links, and more defensible CampusPin decisions.