Best Illinois Liberal Arts Colleges
Wheaton College ranked first and Augustana College ranked second in 2025 Liberal Arts Colleges rankings in Illinois. (Read our ranking methodology and know how to rank.)
The following list summarizes the core statistics for top 7 Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois. You can check the schools in the comparison table below.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the top 7 Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois is $48,572.
- The average graduate tuition & fees of the top 7 Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois is $27,585.
- The average SAT score is 1,265 and the average acceptance rate is 75.04%.
- The average number of students is 2,722 and the students to faculty ratio is 11 to 1.
- The average graduation rate is 79.00%.
Best Illinois Liberal Arts Colleges Comparison Table
The following table shows Best Illinois Liberal Arts Colleges. You can sort the table by column by clicking/touching column titles and narrow down the college list by using buttons below.
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheaton College Wheaton, IL | $45,546 | $20,160 | 1,380 | 87% | 2,874 | 85% | 10 to 1 |
| 2 | Augustana College Rock Island, IL | $51,598 | $35,010 | 1,150 | 63% | 2,570 | 73% | 12 to 1 |
| 3 | Monmouth College Monmouth, IL | $44,922 | - | 1,110 | 91% | 713 | 65% | 9 to 1 |
| 4 | Principia College Elsah, IL | $34,680 | - | - | - | 339 | 74% | 6 to 1 |
| 5 | Illinois College Jacksonville, IL | $38,676 | $18,300 | 1,055 | 78% | 942 | 64% | 12 to 1 |
| 6 | Hebrew Theological College Skokie, IL | $15,150 | $5,550 | - | 57% | 182 | 50% | 5 to 1 |
| 7 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL | $56,402 | $16,880 | 1,320 | 57% | 1,837 | 78% | 13 to 1 |
| Average | $48,572 | $27,585 | 1,265 | 75% | 2,722 | 79% | 11 to 1 |
Illinois Colleges by Ranking and School Type