Illinois Private Colleges

This a SMALL sample of the many great private colleges in Illinois.

These featured institutions have been popular choices of BGHS graduates.

Augustana College is a private Lutheran liberal arts college in Rock Island, Illinois. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Covering 115 acres (46.5 ha) of hilly, wooded land, Augustana is adjacent to the Mississippi River.Average cost without aid: $56,700. Average cost with aid: $23,310Graduation Rate: 77% Acceptance Rate: 64%U.S. News & World Report Overview

Bradley University

Bradley University is a private university in Peoria, Illinois. Founded in 1897, Bradley University currently enrolls 5,400 students who are pursuing degrees in more than 100 undergraduate programs and more than 30 graduate programs in five colleges.Average cost without aid: $48,990. Average cost with aid: $24,706Graduation Rate: 74% Acceptance Rate: 67%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Columbia College Chicago is a private college specializing in arts and media disciplines and located in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1890, it has 6,195 students pursuing degrees in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.Average cost without aid: $48,212. Average cost with aid: $30,924Graduation Rate: 43% Acceptance Rate: 87%U.S. News & World Report Overview
DePaul University is a private Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th-century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul. In 1998, it became the largest Catholic university by enrollment in the United States.Average cost without aid: $59,406. Average cost with aid: $28,410Graduation Rate: 73% Acceptance Rate: 68%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Elmhurst University is a private liberal arts college in Elmhurst, Illinois. The university has a tradition of service-oriented learning and an affiliation with the United Church of Christ. The university changed its name from Elmhurst College on July 1, 2020.Average cost without aid: $52,049. Average cost with aid: $21,304Graduation Rate: 69% Acceptance Rate: 67%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Illinois Wesleyan University is a private institution that was founded in 1850. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,629, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 82 acres. It utilizes a 4-4-1-based academic calendar.Average cost without aid: $63,840. Average cost with aid: $28,356Graduation Rate: 81% Acceptance Rate: 59%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Knox College is a private liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois. Knox College was founded in 1837 and offers more than 60 courses of study.Average cost without aid: $60,136. Average cost with aid: $21,359Graduation Rate: 78% Acceptance Rate: 74%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Lake Forest College is a private institution that was founded in 1857. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,538, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 107 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.Average cost without aid: $62,850. Average cost with aid: $24,923Graduation Rate: 70% Acceptance Rate: 58%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university in Romeoville, Illinois. The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students. Lewis offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, 22 graduate programs, and accelerated programs for working adults.Average cost without aid: $47,980. Average cost with aid: $18,531Graduation Rate: 61% Acceptance Rate: 58%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Loyola University Chicago is a private Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1870 by the Jesuits, Loyola is one of the largest Catholic universities in the United States.Average cost without aid: $63,123. Average cost with aid: $34,024Graduation Rate: 75% Acceptance Rate: 68%U.S. News & World Report Overview
National Louis University is a private institution. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,363, and the setting is Urban. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar.Average cost without aid: $31,830. Average cost with aid: $14,303Graduation Rate: 59% Acceptance Rate: 86%U.S. News & World Report Overview
North Central College is a private liberal arts college in Naperville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and has nearly 70 areas of study in undergraduate majors, minors, and programs through 19 academic departments organized in three undergraduate colleges/schools and a masters program.Average cost without aid: $54,326, Average cost with aid: $23,599Graduation Rate: 69% Acceptance Rate: 56%U.S. News & World Report Overview
North Park University is a private institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,909, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 33 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.Average cost without aid: $44,450, Average cost with aid: $19,707Graduation Rate: 53% Acceptance Rate: 47%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Northwestern University is a private institution that was founded in 1851. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,327, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 231 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar.Average cost without aid: $78,654. Average cost with aid: $24,840Graduation Rate: 94% Acceptance Rate: 8%U.S. News & World Report Overview
Quincy University is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university in Quincy, Illinois. It was founded in 1860 by Franciscan friars. The university enrolls about 1,100 students. Average cost without aid: $43,100. Average cost with aid: $13,869Graduation Rate: 50% Acceptance Rate: 68%U.S. News & World Report
Roosevelt University is a private university with campuses in Chicago, Peoria, Waukegan and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.Average cost without aid: $49,699. Average cost with aid: $22,702Graduation Rate: 61% Acceptance Rate: 65%
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1890, its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. It enrolled 16,445 students in Fall 2019, including 6,286 undergraduates and 10,159 graduate students.Average cost without aid: $81,531. Average cost with aid: $26,160Graduation Rate: 94% Acceptance Rate: 7%U.S. News & World Report
Wheaton College is an Evangelical Protestant liberal arts college and graduate school in Wheaton, Illinois. It was founded by evangelical abolitionists in 1860. Wheaton College was a stop on the Underground Railroad and graduated one of Illinois' first African-American college graduates.Average cost without aid: $51,130. Average cost with aid: $26,180Graduation Rate: 91% Acceptance Rate: 83%U.S. News & World Report