Illinois Public Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 10 public Illinois colleges that have competitive admission is 72.30% for the academic year 2023-2024. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is higher by 1.29%. The acceptance rate at 4 public Illinois colleges increased and the rate of 5 colleges decreased.

Chicago State University has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 41.00%. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (44.00%) and Eastern Illinois University (68.00%) are following it in the list of Tightest Illinois Public Colleges to get in.

This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.

Chicago State University ranked 1st, up 1 place from 2nd last year. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranked second, a drop from first place last year.

The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $19,708 and graduate tuition & fees is $19,553 for the academic year 2023-2024.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.
Table. Tightest Illinois Public Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
1
Chicago State University Chicago, ILPublic, 4-year 41.00%
7.51%
6.01%-$12,754
($12,754)
2,31727.00%11 to 1
2
1
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, ILPublic, 4-year 44.00%
0.82%
28.00%1,410$39,192
($18,060)
56,91684.00%21 to 1
3
2
Eastern Illinois University Charleston, ILPublic, 4-year 68.00%
0.04%
10.00%1,010$15,566
($13,124)
8,85754.00%15 to 1
4
2
Northern Illinois University Dekalb, ILPublic, 4-year 70.00%
0.68%
13.00%-$12,506
($12,506)
15,64953.00%14 to 1
4
-
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, ILPublic, 4-year 70.00%
7.30%
8.99%-$22,726
($12,383)
5,75618.00%9 to 1
6
1
Western Illinois University Macomb, ILPublic, 4-year 75.00%
-
15.00%-$14,085
($14,085)
7,64347.00%13 to 1
7
1
University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublic, 4-year 79.00%
0.31%
23.00%1,230$31,505
($15,816)
33,74761.00%18 to 1
8
1
Illinois State University Normal, ILPublic, 4-year 89.00%
2.76%
22.00%1,110$23,479
($14,121)
20,68366.00%19 to 1
9
1
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublic, 4-year 90.00%
1.50%
17.00%1,020$13,244
($13,244)
11,10749.00%11 to 1
10
1
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Edwardsville, ILPublic, 4-year 97.00%
0.51%
18.00%1,030$12,025
($12,025)
12,51953.00%15 to 1
Average72.30%16.10%1,135$19,708
($13,812)
17,51951.20%15 to 1