Mahadev Maitri Foundation

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois

78 accredited institutions in Illinois offering liberal arts programs, ranked by annual graduates (IPEDS 2023–24).

78

Colleges

46,788

Graduates/yr

54

Public

Associate's

Top Degree

Ranked: Liberal Arts Programs in Illinois

PublicAssociate's

William Rainey Harper College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Moraine Valley Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

College of Lake County

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

College of DuPage

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Joliet Junior College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Illinois Central College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Elgin Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Rock Valley College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Waubonsee Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

McHenry County College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Lincoln Land Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Southwestern Illinois College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Lake Land College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Parkland College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Black Hawk College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

John A Logan College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Prairie State College

Chicago Heights

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

John Wood Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

South Suburban College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Carl Sandburg College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Lewis and Clark Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Danville Area Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Kankakee Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Rend Lake College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Kaskaskia College

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitMaster's

University of Chicago

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Spoon River College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Olney Central College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Richland Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Illinois State University

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Sauk Valley Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Shawnee Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Western Illinois University

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

DePaul University

Net Price <$30K

PublicAssociate's

Kishwaukee College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Highland Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Illinois Valley Community College

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Northern Illinois University

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Governors State University

University Park

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Northeastern Illinois University

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Eastern Illinois University

In-State Tuition

PublicAssociate's

Southeastern Illinois College

In-State Tuition

PublicBachelor's

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitAssociate's

St. Augustine College

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

Chicago State University

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Aurora University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitAssociate's

Loyola University Chicago

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Saint Xavier University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitAssociate's

Judson University

Net Price <$30K

PublicBachelor's

University of Illinois Springfield

In-State Tuition

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Olivet Nazarene University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Lewis University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Lake Forest College

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Trinity International University-Illinois

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Benedictine University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Bradley University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Greenville University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Elmhurst University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

University of St Francis

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Quincy University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitMaster's

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitDoctoral

Illinois Institute of Technology

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

Northwestern University

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitBachelor's

North Central College

Net Price <$30K

Private NonprofitAssociate's

Lincoln Christian University

Net Price <$30K

Studying Liberal Arts in Illinois

Illinois has 78 accredited colleges offering liberal arts programs, producing 46,788 graduates annually. Of these, 54 are public institutions with subsidized in-state tuition for Illinois residents.

When evaluating programs, consider accreditation, internship placement rates, and faculty expertise. Always file the FAFSA — the net price after grants can be dramatically lower than sticker tuition, especially at public institutions.

← All colleges in Illinois ← All states

Data source: Graduate counts from IPEDS 2023–24 C2023_A Completions survey (NCES). Tuition, acceptance rate, and graduation rate from IPEDS HD2023, ADM2023, DRVGR2023.