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Easiest colleges to get into in Illinois

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Illinois are DeVry University-Illinois (98%), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (98%) and Greenville University (98%), by the share of applicants admitted.

A high acceptance rate means the college admits most people who apply. Open-admission colleges admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. Each row also shows the average price after grants, so you can weigh the two.

The list (25 of 51)

Four-year colleges in Illinois with 500 or more undergraduates, open-admission colleges first, then the highest acceptance rate. The list shows 25 of the 51 colleges with an acceptance rate or open admission on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. DeVry University-Illinois 98% admitted Lisle, IL · Average price after grants: $35,665 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  2. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 98% admitted Edwardsville, IL · Average price after grants: $13,111 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  3. Greenville University 98% admitted Greenville, IL · Average price after grants: $20,905 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  4. Roosevelt University 97% admitted Chicago, IL · Average price after grants: $21,512 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  5. Benedictine University 95% admitted Lisle, IL · Average price after grants: $18,910 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. National Louis University 95% admitted Chicago, IL · Average price after grants: $10,364 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Rockford University 93% admitted Rockford, IL · Average price after grants: $22,581 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. Concordia University-Chicago 93% admitted River Forest, IL · Average price after grants: $17,217 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Monmouth College 91% admitted Monmouth, IL · Average price after grants: $17,612 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. Dominican University 90% admitted River Forest, IL · Average price after grants: $14,013 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. Columbia College Chicago 90% admitted Chicago, IL · Average price after grants: $36,529 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. Illinois State University 88% admitted Normal, IL · Average price after grants: $17,829 a year in-state, about $29,895 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. Wheaton College 87% admitted Wheaton, IL · Average price after grants: $26,059 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 87% admitted Carbondale, IL · Average price after grants: $12,554 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. University of Illinois Springfield 86% admitted Springfield, IL · Average price after grants: $7,528 a year in-state, about $17,683 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Eureka College 85% admitted Eureka, IL · Average price after grants: $21,198 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. Trinity Christian College 85% admitted Palos Heights, IL · Average price after grants: $15,155 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Saint Xavier University 84% admitted Chicago, IL · Average price after grants: $10,171 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. Moody Bible Institute 83% admitted Chicago, IL · Average price after grants: $19,426 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. Chamberlain University-Illinois 83% admitted Addison, IL · Average price after grants: $38,263 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  21. Aurora University 81% admitted Aurora, IL · Average price after grants: $19,385 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  22. Illinois College 78% admitted Jacksonville, IL · Average price after grants: $18,763 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. School of the Art Institute of Chicago 78% admitted Chicago, IL · Average price after grants: $53,331 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. University of Illinois Chicago 77% admitted Chicago, IL · Average price after grants: $9,540 a year in-state, about $25,642 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. North Central College 77% admitted Naperville, IL · Average price after grants: $22,836 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the easiest colleges to get into in Illinois?

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Illinois are DeVry University-Illinois (98%), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (98%) and Greenville University (98%), by the share of applicants admitted.

What acceptance rates do these colleges have?

The 25 colleges listed admitted 77% to 98% of applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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