Top Illinois Colleges and Universities (2009-2010)

This article ranks the top Illinois colleges and universities by average (midhinge) ACT Composite scores for recent enrollees.

The ACT college placement exam comprises four sections: English, mathematics, reading, and science. An "ACT Composite" score is an average mark on all four sections. A perfect ACT Composite score is 36.

Ranking Illinois colleges and universities by average ACT Composite scores is the best methodology for several reasons. First, Illinois is a so-called "ACT state" where more students sit for the ACT exam than the SAT. Second, every leading Illinois college and university reports ACT Composite scores, but not necessarily SAT scores. Finally, it is implicitly recognized that ACT Composite scores are the preferred measure of preparedness when applying to top Illinois colleges and universities. By way of example, 99% of recent enrollees at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign submitted ACT Composite scores with their applications compared to just 26% who proffered SAT results.

The following are the top Illinois colleges and universities along with their locations, average ACT Composite scores, acceptance rates, and enrollment rates.

1. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Northwestern University

Location: Evanston, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 31.5
Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment Rate: 32%

2. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: University of Chicago

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 30.5
Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment Rate: 36%

3. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Wheaton College

Location: Wheaton, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 29
Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment Rate: 46%

4. (tie) Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign

Location: Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 28.5
Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment Rate: 41%

4. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Knox College

Location: Galesburg, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 28.5
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Enrollment Rate: 20%

5. (tie) Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Illinois Institute of Technology

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 28
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment Rate: 26%

5. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Illinois Wesleyan University

Location: Bloomington, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 28
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment Rate: 29%

6. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Loyola University Chicago

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 26.5
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment Rate: 15%

7. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Augustana College

Location: Rock Island, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 25.5
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment Rate: 23%

8. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Principia College

Location: Eliah, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 25
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment Rate: 97%

9. (tie) Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Bradley University

Location: Peoria, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 24.5
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Enrollment Rate: 24%

9. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: North Central College

Location: Naperville, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 24.5
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment Rate: 29%

10. (tie) Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: DePaul University

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 24
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment Rate: 31%

10. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Illinois State University

Location: Normal, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 24
Acceptance Rate: 62%
Enrollment Rate: 35%

10. Top Illinois Colleges and Universities: Elmhurst College

Location: Elmhurst, Illinois
Average ACT Composite Score: 24
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment Rate: 30%

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NOTE: Specialty colleges and universities with limited courses of study, and institutions with "open admission" policies, are not included in these rankings.

Source(s):

"COLLEGE Navigator," ies NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS