Best STEM Colleges in Illinois

Within the state of Illinois, multiple institutions, from elite private universities to massive public universities to community colleges offer STEM programs. There are also a variety of STEM colleges that offer financial aid.

Whether you're an in-state or out-of-state student or even an international student, there's a STEM program in Illinois for you. Keep reading to learn more about the best STEM colleges in Illinois.

Top STEM Colleges in Illinois

Illinois is home to many large universities and small colleges that offer top STEM programs. Below, we've listed some of the best universities and colleges for STEM in Illinois.

1. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is a public research university in Champaign. It's one of the top centers for STEM research in the world, championing research in supercomputing, genomics, natural sciences, and more.

U.S. News and World Report lists it as ninth on its ranking of the best engineering colleges, making it one of the best STEM degree programs in the U.S.

UIUC offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees in STEM fields such as:

• aerospace engineering
• agricultural and biological engineering
• biochemistry
• computer science

The university offers many of its master's degrees online as well as a small number of its bachelor's degrees. It's an excellent option for affordable online STEM degrees.

2. Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston. It's a prolific leader in STEM research, with facilities dedicated to fields like astrophysics, engineering, quantum devices, and nanotechnology.

STEM majors offered by Northwestern include:

• chemical engineering
• global health studies
• physics and astronomy
• science in human culture

Northwestern doesn't offer online degrees to undergrad students, but it does offer them to grad students. With the university's commitment to offering financial aid to all students who need it, master's students could be eligible for free online STEM degrees.

3. Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology is a private research university in Chicago. The university includes two STEM-focused colleges: a computing school and an engineering school, and is often highly ranked for its engineering programs.

Illinois Tech offers a variety of STEM majors, including:

• computer engineering
• electrical engineering
• environmental chemistry
• molecular biochemistry and biophysics

4. University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is another private research university in Chicago. It is home to several STEM research institutions, including the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Argonne National Laboratory.

STEM degree programs available at the University of Chicago include:

• computational and applied mathematics
• molecular engineering
• physics
• statistics

5. University of Illinois Chicago

The University of Illinois Chicago is a public research university in Chicago. It offers many highly-ranked STEM programs, particularly through its graduate school.

UIC offers degrees in STEM fields such as:

• biochemistry
• chemical engineering
• computer science
• public health

6. DePaul University

DePaul University is a private Catholic research university in Chicago. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs as well as some of the best online STEM degrees in Illinois.

STEM degrees at DePaul University are available in areas of study like:

• astrophysics
• cybersecurity
• environmental science
• neuroscience

7. Lewis University

Lewis University is a private Catholic university in Romeoville. It offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and a few doctoral degrees.

The university has several STEM programs, including degree programs in:

• aerospace studies
• computer science
• electrical engineering
• psychology

8. Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), a public research university, contains several colleges, including two STEM-focused colleges: the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences and the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics.

STEM majors offered at SIUC include:

• agricultural sciences
• chemical engineering
• forestry
• microbiology

9. Bradley University

Bradley University is a private university in Peoria. It offers primarily bachelor's degrees and master's degrees.

The university runs several STEM programs, including degrees in:

• cybersecurity
• electrical engineering
• nutrition and dietetics
• quality engineering

10. Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Bloomington. It offers only undergraduate degrees but has research opportunities for undergraduate students.

STEM majors offered at Illinois Wesleyan include:

• biochemistry
• computer science
• exercise science
• mathematics

11. Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University is a public research university in DeKalb. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs and is part of the Universities Research Association.

NIU offers degrees in STEM fields such as:

• biomedical engineering
• environmental studies
• geology
• physics

12. Elmhurst University

Elmhurst University is a private university in Elmhurst. It offers bachelor's degrees as well as master's degrees.

STEM majors found at Elmhurst include:

• biochemistry
• computer game and entertainment technology
• information systems
• psychology

13. Wheaton College

Wheaton College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Wheaton. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs based in an evangelical curriculum.

Wheaton offers a few STEM degrees, including majors like:

• biochemistry and molecular biology
• conservation and ecological health
• neuroscience
• nursing

14. Augustana College

Augustana College is a private Christian college in Rock Island. It focuses on liberal arts and sciences programs and primarily enrolls undergraduate students.

STEM degrees at Augustana include:

• astronomy
• computer science
• environmental studies
• public health

15. University of St. Francis

The University of St. Francis is a private Catholic university based in Joliet. It offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.

St. Francis offers several STEM degrees, such as:

• industrial and organizational psychology
• information technology
• mathematics
• web application development

FAQs About STEM Colleges in Illinois

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about STEM colleges in Illinois.

Which Illinois College Has the Best STEM Program?

STEM is a broad field, and some colleges in Illinois are better for some fields of STEM than others. For example, according to the U.S. News and World Report, the following colleges excel in different areas:

• UIUC is best for engineering.
• Northwestern is best for chemistry.
• The University of Chicago is best for biological sciences.

What Is the Hardest Illinois College To Get Into?

The hardest Illinois college to get into is the University of Chicago, with an acceptance rate of only 5%, followed by Northwestern University with an acceptance rate of only 7%. On the other hand, UIUC has an acceptance rate of 44% and DePaul University has an acceptance rate of 74%.

Which Illinois University Is Best for Computer Science?

According to U.S. News and World Report, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the best Illinois university for computer science and ranked 5th in computer science schools across the country. It's followed by the University of Chicago at the 24th spot and Northwestern University at 27th.