10 Colleges in Illinois With High Acceptance Rates 2026

Applying to colleges should be exciting, but if your GPA isn't the best, it can feel daunting and stressful instead. For students who struggled in high school, choosing an institution with high acceptance rates can help you start your education despite low grades.

Many schools throughout the country, including several in Illinois, accept most or all applicants. Keep reading to discover universities and colleges in Illinois with high acceptance rates.

Are There Good Universities With High Acceptance Rates in Illinois?

Illinois has many excellent universities, and this includes those with high acceptance rates. While it's true that some of the most academically rigorous colleges in the state have very low acceptance rates, acceptance rates themselves are not necessarily an indicator of how good the school is.

What Is Considered a High Acceptance Rate for Colleges in Illinois?

In general, a high acceptance rate is considered anything over 50%, meaning that the majority of applicants get in. That being said, an abnormally high acceptance rate in Illinois would be a rate above 90%. Of the nearly 100 nonprofit four-year institutions in Illinois, less than 20 have admissions rates over 90%.

What Are the Easiest Colleges to Get Into in Illinois?

The easiest colleges to get into in Illinois are open-admission universities. These universities will accept all students so long as they meet the minimum requirements, usually a bachelor's degree.

Most community colleges are open admissions. There are also three four-year open admissions schools in Illinois: Governors State University, East-West University, and St. Augustine College.

Outside of open admissions schools, other easy colleges to get into in Illinois include:

• Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville: 97% acceptance rate
• Greenville University: 95% acceptance rate
• Roosevelt University: 94% acceptance rate

Best Colleges in Illinois With the Highest Acceptance Rates

High acceptance rate schools can be a great option if your GPA and test scores aren't where you want them to be. Below, we've highlighted the colleges with high acceptance rates in Illinois.

1. Governors State University

Governors State University is a public institution in University Park, IL. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in-person and online.

These programs are available in areas like business, healthcare, social sciences, and technology. Admissions requirements for freshmen include a high school diploma or GED and a minimum 2.0 GPA; test scores are optional.

• Acceptance rate: Open
• Estimated tuition cost: $12,004 per year
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. East-West University

At East-West University, students can earn undergraduate degrees. Fields of study include behavioral sciences, business, English, and technology.

East-West, a private liberal arts college, is located in Chicago. Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, and ACT/SAT test scores are recommended but not required.

• Acceptance rate: Open
• Estimated tuition cost: $25,395 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

3. St. Augustine College

St. Augustine College offers undergraduate degrees in areas like business, education, healthcare, and liberal arts. St. Augustine is a private, nonprofit school in Chicago.

It's run by Lewis University and is specifically designed to help individuals of Hispanic descent and other underrepresented groups. For admissions, students must be at least 17 years old and have completed a high school diploma or equivalent. The school offers bilingual services and has systems in place to assist undocumented and DACA students.

• Acceptance rate: Open
• Estimated tuition cost: $13,688 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

4. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

On-campus and online programs are available from the bachelor's through the doctoral level at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Fields of study include business, education, engineering, and health sciences.

SIUE, located in Edwardsville, IL, is a public university. Students with a 2.6 GPA, a 2.0 plus a 990 SAT or 19 ACT, or who rank in the top 10% of their high school class are automatically accepted. All others are assessed by the admissions committee.

• Acceptance rate: 97%
• Estimated tuition cost: $12,922 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

5. Greenville University

Greenville University is a private Christian school in Greenville, IL. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees in-person and online in areas like:

• business
• education
• humanities
• natural sciences

The application for Greenville requires students to send in their high school transcripts. Test scores will be considered, but students are not required to submit them.

• Acceptance rate: 95%
• Estimated tuition cost: $32,200 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

6. Roosevelt University

Through Roosevelt University, students can earn associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in person or online. Fields of study include business, education, healthcare, and the arts.

Roosevelt University, a private, nonprofit institution, is located in Chicago. It requires first-year applicants to have a high school degree or equivalent with a 2.0 minimum GPA.

• Acceptance rate: 94%
• Estimated tuition cost: $21,315 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

7. Concordia University Chicago

Concordia University Chicago offers on-campus and online undergraduate and graduate degrees. It's a member of the private Christian Concordia University system and is based in River Forest, IL.

Programs here are available in areas like business, education, healthcare, and social sciences. First-year applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum 2.0 GPA.

• Acceptance rate: 93%
• Estimated tuition cost: $37,488 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

8. National Louis University

Associate through doctoral degrees are available on campus and online from National Louis University (NLU). Fields of study include business, computer science, education, and social sciences.

NLU, located in Chicago, is a nonprofit, private university. Undergraduate students must submit their high school transcripts for admissions.

• Acceptance rate: 93%
• Estimated tuition cost: $12,705 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

9. Columbia College Chicago

Columbia College Chicago is a private, nonprofit university in Chicago primarily focused on the arts. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees in areas like:

• fashion design
• graphic design
• music
• theater

Applicants must submit their high school transcripts and a writing sample. Depending on the program, they may also need to submit a portfolio or attend an audition or interview.

• Acceptance rate: 91%
• Estimated tuition cost: $34,088 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

10. Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Through Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU), students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Fields of study include business, education, engineering, and health sciences.

SIU, a public research university, is located in Carbondale, IL. Freshman with a minimum GPA of 2.7, a minimum 1130 SAT or 23 ACT, or who ranked in the top 10% of their high school class are automatically accepted. All other applicants will be individually assessed.

• Acceptance rate: 90%
• Estimated tuition cost: $13,334 per year
• Accreditation: HLC

Admissions Requirements for Colleges With High Acceptance Rates in Illinois

Even high-acceptance colleges have a few admissions requirements for students. These usually include:

• a high school diploma or equivalent (if you're finishing high school, you'll submit your current transcripts)
• a minimum GPA
• the ability to learn in English

Most of the schools listed above do not require ACT or SAT test scores, though they will accept them if you submit them.

FAQs About Colleges in Illinois With High Acceptance Rates

Several Illinois colleges offer high acceptance rates. We've answered some frequently asked questions about these schools so you can determine if one may be a good option for you.

Are There Open Admissions Colleges in Illinois?

There are a few open admissions options in Illinois. The first option is community colleges, which are ideal for students seeking to earn their general education credits at a low cost or those pursuing careers in the trades.

There are three four-year open admissions schools in Illinois as well. These are Governors State University, East-West University, and St. Augustine College. Additionally, SIU and SIUE offer automatic admissions to students who meet certain requirements.

What Is the Hardest School To Get Into in Illinois?

The hardest school to get into in Illinois is the University of Chicago, which has a 5% admission rate. It's closely followed by Northwestern University, which has a 7% acceptance rate.

What College in Illinois Has a 100% Acceptance Rate?

The only colleges in Illinois with 100% acceptance rates are open admissions colleges. Outside of those, the closest is SIUE, with a 97% acceptance rate.

What Is the #1 Rated College in Illinois?

Which colleges are the best in Illinois depends on who you ask, but typically, the University of Chicago or Northwestern University takes the top spot. The best public college is generally considered to be the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Explore Colleges in Illinois

Start your journey toward earning a degree in Illinois by exploring the high-acceptance schools featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.