Students looking for the big city attractions shouldn’t overlook colleges in Chicago. It’s the 3rd largest city in the United States and has all the expected amenities to go with it. There are 39 colleges with at least 500 full-time undergraduates in the Chicago Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA). While 14 of them are 50-50 colleges, unfortunately only one is a public institution.
Colleges in Chicago
(Yellow indicates 50-50 Colleges)
|
Aurora University |
Aurora, IL |
|
Benedictine University |
Lisle, IL |
|
Carthage College |
Kenosha, WI |
|
Chicago State University |
Chicago, IL |
|
Columbia College Chicago |
Chicago, IL |
|
Concordia University-Chicago |
River Forest, IL |
|
DePaul University |
Chicago, IL |
|
Dominican University |
River Forest, IL |
|
Elmhurst College |
Elmhurst, IL |
|
Governors State University |
University Park, IL |
|
Illinois Institute of Technology |
Chicago, IL |
|
Indiana University-Northwest |
Gary, IN |
|
Judson University |
Elgin, IL |
|
Lake Forest College |
Lake Forest, IL |
|
Lewis University |
Romeoville, IL |
|
Loyola University Chicago |
Chicago, IL |
|
Moody Bible Institute |
Chicago, IL |
|
National Louis University |
Chicago, IL |
|
North Central College |
Naperville, IL |
|
North Park University |
Chicago, IL |
|
Northeastern Illinois University |
Chicago, IL |
|
Northern Illinois University |
Dekalb, IL |
|
Northwestern University |
Evanston, IL |
|
Olivet Nazarene University |
Bourbonnais, IL |
|
Purdue University Northwest |
Hammond, IN |
|
Resurrection University |
Chicago, IL |
|
Robert Morris University Illinois |
Chicago, IL |
|
Roosevelt University |
Chicago, IL |
|
Saint Augustine College |
Chicago, IL |
|
Saint Xavier University |
Chicago, IL |
|
School of the Art Institute of Chicago |
Chicago, IL |
|
Trinity Christian College |
Palos Heights, IL |
|
Trinity International University-Illinois |
Deerfield, IL |
|
University of Chicago |
Chicago, IL |
|
University of Illinois at Chicago |
Chicago, IL |
|
University of St Francis |
Joliet, IL |
|
University of Wisconsin-Parkside |
Kenosha, WI |
|
Valparaiso University |
Valparaiso, IN |
|
Wheaton College |
Wheaton, IL |
50-50 Colleges in Chicago (see list below)
The 50-50 colleges range in size from 678 undergraduates to over 19,000. Eleven of the schools are classified as primarily or highly residential. However, keep in mind just because a school is listed as primarily non-residential doesn’t mean dorms aren’t available. DePaul is one of those listed as nonresidential and it really doesn’t have a commuter school reputation.
Among the 50-50 colleges in Chicago, four are some version of test optional. The reported 75th% ACT scores ranged from a low of 24 to a high of 32 while the 75th% SAT scores ranged from 1130 to 1420. You can also find Phi Beta Kappa chapters at five of the campuses and two sponsor National Merit Scholarships.
A total of five of the colleges play in the NCAA D1 division. Six are D3 schools and four are in the NAIA. Four are Doctoral Universities and six are classified as Master’s institutions. Of the four Baccalaureate colleges, two are traditional Liberal Arts Colleges and two are in the Diverse Fields category.
Colleges in Chicago Costs
Last year, two of the schools managed to pass the $60,000 in costs while a few more are coming close. However, seven of the schools are still under $50,000 for the total cost of attendance.
At ten of the schools at least 90% of freshman received institutional aid which ranged from just over $15,000 to over $28,000. And according to the Common Data Set, at least five of the schools awarded merit money to 85% or more of freshman without need.
The following table list 50-50 Colleges in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin CBSA area. As usual, the 4-year graduation rate is used for private schools and the 5-year rate for public. The DIYCollegeRankings spreadsheet lists this information and much more for all Chicago area schools.
CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS PLANNING FOR COLLEGE
JOIN THE COFFEE CUP COLLEGE PLANNING FACEBOOK GROUP
50-50 Colleges in Chicago
| Name | Type | State | City | Full-time Under-grads | 4/5 yr Grad Rate | Division | Total price for out-of-state students 2018-19 | % Freshman Receiving Pell Grants (17-18) | % Freshman Receiving Institutional Grants (17-18) | % Freshman Receiving Non-Federal Student Loans (17-18) | Avg Net Price (2017-2018) |
| Wheaton College | Private | IL | Wheaton | 2,326 | 77 | NCAA D3 | $49,300 | 22 | 82 | 5 | $28,162 |
| Lake Forest College | Private | IL | Lake Forest | 1,472 | 61 | NCAA D3 | $60,980 | 33 | 99 | 5 | $27,131 |
| Trinity Christian College | Private | IL | Palos Heights | 883 | 54 | NAIA | $43,865 | 32 | 96 | 8 | $23,368 |
| Carthage College | Private | WI | Kenosha | 2,649 | 59 | NCAA D3 | $59,240 | 32 | 97 | 15 | $27,156 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Private | IL | Chicago | 11,189 | 67 | NCAA D1 | $61,328 | 24 | 97 | 8 | $35,033 |
| DePaul University | Private | IL | Chicago | 12,795 | 59 | NCAA D1 | $57,678 | 33 | 98 | 6 | $30,584 |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | Public | IL | Chicago | 19,254 | 54 | NCAA D1 | $44,082 | 61 | 61 | 4 | $12,248 |
| Valparaiso University | Private | IN | Valparaiso | 3,120 | 63 | NCAA FCS | $54,940 | 31 | 99 | 13 | $23,916 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Private | IL | Bourbonnais | 2,946 | 53 | NAIA | $47,670 | 38 | 100 | 9 | $20,741 |
| Dominican University | Private | IL | River Forest | 1,974 | 49 | NCAA D3 | $46,175 | 55 | 100 | 4 | $18,037 |
| Elmhurst College | Private | IL | Elmhurst | 2,710 | 51 | NCAA D3 | $51,199 | 42 | 100 | 10 | $23,042 |
| Robert Morris University Illinois | Private | IL | Chicago | 1,594 | 68 | NAIA | $48,690 | 65 | 87 | 3 | $22,592 |
| North Central College | Private | IL | Naperville | 2,596 | 57 | NCAA D3 | $52,728 | 26 | 100 | 28 | $24,913 |
| Judson University | Private | IL | Elgin | 678 | 50 | NAIA | $43,368 | 43 | 79 | 10 | $21,437 |
