Illinois doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 41 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 41 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Champaign came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Illinois For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Illinois's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 36,258 (40 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 89,996 |
| Median rent | $1,123 |
| Graduation rate | 86% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $33,642 |
Champaign is home to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. There are 40 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,123 a month, and the average cost to attend is $33,642 a year. It ranks 29th for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Illinois State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 19,057 (36 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 53,569 |
| Median rent | $965 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $34,309 |
Normal is home to Illinois State University. There are 36 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $965 a month, and the average cost to attend is $34,309 a year. It ranks 20th for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Northwestern University, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Endeavor Health School of Nurse Anesthesia-DePaul University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 9,201 (12 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 76,340 |
| Median rent | $1,762 |
| Graduation rate | 97% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $91,250 |
Evanston is home to Northwestern University, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Endeavor Health School of Nurse Anesthesia-DePaul University. There are 12 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,762 a month, and the average cost to attend is $91,250 a year. It ranks 30th for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Eastern Illinois University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,188 (25 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 17,062 |
| Median rent | $817 |
| Graduation rate | 62% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $26,996 |
Charleston is home to Eastern Illinois University. There are 25 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $817 a month, and the average cost to attend is $26,996 a year. It ranks 22nd for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Lake Forest College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,813 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 19,416 |
| Median rent | $1,815 |
| Graduation rate | 80% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $70,655 |
Lake Forest is home to Lake Forest College. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,815 a month, and the average cost to attend is $70,655 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Knox College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,127 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 29,481 |
| Median rent | $801 |
| Graduation rate | 79% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $68,134 |
Galesburg is home to Knox College. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $801 a month, and the average cost to attend is $68,134 a year. It ranks 35th for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Benedictine University, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,942 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 23,407 |
| Median rent | $1,658 |
| Graduation rate | 59% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $46,713 |
Lisle is home to Benedictine University, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,658 a month, and the average cost to attend is $46,713 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Elmhurst University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,006 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 45,671 |
| Median rent | $1,975 |
| Graduation rate | 70% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $54,679 |
Elmhurst is home to Elmhurst University. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,975 a month, and the average cost to attend is $54,679 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Trinity Christian College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 820 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 12,152 |
| Median rent | $2,558 |
| Graduation rate | 69% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,012 |
Palos Heights is home to Trinity Christian College. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,558 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,012 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Wheaton College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,121 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 53,557 |
| Median rent | $1,799 |
| Graduation rate | 85% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $59,263 |
Wheaton is home to Wheaton College. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,799 a month, and the average cost to attend is $59,263 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 41 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Illinois
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 41 towns in Illinois that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Illinois.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Illinois.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Illinois
If you're looking for the best college towns in Illinois, Champaign is where to start.
The best college towns in Illinois are Champaign, Normal, Evanston, Charleston, Lake Forest, Galesburg, Lisle, Elmhurst, Palos Heights, and Wheaton.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Illinois for 2026?
Champaign is the best college town in Illinois for 2026, followed by Normal and Evanston.
How did you rank the best college towns in Illinois?
We looked at every town in Illinois with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Illinois?
Decatur ranks last of the 41 college towns we ranked in Illinois for 2026.
Best College Towns In Illinois For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Champaign, IL | 89,996 | 36,258 | $1,123 |
| 2 | Normal, IL | 53,569 | 19,057 | $965 |
| 3 | Evanston, IL | 76,340 | 9,201 | $1,762 |
| 4 | Charleston, IL | 17,062 | 4,188 | $817 |
| 5 | Lake Forest, IL | 19,416 | 1,813 | $1,815 |
| 6 | Galesburg, IL | 29,481 | 1,127 | $801 |
| 7 | Lisle, IL | 23,407 | 1,942 | $1,658 |
| 8 | Elmhurst, IL | 45,671 | 3,006 | $1,975 |
| 9 | Palos Heights, IL | 12,152 | 820 | $2,558 |
| 10 | Wheaton, IL | 53,557 | 2,121 | $1,799 |
| 11 | Rock Island, IL | 36,151 | 2,546 | $842 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | 2,711,226 | 86,425 | $1,440 |
| 13 | Greenville, IL | 7,235 | 955 | $783 |
| 14 | Monmouth, IL | 8,581 | 702 | $733 |
| 15 | Springfield, IL | 113,330 | 2,389 | $975 |
| 16 | Edwardsville, IL | 26,474 | 8,750 | $1,306 |
| 17 | Macomb, IL | 14,894 | 4,410 | $765 |
| 18 | Quincy, IL | 39,109 | 1,186 | $837 |
| 19 | Aurora, IL | 179,898 | 3,974 | $1,596 |
| 20 | Carlinville, IL | 5,480 | 471 | $824 |
| 21 | Romeoville, IL | 41,152 | 4,015 | $1,886 |
| 22 | Mundelein, IL | 31,915 | 0 | $1,566 |
| 23 | Joliet, IL | 150,445 | 1,223 | $1,276 |
| 24 | Rockford, IL | 147,521 | 1,144 | $985 |
| 25 | River Forest, IL | 11,992 | 3,884 | $1,554 |
| 26 | Jacksonville, IL | 18,014 | 930 | $711 |
| 27 | Bourbonnais, IL | 18,078 | 2,603 | $1,269 |
| 28 | Elgin, IL | 114,934 | 708 | $1,361 |
| 29 | Carbondale, IL | 22,158 | 8,494 | $771 |
| 30 | University Park, IL | 7,306 | 2,556 | $1,649 |
| 31 | Naperville, IL | 150,692 | 2,428 | $1,885 |
| 32 | Eureka, IL | 5,007 | 522 | $692 |
| 33 | Deerfield, IL | 19,518 | 55 | $2,482 |
| 34 | Bloomington, IL | 78,907 | 1,582 | $1,050 |
| 35 | Lombard, IL | 43,619 | 13 | $1,948 |
| 36 | Peoria, IL | 112,169 | 4,092 | $1,005 |
| 37 | Downers Grove, IL | 50,054 | 0 | $1,656 |
| 38 | Skokie, IL | 66,219 | 90 | $1,552 |
| 39 | Danville, IL | 28,595 | 66 | $846 |
| 40 | North Chicago, IL | 30,643 | 0 | $1,426 |
| 41 | Decatur, IL | 69,815 | 1,382 | $845 |
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