13 Best Public Universities in Illinois for International Students

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Illinois, is one of the states in United States you should look into if you want to study in a public university. Besides providing a path towards your academic goals, you can also enjoy various activities here to make your studies abroad all worth it. In addition, studying in Illinois can give you valuable insights into its people and the local culture.

There are 57 universities you can find in Illinois, and 13 of them are public universities. Having these many choices makes Illinois a great place for international students.

In this article, you’ll find out the public universities in Illinois, with some added information on programs, tuition, and how many international students you’ll be studying with. Let’s get started!

Rank University Location
1 Northwestern University Chicago, United States
2 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, United States
3 University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, United States
4 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, United States
5 Northern Illinois University DeKalb, United States
6 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, United States
7 Illinois State University Normal, United States
8 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, Illinois, United States
9 Western Illinois University Macomb, United States
10 University of Illinois at Springfield Springfield, Illinois, United States
11 Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, United States
12 Chicago State University Chicago, United States
13 Governors State University University Park, Illinois, United States

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can International Students Study in Public Universities in Illinois?

Absolutely! International students in public universities in Illinois can pursue different program levels, but the most popular ones are bachelor’s and master’s programs.

As for tuition fees, note that these vary across specific disciplines and program levels, with some charging significantly more than others. Specifically, public universities in Illinois charge up to 60,300 USD for bachelor’s and 62,400 USD for master’s studies.


I hope this article can help you in your search for public universities in Illinois. Feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.