Niche.com ranked a total of 936 colleges that are considered to be the most diverse, 36 of which are located in Illinois. Seven statistics as well as student surveys were used to determine the rankings.
Here’s more on the group’s methodology:
The Most Diverse Campus ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the diversity at traditional four-year colleges and universities in the United States. It uses data sourced from various government and public data sets, Niche’s own proprietary data, and 777,115 opinion-based survey responses about campus diversity from 99,714 current students and recent alumni.
A high ranking in diversity generally indicates that:
- Students report that the campus is extremely diverse and fosters a community that accepts and promotes a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses;
- Enrolled students come from all over the United States and the world, representing various backgrounds and ethnicities;
- The college employs a diverse faculty, both in terms of gender and ethnicity.
The most diverse colleges in Illinois, according to Niche’s 2015 rankings:
1. University of Chicago (ranked #14 nationally)
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
77% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
2.0 : 1 |
International Students (%) |
10% |
Out-of-State Students (%) |
76% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
56% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.1 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
4.1/5 (90 respondents) |
2. Roosevelt University (ranked #92 nationally)
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
73% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
International Students |
3% |
Out-of-State Students |
26% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
51% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.6 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
4.2/5 (76 respondents) |
3. Northwestern University (ranked #95 nationally)
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
79% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.8 : 1 |
International Students |
7% |
Out-of-State Students |
67% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
61% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.9 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (99 respondents) |
4. Columbia College Chicago
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
83% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.2 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
46% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
61% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.9 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
4.2./5 (180 respondents) |
5. Lake Forest College
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
International Students |
16% |
Out-of-State Students |
39% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
70% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.7 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
4/5 (26 respondents) |
6. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.4 : 1 |
International Students |
29% |
Out-of-State Students |
56% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
67% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.4 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.9/5 (49 respondents) |
7. University of Illinois at Chicago
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
70% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
2% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
42% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.9 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
4.1/5 (186 respondents) |
8. Illinois Institute of Technology
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
78% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
2.4 : 1 |
International Students |
15% |
Out-of-State Students |
21% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
55% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.5 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.9/5 (47 respondents) |
9. Northeastern Illinois University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
70% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.8 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
0% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
42% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.8 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
4.1/5 (83 respondents) |
10. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
76% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.9 : 1 |
International Students |
13% |
Out-of-State Students |
10% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
65% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (300 respondents) |
11. University of Illinois at Springfield
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
78% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
International Students |
6% |
Out-of-State Students |
3% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
74% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.0 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.9/5 (24 respondents) |
12. DePaul University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
78% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
35% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
60% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.9 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
4/5 (243 respondents) |
13. Loyola University Chicago
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
84% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
International Students |
2% |
Out-of-State Students |
39% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
67% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.6 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.8/5 (174 respondents) |
14. North Park University
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
83% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.8 : 1 |
International Students |
3% |
Out-of-State Students |
30% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
61% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.6 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (32 respondents) |
15. McKendree University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
N/A |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
N/A |
International Students |
5% |
Out-of-State Students |
16% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
77% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.8 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (48 respondents) |
16. Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
77% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.6 : 1 |
International Students |
2% |
Out-of-State Students |
9% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
65% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.2 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (126 respondents) |
17. Benedictine University
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
87% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.0 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
11% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
57% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.6 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.8/5 (30 respondents) |
18. Northern Illinois University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
85% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.1 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
5% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
64% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.0 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.6/5 (152 respondents) |
19. Western Illinois University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
6% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
73% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.1 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (117 respondents) |
20. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.0 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
7% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
76% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.9 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (101 respondents) |
21. Wheaton College
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
89% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.9 : 1 |
International Students |
3% |
Out-of-State Students |
75% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.0 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3./5 (47 respondents) |
22. Moody Bible Institute
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
83% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
2.4 : 1 |
International Students |
2% |
Out-of-State Students |
69% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.3/5 (25 respondents) |
23. Millikin University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
94% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.0 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
16% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
77% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.7 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.9/5 (43 respondents) |
24. Lewis University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
87% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.0 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
7% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
67% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.8 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (60 respondents) |
25. Dominican University
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
88% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.7 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
9% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
51% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.5 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (38 respondents) |
26. Saint Xavier University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
85% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.7 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
7% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
58% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.5 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (63 respondents) |
27. Eastern Illinois University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
87% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.2 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
4% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
76% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.7 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (83 respondents) |
28. Chicago State University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
48% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.9 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
4% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
89% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.4 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.6/5 (57 respondents) |
29. Augustana College
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
N/A |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
N/A |
International Students |
2% |
Out-of-State Students |
17% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
84% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.7 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.4/5 (34 respondents) |
30. Aurora University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
N/A |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
N/A |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
12% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
68% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.6 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.7/5 (47 respondents) |
31. North Central College
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
91% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.1 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
9% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.8 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.6/5 (57 respondents) |
32. Illinois Wesleyan University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
91% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.3 : 1 |
International Students |
4% |
Out-of-State Students |
11% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.7 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.2/5 (30 respondents) |
33. Elmhurst College
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
88% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.7 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
14% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
76% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.6 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.6/5 (63 respondents) |
34. Bradley University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
N/A |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
N/A |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
14% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.9 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.4/5 (55 respondents) |
35. Olivet Nazarene University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
74% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
2.0 : 1 |
International Students |
1% |
Out-of-State Students |
42% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
81% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.6 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.3/5 (66 respondents) |
36. Illinois State University
Factor |
Value |
Faculty Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
84% |
Faculty Gender Ratio (M-F) |
1.0 : 1 |
International Students |
0% |
Out-of-State Students |
1% |
Student Diversity – Most Represented Ethnicity |
82% |
Student Gender Ratio (M-F) |
0.8 : 1 |
Student Surveys on Diversity |
3.4/5 (145 respondents) |
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