by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. The ranking below was designed to help you find 204 schools that stand out for their student bodies in Illinois, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the economic backgrounds of the student body (the mix of income levels). So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 204 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every student measures diversity the same way. Narrow your list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Looking to pit your favorite colleges against each other? Check out College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Leading the list is City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College, our #1 most economically diverse college in Illinois. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 65.1, alongside a 97.8 gender-diversity score.
University of Illinois Chicago earned the #2 place in Illinois. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 76.8, and gender diversity 99.1.
Morrison Institute of Technology came in at #3 on this year's Most Economically Diverse Colleges ranking in Illinois. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100.
Morton College earned the #4 place in Illinois. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 32.8, and gender diversity 98.6.
Richland Community College earned the #5 place in Illinois. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 50.7, with a gender-diversity score of 96.5.
Universal Technical Institute - Illinois earned the #6 position in Illinois. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 62.5, alongside a 33.4 gender-diversity score.
Eureka College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 51.1, and gender diversity 99.9.
Fox College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. Fox College scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 58.0, and gender diversity 72.4.
Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology landed the #9 spot in Illinois this year. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 57.2, with a gender-diversity score of 8.5.
Oehrlein School of Cosmetology placed #10 among the most economically diverse colleges in Illinois. On economic diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100.
John A Logan College landed the #11 spot in Illinois this year. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 50.1, with a gender-diversity score of 97.2.
Methodist College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 51.7, and gender diversity 41.8.
Rockford University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the most economically diverse colleges. The school's economic diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 72.4, and gender diversity 98.2.
Shawnee Community College placed #14 among the most economically diverse colleges in Illinois. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 38.9, and gender diversity 94.7.
Southeastern Illinois College landed the #15 spot in Illinois this year. Southeastern Illinois College scores 100.0 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 32.3, and gender diversity 99.6.
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. On economic diversity, it scores 99.9 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 64.2, alongside a 99.0 gender-diversity score.
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College landed the #17 spot in Illinois this year. City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College scores 99.9 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 50.9, and gender diversity 99.4.
ETI School of Skilled Trades landed the #18 spot in Illinois this year. It scores 99.9 out of 100 for economic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 61.4, and gender diversity 25.8.
Northern Illinois University earned the #19 position in Illinois. Northern Illinois University scores 99.9 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 68.6, with a gender-diversity score of 99.4.
Roosevelt University landed the #20 spot in Illinois this year. It scores 99.9 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 78.2, and gender diversity 95.8.
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin scores 99.9 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 74.4, with a gender-diversity score of 11.8.
Concordia University-Chicago came in at #22 in this year's ranking. It scores 99.7 out of 100 for economic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 64.6, and gender diversity 94.6.
Highland Community College landed the #23 spot in Illinois this year. It scores 99.7 out of 100 for economic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 43.7, with a gender-diversity score of 98.8.
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville earned the #24 position in Illinois. The school's economic diversity score is 99.7 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 60.9, alongside a 21.9 gender-diversity score.
University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts placed #25 among the most economically diverse colleges in Illinois. The school's economic diversity score is 99.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 47.7, with a gender-diversity score of 43.6.
Not far behind, these colleges also rank among the most economically diverse this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the economic backgrounds of the student body (the mix of income levels). The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
