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Our analysis found Triton College to be the most gender-balanced college in Illinois. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 62.7, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 191 schools that stand out for their student bodies in Illinois, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the balance of men and women across the student body. So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 191 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal mix depends on what matters most to you. Narrow your list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Our analysis found Triton College to be the most gender-balanced college in Illinois. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 62.7, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
Lewis University came in at #2 on this year's Most Gender-Balanced Colleges ranking in Illinois. Lewis University scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 69.5, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
Out of the 191 colleges in Illinois in this year's ranking, Moraine Valley Community College landed the #3 spot. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 64.5, and gender diversity 100.0.
Oakton College earned the #4 place in Illinois. Oakton College scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 72.8, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
A rank of #5 makes Rend Lake College one of the most gender-balanced colleges in Illinois. Rend Lake College scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 22.4, with a gender-diversity score of 99.9.
University of Illinois Springfield placed #6 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Illinois. It scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 67.1, and gender diversity 99.9.
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. Illinois Wesleyan University scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 56.5, with a gender-diversity score of 99.9.
Eureka College earned the #8 position in Illinois. On gender diversity, it scores 99.9 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 51.1, and gender diversity 99.9.
Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation, Inc. came in at #9 in this year's ranking. It scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 62.1, and gender diversity 99.9.
Knox College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. It scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 69.5, and gender diversity 99.9.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earned the #11 position in Illinois. On gender diversity, it scores 99.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 56.0, alongside a 99.9 gender-diversity score.
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 35.6, alongside a 99.9 gender-diversity score.
Greenville University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. The school's gender diversity score is 99.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 53.8, and gender diversity 99.9.
Monmouth College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. On gender diversity, it scores 99.8 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 49.3, and gender diversity 99.8.
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago came in at #15 in this year's ranking. On gender diversity, it scores 99.7 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 65.7, with a gender-diversity score of 99.7.
Parkland College placed #16 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Illinois. It scores 99.7 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 66.9, and gender diversity 99.7.
Quincy University placed #17 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Illinois. Quincy University scores 99.7 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 48.4, with a gender-diversity score of 99.7.
East-West University earned the #18 position in Illinois. On gender diversity, it scores 99.7 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 59.2, with a gender-diversity score of 99.7.
Danville Area Community College earned the #19 position in Illinois. Danville Area Community College scores 99.7 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 54.1, alongside a 99.7 gender-diversity score.
Moody Bible Institute placed #20 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Illinois. The school's gender diversity score is 99.6 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 68.7, with a gender-diversity score of 99.6.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. Southwestern Illinois College scores 99.6 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 56.6, alongside a 99.6 gender-diversity score.
Southeastern Illinois College earned the #22 position in Illinois. Southeastern Illinois College scores 99.6 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 32.3, alongside a 99.6 gender-diversity score.
Augustana College landed the #23 spot in Illinois this year. Augustana College scores 99.6 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 59.7, alongside a 99.6 gender-diversity score.
College of DuPage earned the #24 position in Illinois. On gender diversity, it scores 99.5 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 68.4, alongside a 99.5 gender-diversity score.
University of Chicago placed #25 among the most gender-balanced colleges in Illinois. University of Chicago scores 99.5 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 76.7, alongside a 99.5 gender-diversity score.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the balance of men and women across the student body. 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.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.