These Are The Best Schools In IL: 2025 Rankings

Throughout 2025, various publications released “best of” lists to help guide Illinois residents’ educational choices, from the best elementary schools to the best colleges and universities to pursue a degree.

Illinois figured prominently in several data analyses and study-driven rankings on education from U.S. News & World Report and other publications as well as from Niche, which provides rankings on schools, neighborhoods, cities and companies in the United States.

According to U.S. News, Illinois boasts several of the best high schools, middle schools and elementary schools.

Read more:

• U.S. News Best Elementary Schools
• U.S. News Best Middle Schools
• U.S. News Best High Schools

The ranking and review site Niche also weighed in on the best public schools and school districts. Read more:

• Niche Best School Districts
• Niche Best Public High Schools
• Niche Best Private High Schools

Illinois colleges were prominently featured in rankings as well. Read more:

• U.S. News Best Colleges
• Forbes Top 500 Colleges
• Niche Best Colleges
• Princeton Review Best Colleges
• U.S. News Global Universities
• Best Colleges For Big Post-Grad Salaries
• Wall Street Journal Best Colleges

Related: Forbes Names 20 Colleges ‘New Ivies’; Notes Employers Prefer Them