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    SAT and ACT in Illinois

    Illinois graduates in the class of 2026 averaged 1215 on the SAT (15% took it) and 19.0 on the ACT (100% took it). The National Merit Semifinalist cutoff for Illinois's class of 2027 is 218. We cover 32 colleges in Illinois. For fall 2027, 1 requires the SAT or ACT, 2 require a score only below a GPA cutoff, 28 let you choose whether to send a score and 1 doesn't look at scores.

    average SAT, class of 2026
    1215
    National Merit cutoff
    218
    colleges requiring the SAT or ACT for fall 2027
    1
    colleges covered
    32

    Average SAT and ACT scores in Illinois

    From the official reports College Board and ACT publish each fall for the graduating class. Compare states with care: an average depends on how many students take the test.

    SATClass of 2026Graduates who took it20,254Share of the class15%Average1215608 Reading and Writing, 607 MathNational average1045
    ACTClass of 2026Share of the class100%Average19.0National average19.2

    In the class of 2026, 20,254 Illinois graduates (15% of the class) took the SAT and averaged 1215 (608 in Reading and Writing, 607 in Math), against 1045 nationally. Only 15% of Illinois's class took the SAT, mostly students applying to colleges that ask for it, so the average runs higher than in states where every student tests.

    In the class of 2026, 100% of Illinois graduates took the ACT and averaged 19.0, against 19.2 nationally. Nearly every Illinois student takes the ACT, so the average covers the whole class, not just students aiming at selective colleges.

    See where a score stands nationally with the SAT percentile calculator, or what a 1200 SAT score gets you at colleges and in scholarships.

    Sources: College Board, 2026 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report: Illinois · ACT, Average ACT Test Scores by State, Graduating Class of 2026

    Testing in Illinois high schools

    Every Illinois public school junior takes the ACT in school as the state test, and 9th and 10th graders take the PreACT. Illinois switched from the SAT to the ACT in 2024-25.

    Source: Illinois State Board of Education, high school assessment · Checked October 31, 2026

    National Merit in Illinois

    For the class of 2027, students in Illinois needed a PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index of 218 to become National Merit Semifinalists. Commended Students needed 208 in every state.

    Work out your index with the Selection Index calculator, compare states in National Merit cutoffs by state, and see which colleges reward it in colleges with National Merit scholarships.

    Source: NMSC, Guide to the National Merit Scholarship Program

    Colleges in Illinois

    Test policies for fall 2027, and the SAT and ACT scores of the middle 50% of enrolled freshmen. Largest colleges first; each links to its full page.

    University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaignTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate37%SAT, middle 50%1390 to 1520ACT, middle 50%31 to 34
    University of Illinois ChicagoChicagoTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate76%SAT, middle 50%1030 to 1300ACT, middle 50%24 to 31
    Illinois State UniversityNormalTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate86%SAT, middle 50%1000 to 1210ACT, middle 50%21 to 27
    DePaul UniversityChicagoTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate88%SAT, middle 50%1150 to 1330ACT, middle 50%26 to 31
    Loyola University ChicagoChicagoTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate75%SAT, middle 50%1220 to 1390ACT, middle 50%26 to 31
    Northwestern UniversityEvanstonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate7.5%SAT, middle 50%1520 to 1560ACT, middle 50%34 to 35
    Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsvilleTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate98%SAT, middle 50%950 to 1190ACT, middle 50%20 to 27
    Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondaleTest policyTest optionalRequired below a 2.8 GPAAcceptance rate94%SAT, middle 50%890 to 1180ACT, middle 50%19 to 25
    University of ChicagoChicagoTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate4.5%SAT, middle 50%1500 to 1560ACT, middle 50%34 to 35
    Eastern Illinois UniversityCharlestonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate71%SAT, middle 50%890 to 1130ACT, middle 50%16 to 23
    Lewis UniversityRomeovilleTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate71%SAT, middle 50%960 to 1210ACT, middle 50%20 to 27
    Aurora UniversityAuroraTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate82%SAT, middle 50%875 to 1078ACT, middle 50%21 to 29
    Elmhurst UniversityElmhurstTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate74%SAT, middle 50%990 to 1260ACT, middle 50%23 to 30
    Roosevelt UniversityChicagoTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate97%SAT, middle 50%895 to 1175ACT, middle 50%18 to 26
    Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicagoTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate55%SAT, middle 50%1180 to 1440ACT, middle 50%26 to 32
    Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnaisTest policyTest requiredAcceptance rate56%SAT, middle 50%950 to 1220ACT, middle 50%19 to 26
    Dominican UniversityRiver ForestTest policyTest blindAcceptance rate88%SAT, middle 50%870 to 1120ACT, middle 50%16 to 26
    Augustana CollegeRock IslandTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate66%SAT, middle 50%1020 to 1280ACT, middle 50%21 to 28
    North Central CollegeNapervilleTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate77%SAT, middle 50%1040 to 1310ACT, middle 50%24 to 29
    University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfieldTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate83%SAT, middle 50%940 to 1195ACT, middle 50%21 to 27
    Wheaton CollegeWheatonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate87%SAT, middle 50%1260 to 1470ACT, middle 50%28 to 32
    Lake Forest CollegeLake ForestTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate54%SAT, middle 50%1200 to 1370ACT, middle 50%27 to 30
    Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomingtonTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate53%SAT, middle 50%1120 to 1340ACT, middle 50%25 to 30
    Millikin UniversityDecaturTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate67%SAT, middle 50%860 to 1130ACT, middle 50%18 to 25
    University of St FrancisJolietTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate65%SAT, middle 50%1030 to 1220ACT, middle 50%20 to 32
    Show 7 more colleges
    Knox CollegeGalesburgTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate77%SAT, middle 50%1150 to 1410ACT, middle 50%21 to 32
    Quincy UniversityQuincyTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate51%SAT, middle 50%1000 to 1200ACT, middle 50%20 to 25
    Rockford UniversityRockfordTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate93%SAT, middle 50%850 to 1070ACT, middle 50%17 to 23
    Greenville UniversityGreenvilleTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate98%SAT, middle 50%771 to 1230ACT, middle 50%16 to 28
    Illinois CollegeJacksonvilleTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate78%SAT, middle 50%883 to 1180ACT, middle 50%19 to 26
    Judson UniversityElginTest policyTest recommendedRequired below a 2.8 GPAAcceptance rate48%SAT, middle 50%816 to 1118ACT, middle 50%16 to 24
    Monmouth CollegeMonmouthTest policyTest optionalAcceptance rate91%SAT, middle 50%1000 to 1210ACT, middle 50%20 to 27

    To decide whether to send your score, compare it with each college's range in the submit or retake tool.

    Other states

    See every state, or browse all Illinois colleges.

    Common questions about the SAT and ACT in Illinois

    What is the average SAT score in Illinois?
    In the class of 2026, 20,254 Illinois graduates (15% of the class) took the SAT and averaged 1215 (608 in Reading and Writing, 607 in Math), against 1045 nationally. Only 15% of Illinois's class took the SAT, mostly students applying to colleges that ask for it, so the average runs higher than in states where every student tests.
    What is the average ACT score in Illinois?
    In the class of 2026, 100% of Illinois graduates took the ACT and averaged 19.0, against 19.2 nationally. Nearly every Illinois student takes the ACT, so the average covers the whole class, not just students aiming at selective colleges.
    Do Illinois high schools give the SAT or ACT?
    Every Illinois public school junior takes the ACT in school as the state test, and 9th and 10th graders take the PreACT. Illinois switched from the SAT to the ACT in 2024-25.
    What is the National Merit cutoff in Illinois?
    For the class of 2027, a PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index of 218 or higher made a student in Illinois a National Merit Semifinalist. Commended Students needed 208 in every state.
    Which colleges in Illinois require the SAT or ACT?
    Olivet Nazarene University requires the SAT or ACT for fall 2027. 2 colleges require a score only from applicants below a GPA cutoff: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and Judson University.
    Which colleges in Illinois have the highest SAT scores?
    Among the colleges in Illinois we cover, the middle 50% of freshmen scored highest at Northwestern University (1520 to 1560), University of Chicago (1500 to 1560) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1390 to 1520).

    Have another question? Email us at team@getsharp.app.