SAT Scores for Illinois Colleges, School by School (2026-27)

Every school on this list is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle; Northwestern and UChicago still see roughly half of enrolled first-years submit scores, while the less selective public universities (NIU, Illinois State, UIC) see submission rates under 50%. Published score ranges describe a cohort; they are not admission cutoffs.

The table covers 10 colleges Illinois families apply to most, from the most selective to the large public universities. Read each cohort note before comparing numbers. The bottom rows show the score-based money Illinois families can earn: Stamps Scholarship (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Illinois State Scholar designation.

Illinois college score profiles and cohort notes

Cohort notes: UChicago: UChicago admitted about 2,039 of 45,533 fall 2025 applicants; only 57% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score. Northwestern: Northwestern offers no academic-merit scholarships at all; all institutional aid is need-based. Loyola Chicago: Only 39% of Loyola's enrolled fall-2025 first-years submitted an SAT score, 15% an ACT score. DePaul: Only 30% of DePaul's enrolled fall-2025 first-years submitted an SAT score; the average high school GPA of those who submitted a GPA was 3.77. UIC: Only 47% of UIC's enrolled fall-2025 first-years submitted an SAT score, 4% an ACT score. Illinois State: Only about 44% of Illinois State's enrolled fall-2024 first-years submitted an SAT score. Bradley: Bradley's own Office of Institutional Effectiveness last posted a public Common Data Set for 2022-2023; current figures are the BigFuture fallback. NIU: NIU is test-optional and BigFuture reports no SAT/ACT data is available for it; no public NIU Common Data Set PDF was found online. These are not interchangeable measures.

School by school

University of Chicago: 1500 to 1560

UChicago reports a 1500 to 1560 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26, C9)). It admitted 4.5% of 45,533 applicants (fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26)). The matching ACT range is 34-35. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. UChicago admitted about 2,039 of 45,533 fall 2025 applicants; only 57% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score.

Northwestern University: 1520 to 1560

Northwestern reports a 1520 to 1560 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26, C9)). It admitted 7.5% of 52,676 applicants (fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26)). The matching ACT range is 34-35. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. Northwestern offers no academic-merit scholarships at all; all institutional aid is need-based.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 1390 to 1520

UIUC reports a 1390 to 1520 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). It admitted 36.6% of 83,045 applicants (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). The matching ACT range is 30-34. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional.

Loyola University Chicago: 1220 to 1390

Loyola Chicago reports a 1220 to 1390 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26, C9)). It admitted 75.1% of 43,954 applicants (fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26)). The matching ACT range is 26-31. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. Only 39% of Loyola's enrolled fall-2025 first-years submitted an SAT score, 15% an ACT score.

Illinois Institute of Technology: 1190 to 1400

Illinois Tech reports a 1190 to 1400 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2023 (CDS 2023-24, C9)). It admitted 55.4% of 8,912 applicants (fall 2023 (CDS 2023-24)). The matching ACT range is 25-31. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional.

DePaul University: 1150 to 1330

DePaul reports a 1150 to 1330 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26, C9)). It admitted 87.8% of 27,462 applicants (fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26)). The matching ACT range is 26-31. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. Only 30% of DePaul's enrolled fall-2025 first-years submitted an SAT score; the average high school GPA of those who submitted a GPA was 3.77.

University of Illinois Chicago: 1030 to 1300

UIC reports a 1030 to 1300 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26, C9)). It admitted 75.8% of 29,929 applicants (fall 2025 (CDS 2025-26)). The matching ACT range is 24-31. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. Only 47% of UIC's enrolled fall-2025 first-years submitted an SAT score, 4% an ACT score.

Illinois State University: 1010 to 1210

Illinois State reports a 1010 to 1210 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2024 (CDS 2024-25, C9)). It admitted 88.1% of 21,573 applicants (fall 2024 (CDS 2024-25)). The matching ACT range is 21-27. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. Only about 44% of Illinois State's enrolled fall-2024 first-years submitted an SAT score.

Bradley University: 1030 to 1240

Bradley reports a 1030 to 1240 middle 50% SAT (enrolled, fall 2024, CDS 2024-25 (CDS 2025-26 leaves C9 blank)). It admitted 74.6% of 8,539 applicants (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). The matching ACT range is 24-30. Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. Bradley's own Office of Institutional Effectiveness last posted a public Common Data Set for 2022-2023; current figures are the BigFuture fallback.

Northern Illinois University: Not published

NIU does not publish a composite SAT range for its latest class. It admitted 71.2% of Not published applicants (BigFuture profile, year not stated). Testing for fall 2027: Test-optional. NIU is test-optional and BigFuture reports no SAT/ACT data is available for it; no public NIU Common Data Set PDF was found online.

Where the SAT helps with Illinois scholarships

Illinois has no statewide SAT-cutoff cash scholarship; its best-known score-based distinction, the Illinois State Scholar designation, is honorary with no money attached, so real score-tied dollars come from individual universities' own competitive full-ride programs.

Stamps Scholarship (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Not a published cutoff (holistic: honors, leadership, essays). Covers tuition, fees, room and board in full, selected during the general admissions review.

Illinois State Scholar designation: 95th percentile ACT/SAT, or top half of class by 3rd semester senior year. Honorary distinction only; no monetary award is attached.

The Illinois State Scholar formula uses either a top-50% class rank through the 3rd semester of senior year, or a 95th-percentile ACT/SAT score; roughly the top 10% of each approved high school's graduates are named State Scholars annually, but it carries no scholarship funds.

The misconception: test optional means the SAT does not matter in Illinois

UChicago, Northwestern, UIUC and Loyola Chicago are test optional for fall 2027, so many families assume the score is irrelevant. The ranges above come from the students who chose to send one, and they sit well above the overall class. A strong score is one more reason for a school to say yes, and a weak one can simply stay home.

Quick answers

Does Northwestern give merit scholarships for a high SAT score?

No. Northwestern does not award academic-merit scholarships at all (apart from a small number of music-audition and ROTC awards); every other dollar of Northwestern institutional aid is need-based, regardless of SAT or ACT score.

Is there a statewide SAT-score scholarship in Illinois like Florida's Bright Futures?

No. Illinois has no state lottery-funded merit scholarship tied to an SAT cutoff; the closest statewide score-based recognition, the Illinois State Scholar designation, is honorary and pays no money.

Is a college entrance exam given free during the school day in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois pays for every public high school junior to take a state-mandated entrance exam during the school day as a graduation requirement; this was the SAT through 2023-24 and switched to the ACT with writing starting in 2024-25.

What SAT score got students into the University of Chicago's enrolled class?

The enrolled fall-2025 middle 50% SAT range was 1500-1560 with a 34-35 ACT range, and only 57% of enrolled first-years submitted an SAT score at all under UChicago's test-optional policy.

Are these ranges cutoffs?

No. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not an admission cutoff. Some rows describe enrolled students or score submitters only, as labeled. A position within a range does not guarantee admission or merit aid.

More for Illinois families

• SAT prep in Illinois
• Illinois SAT test dates for 2026-27
• Find your teen's target score

Sources

University and state sources: UChicago, Northwestern, UIUC, Loyola Chicago, Illinois Tech, DePaul, UIC, Illinois State, Bradley, NIU, Stamps Scholarship (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Illinois State Scholar designation. Reviewed October 9, 2026. Cohorts and entry terms differ; confirm current requirements with each admissions office.