Illinois Colleges & Universities
Top college and university libraries in Illinois
These college and university libraries stand out for their collections, special collections and archives. Public access varies, so each entry says how visitors can use the library.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign LibraryUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
At the University of Illinois Library, the Main Library was completed in 1924 and dedicated in 1929, the library added its one millionth volume in 1935, and the Undergraduate Library opened in 1969. Its Rare Book and Manuscript Library is open to the public from 9 to 5 on weekdays; it is moving to the new Archives and Special Collections Building, with public services expected to reopen in spring 2028. Visitors can apply for a courtesy card at the Main Library with a photo ID and proof of address.
University of Chicago LibraryUniversity of Chicago
The main building of the University of Chicago Library, the Joseph Regenstein Library, opened in 1970 in the Brutalist style. Next door, the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library, designed by Helmut Jahn and opened in 2011, places a glass-domed reading room above an underground automated storage system where robotic cranes retrieve items from millions of volumes. The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, established in 1953, holds roughly 350,000 rare volumes.
Northwestern University LibrariesNorthwestern University
Northwestern University Libraries hold a collection of 9 million titles, centered on University Library and Deering Library in Evanston. The Herskovits Library of African Studies, established in 1954, is the largest collection of Africana materials anywhere, and the McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives is open to the public for research, with appointments required to view its collections. Visitors are welcome during public access hours with a government-issued photo ID, and borrowing privileges are available to eligible groups, including alumni and Evanston residents.
University of Illinois Chicago LibraryUniversity of Illinois Chicago
The University of Illinois Chicago Library's main building is the Richard J. Daley Library. Its Special Collections and University Archives are open by appointment only, and visitors should book at least two business days in advance; first-time visitors register with photo identification. Members of the public are welcome to use UIC items and resources in any of the library's physical locations.
The most beautiful college library in Illinois
Deering LibraryNorthwestern University
Deering Library opened in 1933 as Northwestern's main library. Architect James Gamble Rogers modeled it on King's College Chapel at Cambridge, and the Collegiate Gothic building was planned to hold 500,000 volumes and seat 900 readers, solving the library's space problem for many years. University Library, which opened beside it in 1970, now serves as the main library.
Last verified: November 2, 2026. Visitor rules, hours and borrowing policies change, so check the library's website before you go.
About colleges and universities in Illinois
Located in the heart of the Midwest with the city hub of Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan, Illinois is a popular destination for people who wish to pursue higher education. It is home to a plethora of different educational institutions, ranging from large public research universities to elite private institutions. No matter what type of educational opportunity a student wants, they will likely be able to find what they need within the state of Illinois.
Illinois is home to nine public universities, 48 community colleges, 97 private colleges and universities and 35 for-profit educational institutions. Students from every location and all walks of life have the opportunity to live and study here during their college years. Some of the most notable institutions in Illinois include: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Loyola University Chicago and Northwestern University.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the largest university in the state, and is also the most prestigious public research university in Illinois as well. It is the main campus for the university, which as other satellite campuses in Chicago and Springfield. The University of Illinois is considered a Public Ivy institution, meaning it is a public university with some of the highest academic standards. It is a member of the Big Ten conference, and offers more than 150 areas of study for its students to focus on during their collegiate years.
Loyola University Chicago is a Jesuit educational institution with two main campuses, one in downtown Chicago and another on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is an elite private institution that is also the largest Jesuit institution in the United States. Loyola University Chicago offers more than 70 degree programs to its students, and it confers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral degrees.
Northwestern University is another well-known university in Illinois. It is a private research university that operates out of Chicago and Evanston, Illinois. Also a member of the Big Ten conference, it competes in athletics with the University of Illinois. It is the only private institution in the athletic conference. Northwestern University was founded in 1851 and now boasts one of the largest endowments in the United States. It is well known for its journalism programs, as well as its management and engineering programs. Notable alumni from Northwestern include Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Warren Beatty and David Schwimmer, just to name a few of its graduates.