Illinois Private School Trends (10-Year)

1,624

Private Schools

-12.3% (-227 schools) 10-yr

250,469

Students

-15.0% (-44,069 students) 10-yr

$10,412

Avg. Tuition

+31.0% (+$2,464) 10-yr

Avg. Class Size

34%

Students of Color

-2.9% (-1.0 pp) 10-yr

13:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

-7.1% (-1.0) 10-yr

Enrollment & Diversity

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year	Illinois (IL) Total	US Avg per State
2025	1,626	671
2024	1,696	703
2023	1,633	665
2022	1,575	612
2021	1,660	637
2020	1,760	684
2019	1,742	665
2018	1,778	677
2017	1,693	631
2016	1,736	644
2015	1,851	683

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Private schools down 110 in Illinois, from 1,736 in 2016 to 1,626 in 2025.

# Students

250,469 Students

111,484 Students
avg. per state

View Largest Illinois Private Schools

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Total Number of Private School Students

Year	Illinois (IL) Total	US Avg per State
2025	252,190	111,945
2024	257,997	113,628
2023	259,260	108,484
2022	259,779	104,892
2021	268,165	106,817
2020	276,305	109,411
2019	284,103	108,956
2018	285,570	109,868
2017	279,649	106,255
2016	285,719	107,443
2015	294,538	108,505

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Private enrollment down 12% in Illinois, falling from 285,719 in 2016 to 252,190 in 2025.

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

Grade	Illinois
Nursery	4,183
Pre-K	45,327
Kind	21,679
1	15,002
2	14,499
3	14,321
4	14,214
5	16,512
6	14,239
7	14,123
8	15,783
9	13,559
10	13,828
11	13,362
12	13,196
Not Listed	6,642

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Pre-K has the most students with 45,327 in Illinois private schools, far more than any other grade.

Average School Size

167 Students

179 Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Average School Size

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	166	179
2024	162	172
2023	171	174
2022	178	185
2021	174	180
2020	168	171
2019	174	175
2018	171	172
2017	177	180
2016	175	178
2015	168	167

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Average school size down 9 in Illinois, falling from 175 students in 2016 to 166 in 2025.

% Average Students of Color

34%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	34%	34%
2024	34%	34%
2023	34%	33%
2022	34%	33%
2021	34%	32%
2020	35%	32%
2019	33%	31%
2018	33%	31%
2017	34%	32%
2016	34%	32%
2015	35%	32%

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Academics

# Teachers

18,914 Teachers

509,242 Teachers

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

11:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	13:1	11:1
2024	13:1	11:1
2023	13:1	11:1
2022	13:1	11:1
2021	13:1	11:1
2020	13:1	12:1
2019	13:1	12:1
2018	14:1	12:1
2017	14:1	12:1
2016	14:1	12:1
2015	14:1	12:1

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Ratio down 1 student in Illinois private schools, from 14:1 in 2016 to 13:1 in 2025, while the U.S. improved from 12:1 to 11:1.

% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree

53%

55%

View Illinois Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	53%	55%
2024	52%	54%
2023	50%	54%
2022	51%	54%
2021	50%	54%
2020	50%	54%
2019	50%	53%
2018	49%	53%
2017	48%	53%
2016	49%	52%
2015	50%	52%

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Faculty advanced degrees up 4 points in Illinois, rising from 49% in 2016 to 53% in 2025.

Average Class Size

17 students

16 students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	17	15
2024	17	15
2023	17	15
2022	17	15
2021	17	15
2020	17	15
2019	17	15
2018	17	15
2017	17	15
2016	17	15
2015	17	15

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Class size higher by 2 in Illinois, with private schools at 17 students in 2016 and 2025 versus 15 nationally.

Average Number of AP Courses

11 courses

13 courses

View Illinois Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	9	12
2024	9	12
2023	9	11
2022	9	11
2021	9	11
2020	9	11
2019	8	11
2018	8	11
2017	8	10
2016	9	10
2015	9	10

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AP courses steady at 9 in Illinois private schools, while the national average rose from 10 in 2016 to 12 in 2025.

Average SAT score

1259

(Out of 1600)

1235

View Average Private School SAT Scores in Illinois

View Data

SAT Score Trends (2019-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	1258	1233
2024	1260	1230
2023	1245	1228
2022	1242	1229
2021	1252	1229
2020	1246	1226
2019	1239	1226

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SAT score up 19 points in Illinois private schools, from 1239 in 2019 to 1258 in 2025.

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

View Average Private School ACT Scores in Illinois

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

ACT Score Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	25	26
2024	25	26
2023	25	26
2022	25	26
2021	25	26
2020	25	25
2019	25	25
2018	25	25
2017	25	25
2016	24	25
2015	24	25

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ACT score up 1 point in Illinois private schools, from 24 in 2016 to 25 in 2017 and then holding at 25 through 2025.

Tuition & Aid

Average Yearly Tuition Cost

$10,412

$13,779

View Illinois Private Schools By Tuition Cost

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	$10,246	$13,694
2024	$10,017	$13,340
2023	$9,689	$12,825
2022	$9,343	$12,321
2021	$9,102	$12,072
2020	$8,906	$11,784
2019	$8,770	$11,547
2018	$8,608	$11,280
2017	$8,443	$10,994
2016	$8,143	$10,614
2015	$7,948	$10,195

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Tuition up 26% in Illinois, rising from $8,143 in 2016 to $10,246 in 2025.

Average Summer Program Cost

$961

$1,160

View Data

Summer Program Cost Trends (2019-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	$943	$1,152
2024	$947	$1,128
2023	$1,009	$1,156
2022	$1,138	$1,102
2021	$672	$1,125
2020	$667	$1,217
2019	$687	$1,305

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Summer cost down 7% in Illinois, from $1,009 in 2023 to $943 in 2025, while the national average was higher at $1,152.

Average % on Financial Aid

35%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	34%	34%
2024	33%	34%
2023	33%	34%
2022	32%	33%
2021	31%	33%
2020	32%	32%
2019	31%	31%
2018	30%	30%
2017	29%	30%
2016	29%	29%
2015	28%	28%

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Financial aid up 5 points in Illinois private schools, from 29% in 2016 to 34% in 2025, matching the national level.

Average Financial Aid Grant

$4,570

$7,693

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	$3,868	$7,073
2024	$3,415	$6,930
2023	$2,426	$6,469
2022	$2,492	$6,289
2021	$2,514	$6,055
2020	$2,509	$5,921
2019	$2,541	$5,795
2018	$2,466	$5,456
2017	$2,525	$5,319
2016	$2,614	$5,105
2015	$2,666	$5,030

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Grant aid up 60% in Illinois, rising from $2,426 in 2023 to $3,868 in 2025.

Average Acceptance Rate

89%

85%

View Most Selective Private Schools in Illinois

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	90%	85%
2024	90%	85%
2023	91%	85%
2022	91%	85%
2021	91%	85%
2020	91%	85%
2019	90%	85%
2018	90%	85%
2017	90%	85%
2016	92%	85%
2015	92%	85%

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Average Endowment Size

$12.3 million

$31.69 million

View Average Private School endowment in Illinois

View Data

Endowment Trends (2024-2025)

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	$14 M	$40 M
2024	$14 M	$39 M

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Students by Ethnicity

0.66

0.65

View Illinois Private Schools Minority Statistics

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Trends

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	0.66	0.65
2024	0.66	0.65
2023	0.66	0.65
2022	0.65	0.64
2021	0.65	0.64
2020	0.66	0.64
2019	0.65	0.63
2018	0.65	0.63
2017	0.62	0.61
2016	0.62	0.61
2015	0.63	0.61

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Diversity score up 4 points in Illinois private schools, rising from 0.62 in 2016 to 0.66 in 2025.

# American Indian Students

605 Students

29,810 Students

% American Indian Students

<1%

# Asian Students

10,480 Students

264,326 Students

% Asian Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Trends

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	5%	5%
2024	5%	5%
2023	5%	5%
2022	4%	4%
2021	5%	4%
2020	4%	4%
2019	4%	4%
2018	5%	4%
2017	4%	4%
2016	3%	4%
2015	4%	4%

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Asian share up 2 points in Illinois private schools, rising from 3% in 2016 to 5% in 2025.

# Hispanic Students

25,029 Students

506,562 Students

% Hispanic Students

10%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	10%	9%
2024	10%	9%
2023	10%	9%
2022	10%	8%
2021	10%	9%
2020	10%	9%
2019	9%	8%
2018	9%	8%
2017	9%	8%
2016	9%	8%
2015	9%	8%

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# Black Students

21,042 Students

415,491 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Trends

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	8%	7%
2024	8%	7%
2023	8%	8%
2022	8%	7%
2021	8%	7%
2020	9%	8%
2019	9%	7%
2018	9%	7%
2017	9%	7%
2016	9%	7%
2015	9%	8%

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Black student share down 1 point in Illinois private schools, from 9% in 2016 to 8% in 2025.

# White Students

128,851 Students

2,925,942 Students

% White Students

51%

52%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Trends

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	51%	52%
2024	51%	52%
2023	51%	52%
2022	53%	54%
2021	52%	54%
2020	52%	54%
2019	53%	56%
2018	53%	56%
2017	56%	58%
2016	56%	58%
2015	55%	58%

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White student share down 5 points in Illinois private schools, from 56% in 2016 to 51% in 2025.

# Hawaiian Students

338 Students

20,065 Students

% Hawaiian Students

<1%

# Others Students

65,188 Students

1,473,041 Students

% of Others Students

26%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 11-year historical data available below ↓

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

Year	Illinois (IL) Avg	National
2025	26%	26%
2024	26%	26%
2023	26%	25%
2022	25%	25%
2021	25%	25%
2020	25%	24%
2019	25%	24%
2018	24%	23%
2017	22%	22%
2016	23%	22%
2015	23%	21%

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Other-race share up 3 points in Illinois private schools, rising from 23% in 2016 to 26% in 2025.

All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars & Sports

Average Number of Extracurriculars

9 extracurriculars

Average Number of Sports

6 sports

7 sports

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Illinois?

The top-ranked private schools in Illinois include The Avery Coonley School, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and Morgan Park Academy.

How many private schools are located in Illinois?

There are 1,624 private schools are located in Illinois.

How much do private schools cost in Illinois?

The average private school tuition in Illinois is $9,535 for elementary schools and $14,271 for high schools

How diverse are private schools in Illinois?

Approximately 34% of students in Illinois private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).

What percentage of students in Illinois go to private school?

12% of all K-12 students in Illinois attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).

What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Illinois?

54% of private schools in Illinois are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Which private schools in Illinois are often viewed compared to one another?

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