Elmhurst University

Private · Moderately Selective · IL

Photo: Teemu08 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationIL · Midwest

SettingSuburban

Undergrads3,006

Student:faculty15:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate56.6%

6-yr grad rate70%

Drop-out rate20.1%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$43k

Out-of-state tuition$43k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity55.8%

Gender diversity61.9%

International4.3%

IdentityUnited Church of Christ

Overview

Elmhurst University is a private university in Elmhurst, Illinois, a leafy suburb west of Chicago, affiliated with the United Church of Christ. The campus itself is registered as an arboretum, giving it a distinctly wooded, tree-lined character uncommon for a suburban, commuter-accessible school, and the Chicago Loop is reachable directly by commuter rail from the edge of campus.

Academics

Nursing, business, and education are Elmhurst's strongest and most established programs, taught in small classes that give the university a more personal feel than its size might suggest.

Campus & student life

The arboretum campus and easy rail access to downtown Chicago give Elmhurst a dual character — a quiet, green suburban setting with a genuine city connection for internships, entertainment, and jobs.

Worth knowing

The direct commuter-rail link to the Loop is a practical, everyday feature that matters for students who want Chicago access without living in the city itself, and the arboretum designation is a real, distinguishing campus feature rather than incidental landscaping.

elmhurst.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate73.6%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 990–1260 · ACT 23–30

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying