Established in 1870, this Jesuit university is ranked a top national school, and is one of the largest of the country's 28 Jesuit institutions, with three campuses in the greater Chicago area, plus the Rome Center in Italy. Total enrollment is just under 15,000, with 40 percent of students coming from outside of Illinois.

Prospective students looking for a university in an urban setting will find much to like about Loyola's Rogers Park setting: it skirts Lake Michigan (and plenty of beach) and comes surrounded by fun spots like Cafe Ennui, Heartland Cafe and Morseland.