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Best Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

Explore colleges in Illinois recruiting Women's Basketball athletes, most popular programs first. Open any school to see its division, costs and coaches, or let our basketball recruiting platform email every coach for you.

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381 coaches recruiting Women's Basketball in Illinois
Overview

Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

How the programs break down by division, conference, cost and size. Updated October 2026.

Programs
85
Coaches recruiting
381
  • 12Division I
  • 6Division II
  • 22Division III
  • 7NAIA
  • 37Junior college

Illinois has 85 colleges with Women's Basketball programs. Of those, 12 compete in NCAA Division I, 6 in NCAA Division II, 22 in NCAA Division III, 7 in the NAIA and 37 at the junior college level. The most popular programs are Northwestern University, DePaul University and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Their head coaches are Carla Berube at Northwestern University, Jill M. Pizzotti at DePaul University and Samantha Quigley Smith at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. 26 schools compete in the Region 4, the most common conference.

Lowest net priceLewis and Clark Community College · $2,781Average yearly cost after aidMost selectiveUniversity of Chicago · 4%Acceptance rateLargest campusUniversity of Illinois, Chicago · 33,906Undergraduate students
All programs

Every Women's Basketball program in Illinois

Open any school to see its coaches, costs and admissions.

Division I · 12

Northwestern University logoNorthwestern UniversityEvanston · Big Ten · Coach Carla BerubeDePaul University logoDePaul UniversityChicago · Big East · Coach Jill M. PizzottiSouthern Illinois University, Carbondale logoSouthern Illinois University, CarbondaleCarbondale · Missouri Valley · Coach Samantha Quigley SmithIllinois State University logoIllinois State UniversityNormal · Missouri Valley · Coach Kristen Gillespie

Division II · 6

McKendree University logoMcKendree UniversityLebanon · Great Lakes Valley · Coach Kari KerkhoffUniversity of Illinois Springfield logoUniversity of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield · Great Lakes Valley · Coach Olivia BirtLewis University logoLewis UniversityRomeoville · Great Lakes Valley · Coach Dodie Dunson Jr.Quincy University logoQuincy UniversityQuincy · Great Lakes Valley · Coach Ali Schwagmeyer-Belger

Division III · 22

University of Chicago logoUniversity of ChicagoChicago · Midwest · Coach Michelle Gardner-BilekNorth Central College logoNorth Central CollegeNaperville · College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin · Coach Maggie McCloskey-BaxAugustana College logoAugustana CollegeRock Island · College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin · Coach Jordan DelpWheaton College logoWheaton CollegeWheaton · College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin · Coach Kent Madsen

NAIA · 7

Olivet Nazarene University logoOlivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais · Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic · Coach Caleb JohnsonGovernors State University logoGovernors State UniversityUniversity Park · Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic · Coach Tonishea MackUniversity of Saint Francis logoUniversity of Saint FrancisJoliet · Coach Jimmy CopenhaverUniversity of St Francis logoUniversity of St FrancisJoliet · Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic · Coach John McGinty

Junior college · 37

Lake Land College logoLake Land CollegeMattoon · Region 24 · Coach David JohnsonHighland Community College logoHighland Community CollegeFreeport · Region 24 · Coach Joshua GlaweLewis and Clark Community College logoLewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey · Region 24 · Coach Annie BourneIllinois Central College logoIllinois Central CollegeEast Peoria · Region 24 · Coach Karrie Redeker

Other associations · 1

Moody Bible Institute logoMoody Bible InstituteChicago · NCCAA Division II, Midwest · Coach Michael Chapin
Questions

Questions about Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

Quick answers about the programs and how to reach their coaches.

How many colleges in Illinois have Women's Basketball?

85 colleges in Illinois have Women's Basketball programs: 12 Division I, 6 Division II, 22 Division III, 7 NAIA and 37 Junior college.

Which colleges in Illinois have D1 Women's Basketball?

12 colleges in Illinois compete in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball: Bradley University, Chicago State University, DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Loyola University Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University and 4 more.

Which colleges in Illinois have D2 Women's Basketball?

6 colleges in Illinois compete in NCAA Division II Women's Basketball: Lewis University, McKendree University, Quincy University, Roosevelt University, University of Illinois Springfield and University of Illinois, Springfield.

Which colleges in Illinois have D3 Women's Basketball?

22 colleges in Illinois compete in NCAA Division III Women's Basketball: Augustana College, Aurora University, Benedictine University, Blackburn College, Concordia University, Chicago, Dominican University, Elmhurst University, Eureka College and 14 more.

Which colleges in Illinois have NAIA Women's Basketball?

7 colleges in Illinois compete in NAIA Women's Basketball: Governors State University, Judson University, Olivet Nazarene University, Trinity Christian College, University of Saint Francis, University of St Francis and Xavier University.

Which colleges in Illinois have JUCO Women's Basketball?

37 colleges in Illinois compete in NJCAA junior college Women's Basketball: Carl Sandburg College, City Colleges of Chicago, Harry S Truman College, City Colleges of Chicago, Kennedy-King College, City Colleges of Chicago, Olive-Harvey College, City Colleges of Chicago, Richard J Daley College, City Colleges of Chicago, Wilbur Wright College, College of DuPage, College of Lake County and 29 more.

What is the most affordable college in Illinois with Women's Basketball?

Lewis and Clark Community College has the lowest average net price at $2,781 a year after grants and scholarships.

What conference do most Women's Basketball programs in Illinois compete in?

The Region 4 has the most Women's Basketball programs in Illinois.

Who are the Women's Basketball head coaches in Illinois?

Carla Berube (Northwestern University), Jill M. Pizzotti (DePaul University), Samantha Quigley Smith (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale), Kristen Gillespie (Illinois State University), Jacey Brooks (Northern Illinois University), Morgan Paige (Loyola University Chicago), Marqus McGlothan (Eastern Illinois University) and Samantha Quigley Smith (Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville).

How do I contact Women's Basketball coaches in Illinois?

There are 381 coaches recruiting Women's Basketball in Illinois. Start a free 7-day AthleticScholar trial to see who recruits your position and send personal messages from your own Gmail, with follow-ups until they reply.

By division

Women's Basketball colleges by division in Illinois

The most popular programs at each level, with links to the full lists.

D1 Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

12 schools in Illinois compete in NCAA Division I.

D2 Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

6 schools in Illinois compete in NCAA Division II.

D3 Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

22 schools in Illinois compete in NCAA Division III. The 12 most popular are listed below.

See all 22 D3 Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

NAIA Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

7 schools in Illinois compete in NAIA.

JUCO Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois

37 schools in Illinois compete in NJCAA junior college. The 12 most popular are listed below.

See all 37 JUCO Women's Basketball colleges in Illinois