Average IQ in Illinois
Average IQ
100.1
US Ranking
#22
of 50 states
Region
Midwest
Note: State-level IQ estimates are derived from standardized test scores (NAEP, SAT, ACT) and demographic data. They reflect population-level trends influenced by education funding, socioeconomic factors, and demographics — not the intelligence of any individual resident.
About Illinois's IQ Ranking
Illinois sits right at the national average, reflecting the contrast between Chicago's world-class university system and knowledge economy and the state's rural downstate communities. The University of Chicago, Northwestern, and the University of Illinois are all top research institutions. Chicago's finance, technology, and professional services sectors attract educated workers, but the state also has significant poverty concentrations.
What Shapes Illinois's Cognitive Profile
For years Illinois ran the most regressive school funding system in America, with wealthy districts outspending poor ones by wider margins than anywhere else, until the 2017 evidence-based funding formula began narrowing the gap. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign produces among the most computer science and engineering graduates of any US campus, but a majority leave the state, a brain drain Chicago's tech scene only partly stems. Two national laboratories, Argonne and Fermilab, sit in the western suburbs and employ thousands of physicists and engineers. Chicago's selective enrollment high schools, including Walter Payton and Northside Prep, rank among the strongest public schools in the country, coexisting with neighborhood schools serving deep poverty a few miles away. Repeated census estimates of population decline skew the remaining population older. Downstate, attainment in counties south of Springfield resembles neighboring Kentucky more than Chicagoland. The estimated state average balances these opposing weights almost exactly at the national mean.
For global context, see how the US compares in our United States IQ page and the full country rankings.
Illinois vs Other Midwest States
| State | Average IQ | US Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 100.1 | #22 |
| Minnesota | 103.7 | #5 |
| Iowa | 103.2 | #8 |
| Wisconsin | 102.9 | #10 |
| North Dakota | 102.7 | #10 |
| Nebraska | 101.4 | #15 |
| South Dakota | 101.4 | #15 |
| Kansas | 101.7 | #16 |
| Ohio | 99.8 | #24 |
| Michigan | 99.4 | #25 |
| Missouri | 99.5 | #26 |
| Indiana | 99.3 | #27 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average IQ in Illinois?
Illinois' estimated average IQ is 100.1, essentially the national average, ranking #22. Chicago's educated workforce is balanced by more modest educational outcomes in rural areas.
How does Chicago affect Illinois' ranking?
Chicago is a double-edged sword — its universities and professional class raise the average, but concentrated poverty in South and West Side neighborhoods pulls it down. Suburban Chicagoland generally scores well above average.
How does Illinois compare to other Midwest states?
Illinois (100.1) lags behind Minnesota (103.7) and Wisconsin (102.9) but leads Indiana and Ohio. The northern Midwest states generally outperform the lower Midwest.
Explore Other States
Take our free IQ test to see how you compare, or learn what IQ actually measures.
MyIQScores Editorial Team
Researchers in cognitive psychology, psychometrics & educational science
Last updated
May 10, 2026
All content on MyIQScores is reviewed for scientific accuracy against peer-reviewed research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics. Our editorial team cross-references each article with published literature before publication and updates pages whenever new research warrants a revision.