Best Colleges in Illinois (2026)
201 colleges ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.
201
Colleges
$44,330
Avg Earnings (10yr)
$15,923
Avg Net Price
74%
Avg Admit Rate
56%
Avg Grad Rate
State Overview
Illinois is home to 201 colleges and universities, ranging from research universities to community colleges. University of Chicago leads the state in graduate earnings, with state alumni earning $44,330 on average ten years after enrollment. Whether you're looking for a flagship research university, a liberal arts college, or a career-focused program, Illinois offers diverse options across all price points.
Quick Facts — Illinois Colleges
Top 10 Colleges in Illinois by Graduate Earnings
Ranked by median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Public and private nonprofit only.
2
Northwestern University
Evanston·Private Nonprofit
Admit
8%
Net Price
$29,167
Grad Rate
95%
Earnings
$89,363
4
Lakeview College of Nursing
Danville·Private Nonprofit
Admit
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
N/A
Earnings
$84,522
5
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago·Private Nonprofit
Admit
55%
Net Price
$18,425
Grad Rate
75%
Earnings
$82,592
6
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign·Public
Admit
42%
Net Price
$14,355
Grad Rate
85%
Earnings
$81,054
7
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
Rockford·Private Nonprofit
Admit
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
N/A
Earnings
$77,709
9
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria·Private Nonprofit
Admit
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
N/A
Earnings
$72,850
10
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Quincy·Private Nonprofit
Admit
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
N/A
Earnings
$72,430
Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois
Lowest average net price after grants and scholarships. Public and private nonprofit only.
#5 Most AffordablePrivate Nonprofit
Trinity International University-IllinoisDeerfield, IL
$2,835/ yr avg net
46% grad rate
Popular Majors
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Find my Illinois collegeAll Colleges in Illinois
All 201 accredited institutions. Click column headers to sort.
| School | City | Type | Admit Rate | Net Price | Grad Rate | Earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adler University | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ambria College of Nursing | Hoffman Estates | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $67,290 |
| American Islamic College | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 100% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Americare Technical School | Park Ridge | Private For-Profit | 100% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private Nonprofit | 63% | $22,736 | 73% | $62,971 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private Nonprofit | 81% | $18,838 | 60% | $58,709 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $27,347 | N/A | $53,341 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private Nonprofit | 95% | $22,313 | 50% | $63,446 |
| Black Hawk College | Moline | Public | N/A | $6,944 | N/A | $37,253 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private Nonprofit | 63% | $18,460 | 57% | $46,802 |
| Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Quincy | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $72,430 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private Nonprofit | 77% | $22,719 | 76% | $66,852 |
| CAAN Academy of Nursing | Matteson | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| CALC Institute of Technology | Alton | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $32,088 |
| Cameo Beauty Academy | Oak Lawn | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,924 | N/A | $24,513 |
| Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,419 | N/A | $29,075 |
| Cannella School of Hair Design-Villa Park | Villa Park | Private For-Profit | N/A | $8,354 | N/A | $26,970 |
| Capital Area Career Center | Springfield | Public | 94% | $16,797 | N/A | $55,357 |
| Capri Beauty College | New Lenox | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,577 | N/A | $26,804 |
| Capri Beauty College | Oak Forest | Private For-Profit | N/A | $9,678 | N/A | $26,804 |
| Career Center of Southern Illinois | Red Bud | Public | 57% | $25,204 | N/A | $48,452 |
| Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg | Public | N/A | $3,662 | N/A | $35,274 |
| Chamberlain University-Illinois | Addison | Private For-Profit | 83% | $31,837 | 42% | $92,405 |
| Chicago Professional Center | Prospect Heights | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 43% | $12,335 | 15% | $42,778 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Chicago | Public | N/A | $7,397 | N/A | $36,531 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Chicago | Public | N/A | $7,863 | N/A | $36,484 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Chicago | Public | N/A | $9,494 | N/A | $28,467 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Public | N/A | $7,220 | N/A | $32,427 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College | Chicago | Public | N/A | $9,038 | N/A | $31,114 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Chicago | Public | N/A | $7,886 | N/A | $37,962 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago | Public | N/A | $6,375 | N/A | $41,625 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | N/A | $7,401 | N/A | $46,909 |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake | Public | N/A | $7,607 | N/A | $43,424 |
| Columbia College Chicago | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 89% | $26,598 | 52% | $42,195 |
| Concordia University-Chicago | River Forest | Private Nonprofit | 93% | $18,436 | 36% | $54,089 |
| Cosmetology & Spa Academy | Crystal Lake | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,708 | N/A | $29,779 |
| Cosmetology Concepts Niles | Niles | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,916 | N/A | $20,303 |
| Creative Touch Cosmetology School | Waterloo | Private For-Profit | N/A | $8,035 | N/A | N/A |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville | Public | N/A | $4,777 | N/A | $34,867 |
| Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology | Dekalb | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,133 | N/A | N/A |
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 76% | $30,902 | 68% | $68,751 |
| DeVry University-Illinois | Lisle | Private For-Profit | 98% | $30,770 | 37% | $45,987 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private Nonprofit | 90% | $11,745 | 55% | $60,327 |
| East-West University | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $21,697 | 16% | $29,963 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | Public | 65% | $12,786 | 47% | $51,989 |
| Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Peru | PERU | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,866 | N/A | $21,949 |
| Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Rockford | Rockford | Private For-Profit | N/A | $11,174 | N/A | $21,463 |
| Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling | Sterling | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,391 | N/A | $21,463 |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin | Public | N/A | $6,026 | N/A | $45,516 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private Nonprofit | 74% | $24,185 | 70% | $61,462 |
| Empire Beauty School-Stone Park | Stone Park | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,751 | N/A | $24,407 |
| Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills | Vernon Hills | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,906 | N/A | $24,407 |
| Estelle Medical Academy | Skokie | Private For-Profit | N/A | $8,628 | N/A | $24,290 |
| Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute | Skokie | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,488 | N/A | $25,148 |
| ETI School of Skilled Trades | Willowbrook | Private For-Profit | N/A | $22,126 | N/A | $52,800 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private Nonprofit | 85% | $17,349 | 42% | $51,641 |
| First Institute of Travel Inc. | Crystal Lake | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,528 | N/A | $36,196 |
| Fox College | Tinley Park | Private For-Profit | 70% | $13,109 | N/A | $41,539 |
| G Skin & Beauty Institute | Oakbrook | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,194 | N/A | $32,281 |
| G Skin & Beauty Institute | Schaumburg | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,847 | N/A | $29,032 |
| Gem City College | Quincy | Private For-Profit | N/A | $11,843 | N/A | $19,219 |
| Generations College | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $18,894 | N/A | $34,706 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 48% | $12,329 | 22% | $58,169 |
| Graham Hospital School of Nursing | Canton | Private Nonprofit | 100% | $21,228 | N/A | $63,586 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private Nonprofit | 98% | $19,533 | 40% | $46,827 |
| Hair Professionals Career College | Sycamore | Private For-Profit | N/A | $19,133 | N/A | $23,568 |
| Hair Professionals Career College | Palos Hills | Private For-Profit | N/A | $15,405 | N/A | $23,417 |
| Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology | Oswego | Private For-Profit | N/A | $19,050 | N/A | $23,412 |
| Heartland Community College | Normal | Public | N/A | $12,013 | N/A | $40,768 |
| Hebrew Theological College | Skokie | Private Nonprofit | 57% | $26,861 | 50% | $33,291 |
| Highland Community College | Freeport | Public | N/A | $5,713 | N/A | $37,928 |
| HVAC Technical Institute | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,403 | N/A | N/A |
| I M Beauty School | Glenview | Private For-Profit | N/A | $9,879 | N/A | N/A |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Public | N/A | $12,961 | N/A | $37,366 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private Nonprofit | 78% | $18,298 | 64% | $52,575 |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | Olney | Public | N/A | $10,092 | N/A | $37,533 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 55% | $18,425 | 75% | $82,592 |
| Illinois Media School | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $27,238 | N/A | $38,284 |
| Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $26,435 | N/A | $38,284 |
| Illinois State University | Normal | Public | 88% | $19,398 | 65% | $62,117 |
| Illinois Valley Community College | Oglesby | Public | N/A | $2,232 | N/A | $40,810 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private Nonprofit | 39% | $28,199 | 75% | $70,871 |
| John A Logan College | Carterville | Public | N/A | $5,541 | N/A | $34,096 |
| John Amico School of Hair Design | Oak Forest | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,035 | N/A | N/A |
| John Wood Community College | Quincy | Public | N/A | $7,050 | N/A | $38,631 |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | N/A | $1,672 | N/A | $42,889 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private Nonprofit | 48% | $18,558 | 60% | $56,313 |
| Kankakee Community College | Kankakee | Public | N/A | $4,665 | N/A | $38,767 |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Public | N/A | $6,477 | N/A | $38,801 |
| Kishwaukee College | Malta | Public | N/A | $4,574 | N/A | $39,657 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private Nonprofit | 71% | $24,595 | 68% | $54,820 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private Nonprofit | 57% | $28,673 | 78% | $61,825 |
| Lake Land College | Mattoon | Public | N/A | $2,254 | N/A | $38,877 |
| Lakeview College of Nursing | Danville | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $84,522 |
| Larry's Barber College | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,165 | N/A | N/A |
| Larry's Barber College | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $13,471 | N/A | N/A |
| Larry's Barber College-Joliet | Joliet | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,685 | N/A | N/A |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | Public | N/A | $3,349 | N/A | $37,724 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private Nonprofit | 71% | $17,028 | 67% | $66,099 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park | Melrose Park | Private For-Profit | N/A | $25,598 | N/A | $38,683 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Public | N/A | $4,299 | N/A | $38,479 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 82% | $36,079 | 73% | $71,530 |
| McHenry County College | Crystal Lake | Public | N/A | $7,042 | N/A | $45,143 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private Nonprofit | 72% | $24,717 | 53% | $58,572 |
| MDT College of Health Sciences | Chicago | Private For-Profit | 64% | $30,833 | N/A | $43,946 |
| Methodist College | Peoria | Private Nonprofit | 39% | $41,787 | 20% | $69,800 |
| Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Skokie | Skokie | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $44,136 |
| Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois | Springfield | Private For-Profit | N/A | $27,793 | N/A | $33,601 |
| Midwestern Career College | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,462 | N/A | $36,432 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private Nonprofit | 67% | $21,989 | 55% | $51,262 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private Nonprofit | 91% | $17,133 | 65% | $51,110 |
| Moody Bible Institute | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 83% | $22,221 | 62% | $45,399 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | Public | N/A | $2,829 | N/A | $43,892 |
| Morrison Institute of Technology | Morrison | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $20,639 | N/A | $63,571 |
| Morton College | Cicero | Public | N/A | $5,191 | N/A | $42,406 |
| Ms Roberts Academy of Beauty Culture | Hillside | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,747 | N/A | $24,535 |
| National Louis University | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 95% | $12,641 | 30% | $45,799 |
| National University of Health Sciences | Lombard | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $58,723 |
| Networks Barber College | Calumet City | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,810 | N/A | N/A |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private Nonprofit | 77% | $21,044 | 64% | $60,123 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 69% | $16,948 | 58% | $59,572 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 75% | $14,109 | 22% | $52,234 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | Public | 70% | $13,391 | 49% | $57,808 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private Nonprofit | 8% | $29,167 | 95% | $89,363 |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines | Public | N/A | $5,183 | N/A | $47,852 |
| Oehrlein School of Cosmetology | East Peoria | Private For-Profit | N/A | $11,671 | N/A | $18,890 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private Nonprofit | 56% | $20,729 | 61% | $53,213 |
| Pacific College of Health and Science | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | 78% | $26,209 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Public | N/A | $8,048 | N/A | $38,320 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,324 | N/A | $27,652 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Tinley Park | Tinley Park | Private For-Profit | N/A | $22,862 | N/A | $28,378 |
| Phipps Academy of Barbering | Richton Park | Private For-Profit | N/A | $17,509 | N/A | N/A |
| Pivot Point Academy | Bloomingdale | Private For-Profit | N/A | $9,920 | N/A | $30,453 |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Public | N/A | $4,738 | N/A | $36,696 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | 74% | N/A |
| Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy | Joliet | Private For-Profit | N/A | $13,273 | N/A | $30,341 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private Nonprofit | 51% | $20,359 | 45% | $50,369 |
| Rasmussen University-Illinois | Rockford | Private For-Profit | N/A | $19,854 | N/A | $39,080 |
| Reflections Academy of Beauty | Decatur | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,082 | N/A | N/A |
| Rend Lake College | Ina | Public | N/A | $9,187 | N/A | $35,775 |
| Richland Community College | Decatur | Public | N/A | $3,741 | N/A | $38,793 |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford | Public | N/A | $5,242 | N/A | $39,158 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private Nonprofit | 93% | $22,436 | 47% | $54,794 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 97% | $20,194 | 35% | $48,712 |
| Rosel School of Cosmetology | Niles | Private For-Profit | N/A | $6,062 | N/A | $19,819 |
| Rush University | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $75,194 |
| Saint Anthony College of Nursing | Rockford | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $77,709 |
| Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing | Peoria | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $72,850 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 84% | $10,970 | 57% | $58,656 |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon | Public | N/A | $8,493 | N/A | $40,458 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 77% | $49,790 | 67% | $40,151 |
| Shawnee Community College | Ullin | Public | N/A | $4,162 | N/A | $32,999 |
| Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $32,349 |
| South Suburban College | South Holland | Public | N/A | $3,242 | N/A | $33,680 |
| Southeastern Illinois College | Harrisburg | Public | N/A | $11,437 | N/A | $33,763 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | Public | 98% | $14,889 | 57% | $56,346 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 87% | $13,297 | 62% | $53,390 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | Public | N/A | $10,427 | N/A | $36,884 |
| Spoon River College | Canton | Public | N/A | $3,415 | N/A | $38,386 |
| St. John's College | Springfield | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $86,331 |
| State Career College | Gurnee | Private For-Profit | N/A | $26,376 | N/A | N/A |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | Rockford | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,601 | N/A | $34,104 |
| Stellar Career College | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $25,959 | N/A | $30,337 |
| Steven Papageorge Hair Academy | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,721 | N/A | $29,592 |
| Taylor Business Institute | Chicago | Private For-Profit | 91% | $12,982 | N/A | $25,559 |
| Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 100% | $7,626 | 0% | N/A |
| The Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness Chicago | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $33,008 | N/A | $31,369 |
| The Chicago School at Chicago | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 34% | N/A | N/A | $56,899 |
| The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology | Downers Grove | Private For-Profit | N/A | $17,688 | N/A | N/A |
| Trenz Beauty Academy | Calumet City | Private For-Profit | N/A | $0 | N/A | N/A |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture | Urbana | Private For-Profit | N/A | $25,061 | N/A | $18,077 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview | Bridgeview | Private For-Profit | N/A | $19,980 | N/A | $25,671 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NE | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $19,279 | N/A | $27,330 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,856 | N/A | $28,554 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin | Elgin | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,671 | N/A | $35,650 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Glendale Heights | Glendale Heights | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,384 | N/A | $27,330 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville | Libertyville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $22,123 | N/A | $35,650 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Normal | Normal | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,050 | N/A | $26,236 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Peoria | Peoria | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,433 | N/A | $26,236 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford | Rockford | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,655 | N/A | $25,109 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private Nonprofit | 85% | $19,125 | 58% | $55,700 |
| Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences | Rock Island | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $58,743 |
| Trinity International University-Illinois | Deerfield | Private Nonprofit | 100% | $2,835 | 46% | $46,989 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | N/A | $4,138 | N/A | $41,728 |
| Universal Spa Training Academy | Downers Grove | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,965 | N/A | $41,928 |
| Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc | Lisle | Private For-Profit | N/A | $27,060 | N/A | $52,873 |
| University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology | Chicago | Private For-Profit | N/A | $17,185 | N/A | $28,955 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 4% | $14,860 | 96% | $91,885 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | Public | 77% | $10,974 | 62% | $68,740 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 86% | $9,833 | 53% | $57,103 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | Public | 42% | $14,355 | 85% | $81,054 |
| University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts | Springfield | Private For-Profit | N/A | $16,000 | N/A | $27,084 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private Nonprofit | 65% | $13,006 | 67% | $63,926 |
| VanderCook College of Music | Chicago | Private Nonprofit | 89% | $19,780 | 67% | $47,863 |
| Verve College | Oak Brook | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | Public | N/A | $11,442 | N/A | $44,788 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 71% | $12,937 | 45% | $54,163 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private Nonprofit | 87% | $26,975 | 85% | $63,756 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Public | N/A | $11,607 | N/A | $48,071 |
| Worsham College of Mortuary Science | Wheeling | Private For-Profit | 92% | $26,781 | N/A | $61,574 |
Showing 201 of 201 schools