Best Colleges in Illinois
The top colleges in Illinois by graduate outcomes, plus all 210 schools compared on cost, admissions, and earnings.
Best Colleges in Illinois, Ranked
The top 8 four-year colleges in Illinois by graduation rate and 10-year graduate earnings, from federal College Scorecard data. A data-backed shortlist to start from, not a substitute for finding the right fit.
- 1University of ChicagoChicago · Private nonprofit95%Grad$18,967Net Price$103,000Earnings
- 2Northwestern UniversityEvanston · Private nonprofit95%Grad$29,167Net Price$93,400Earnings
- 3University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign · Public85%Grad$15,201Net Price$70,900Earnings
- 4Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington · Private nonprofit83%Grad$29,550Net Price$67,300Earnings
- 5Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago · Private nonprofit72%Grad$19,353Net Price$78,000Earnings
- 6Wheaton CollegeWheaton · Private nonprofit85%Grad$26,975Net Price$60,500Earnings
- 7Loyola University ChicagoChicago · Private nonprofit77%Grad$35,196Net Price$63,500Earnings
- 8Augustana CollegeRock Island · Private nonprofit79%Grad$12,437Net Price$56,400Earnings
Public Universities(60)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign · Public
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago · Public
Illinois State University
Normal · Public
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn · Public
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb · Public
William Rainey Harper College
Palatine · Public
College of Lake County
Grayslake · Public
Joliet Junior College
Joliet · Public
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville · Public
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale · Public
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills · Public
Triton College
River Grove · Public
Elgin Community College
Elgin · Public
Oakton College
Des Plaines · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
Chicago · Public
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove · Public
Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville · Public
Illinois Central College
East Peoria · Public
Western Illinois University
Macomb · Public
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston · Public
Rock Valley College
Rockford · Public
McHenry County College
Crystal Lake · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
Chicago · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
Chicago · Public
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago · Public
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield · Public
Parkland College
Champaign · Public
Heartland Community College
Normal · Public
Morton College
Cicero · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College
Chicago · Public
Governors State University
University Park · Public
Lake Land College
Mattoon · Public
Prairie State College
Chicago Heights · Public
Black Hawk College
Moline · Public
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield · Public
Lewis and Clark Community College
Godfrey · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Chicago · Public
South Suburban College
South Holland · Public
John A Logan College
Carterville · Public
Kankakee Community College
Kankakee · Public
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby · Public
Kaskaskia College
Centralia · Public
Kishwaukee College
Malta · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
Chicago · Public
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College
Chicago · Public
Chicago State University
Chicago · Public
John Wood Community College
Quincy · Public
Danville Area Community College
Danville · Public
Richland Community College
Decatur · Public
Rend Lake College
Ina · Public
Sauk Valley Community College
Dixon · Public
Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg · Public
Highland Community College
Freeport · Public
Spoon River College
Canton · Public
Shawnee Community College
Ullin · Public
Southeastern Illinois College
Harrisburg · Public
Olney Central College
Olney · Public
Capital Area Career Center
Springfield · Public
Career Center of Southern Illinois
Red Bud · Public
Triton College - Intl Union of Operating Engr Local 399 Trning Fac.
Chicago · Public
Private Colleges & Universities(128)
DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle · Private for-profit
DePaul University
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Northwestern University
Evanston · Private nonprofit
University of Chicago
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago · Private nonprofit
National Louis University
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Aurora University
Aurora · Private nonprofit
Bradley University
Peoria · Private nonprofit
Lewis University
Romeoville · Private nonprofit
Saint Xavier University
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst · Private nonprofit
Roosevelt University
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais · Private nonprofit
Dominican University
River Forest · Private nonprofit
North Central College
Naperville · Private nonprofit
Augustana College
Rock Island · Private nonprofit
Wheaton College
Wheaton · Private nonprofit
North Park University
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Benedictine University
Lisle · Private nonprofit
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest · Private nonprofit
McKendree University
Lebanon · Private nonprofit
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington · Private nonprofit
Millikin University
Decatur · Private nonprofit
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park
Melrose Park · Private for-profit
Concordia University-Chicago
River Forest · Private nonprofit
Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois
Springfield · Private for-profit
University of St Francis
Joliet · Private nonprofit
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc
Lisle · Private for-profit
Rasmussen University-Illinois
Rockford · Private for-profit
Quincy University
Quincy · Private nonprofit
Knox College
Galesburg · Private nonprofit
Rockford University
Rockford · Private nonprofit
Illinois College
Jacksonville · Private nonprofit
Midwestern Career College
Chicago · Private for-profit
Greenville University
Greenville · Private nonprofit
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights · Private nonprofit
Judson University
Elgin · Private nonprofit
Monmouth College
Monmouth · Private nonprofit
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College
Rockford · Private for-profit
MDT College of Health Sciences
Chicago · Private for-profit
East-West University
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Eureka College
Eureka · Private nonprofit
G Skin & Beauty Institute
Schaumburg · Private for-profit
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview
Bridgeview · Private for-profit
ETI School of Skilled Trades
Willowbrook · Private for-profit
Cosmetology & Spa Academy
Crystal Lake · Private for-profit
Blackburn College
Carlinville · Private nonprofit
Principia College
Elsah · Private nonprofit
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago
Chicago · Private for-profit
Generations College
Chicago · Private nonprofit
HVAC Technical Institute
Chicago · Private for-profit
First Institute of Travel Inc.
Crystal Lake · Private for-profit
Paul Mitchell the School-Tinley Park
Tinley Park · Private for-profit
Fox College
Tinley Park · Private for-profit
Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy
Chicago · Private for-profit
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW
Chicago · Private for-profit
State Career College
Gurnee · Private for-profit
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Wheeling · Private for-profit
All private colleges & universities in this state
- Verve College· Oak Brook
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture· Urbana
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Normal· Normal
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford· Rockford
- University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts· Springfield
- John Amico School of Hair Design· Oak Forest
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville· Libertyville
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NE· Chicago
- Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago· Chicago
- Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute· Skokie
- Universal Spa Training Academy· Downers Grove
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin· Elgin
- Empire Beauty School-Stone Park· Stone Park
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Glendale Heights· Glendale Heights
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Peoria· Peoria
- Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology· Oswego
- Trenz Beauty Academy· Calumet City
- Pivot Point Academy· Bloomingdale
- Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology· Dekalb
- Taylor Business Institute· Chicago
- Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Rockford· Rockford
- CAAN Academy of Nursing· Matteson
- Zen Shiatsu Chicago· Evanston
- Chicago Professional Center· Prospect Heights
- Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness Chicago· Chicago
- Cameo Beauty Academy· Oak Lawn
- CALC Institute of Technology· Alton
- Hebrew Theological College· Skokie
- Paul Mitchell the School-Normal· Normal
- Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago· Chicago
- Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology· Bloomington
- Steven Papageorge Hair Academy· Chicago
- Larry's Barber College· Chicago
- Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus· Chicago
- Estelle Medical Academy· Skokie
- Hair Professionals Career College· Sycamore
- Oehrlein School of Cosmetology· East Peoria
- Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Peru· PERU
- Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling· Sterling
- Trinity International University-Illinois· Deerfield
- Rosel School of Cosmetology· Niles
- Morrison Institute of Technology· Morrison
- Networks Barber College· Calumet City
- Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy· Joliet
- Ms Roberts Academy of Beauty Culture· Hillside
- Paul Mitchell the School-Lombard· Lombard
- Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills· Vernon Hills
- Bell Mar Beauty College· Cicero
- Lincoln Christian University· Lincoln
- Cannella School of Hair Design-Villa Park· Villa Park
- Gem City College· Quincy
- Reflections Academy of Beauty· Decatur
- Phipps Academy of Barbering· Richton Park
- University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology· Downers Grove
- Graham Hospital School of Nursing· Canton
- Illinois Media School· Chicago
- Capri Beauty College· Oak Forest
- Cosmetology Concepts Niles· Niles
- Larry's Barber College-Joliet· Joliet
- Americare Technical School· Park Ridge
- Creative Touch Cosmetology School· Waterloo
- I M Beauty School· Glenview
- Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago· Chicago
- American Islamic College· Chicago
- National Latino Education Institute· Chicago
- Pivot Point Academy - Wahl Barber Academy· Chicago
- Phipps Academy of Barbering - Bradley· Bradley
- SAE Institute of Technology-Chicago· Chicago
Community & 2-Year Colleges(22)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
Addison · Private for-profit
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago · Private nonprofit
St. Augustine College
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Methodist College
Peoria · Private nonprofit
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria · Private nonprofit
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Quincy · Private nonprofit
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
Rockford · Private nonprofit
Rush University
Chicago · Private nonprofit
St. John's College-Department of Nursing
Springfield · Private nonprofit
Ambria College of Nursing
Hoffman Estates · Private for-profit
American Academy of Art College
Chicago · Private for-profit
Lakeview College of Nursing
Danville · Private nonprofit
VanderCook College of Music
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Rock Island · Private nonprofit
Chicago School at Chicago
Chicago · Private nonprofit
National University of Health Sciences
Lombard · Private nonprofit
Adler University
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Skokie
Skokie · Private for-profit
Midwestern University-Downers Grove
Downers Grove · Private nonprofit
Illinois College of Optometry
Chicago · Private nonprofit
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
North Chicago · Private nonprofit
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Updated regularly via automated sync. Contact schools directly for current requirements and costs.