With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Illinois Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
We analyzed 46 colleges and universities across Illinois to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Higher Than Average Earnings
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. Recent students who earned a associate degree in Illinois entered the job market making an average of $36,626 while those in the top 25 schools on our list made an average of $36,638.
Starting Salary ( 30519 to 44196 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their associate degree.
During their time at college, associate degree seekers from schools in Illinois take out an average of $15,120.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
Our Best Associate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best associate degree schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
College of Lake County tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in Illinois for overall quality. College of Lake County is a public institution located in Grayslake, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,249 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from College of Lake County make an average of $51,165 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,262.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rasmussen University - Illinois. The school came in at #2 in Illinois on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in Rockford, Illinois, and it awarded 715 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Rasmussen University - Illinois make an average of $39,207 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $25,834 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $175 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
The excellent associate degree programs at Southern Illinois University Carbondale helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Illinois. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, the fairly large public school awarded 60 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from SIUC make an average of $39,299 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,250.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William Rainey Harper College. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Palatine, Illinois, the fairly large public school awarded 2,027 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Harper College make an average of $45,628 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,239 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Elgin Community College. The school came in at #5 in Illinois on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. ECC is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,169 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from ECC make an average of $37,005 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,618 after getting their degree.
City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Olive-Harvey College is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 153 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Olive-Harvey College make an average of $24,046 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,657 in student loans.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1,283 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $25,960 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $7,984 after getting their degree.
College of DuPage came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. COD is a large public school situated in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. It awarded 2,258 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from COD make an average of $24,970 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,615 in student loans.
Oakton Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #9. Oakton Community College is located in Des Plaines, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 745 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Oakton Community College make an average of $42,340 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $7,156 in student loans.
With a ranking of #10, Moraine Valley Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Palos Hills, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,991 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from MVCC make an average of $38,173 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,508 in student loans.
Triton College landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in River Grove, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 943 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Triton College make an average of $40,820 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,022 in student loans.
With a ranking of #12, South Suburban College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. SSC is a public institution located in South Holland, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 323 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from SSC make an average of $36,045 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,346.
With a ranking of #13, Waubonsee Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Waubonsee is located in Sugar Grove, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,042 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from Waubonsee make an average of $34,527 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,139.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. This medium-sized public school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 899 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Wilbur Wright College is $27,991 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $6,185.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. LLCC is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 798 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from LLCC make an average of $35,544 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,664 in student loans.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Harry S Truman College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 385 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Harry S Truman College is $25,914 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,500.
With a ranking of #17, Prairie State College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, the small public school awarded 422 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Prairie State College make an average of $45,239 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $15,026 in student loans.
McHenry County College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 770 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from MCC is $38,773 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $7,542.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Malcolm X College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 739 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Malcolm X College is $35,067 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,690 after getting their degree.
Joliet Junior College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large public school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 1,517 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Joliet Junior College is $34,492 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,257 in student loans.
Rock Valley College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Rock Valley College is a medium-sized public school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 953 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Rock Valley College make an average of $44,197 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,385 in student loans.
Carl Sandburg College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Carl Sandburg College is a small public school situated in Galesburg, Illinois. It awarded 362 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Carl Sandburg College go into careers with an average salary of $39,200 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $7,469.
Shawnee Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. This small public school is located in Ullin, Illinois, and it awarded 246 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,255 during the early years of their career.
Illinois Central College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. Located in East Peoria, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 971 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from ICC make an average of $38,746 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,594.
With a ranking of #25, Danville Area Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Danville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 269 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from DACC go into careers with an average salary of $37,358 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,409 in student loans.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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