by our College Data Analytics TeamWith 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. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in Illinois ranking is part of that endeavor.
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We analyzed 45 colleges and universities across Illinois to determine which ones have the best bachelor's 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.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. After all, your degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
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 bachelor's degree. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty bachelor's recipients will have paying back their loans.
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking. 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.
To learn more, visit our best colleges ranking methodology page.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Chicago tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Illinois for overall quality. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 2,425 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UChicago make an average of $62,014 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 45 bachelor’s degree schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 2,688 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern make an average of $58,255 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $77,943.
Out of the 45 bachelor’s degree schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 9,150 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,930 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $39,870 in student loans.
Out of the 45 bachelor’s degree schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,286 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Loyola Chicago make an average of $46,339 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $64,440 after getting their degree.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Illinois list means DePaul University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,047 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from DePaul go into careers with an average salary of $42,807 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $52,069.
Illinois State University landed the #6 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 4,495 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State go into careers with an average salary of $45,541 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $28,139.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #7 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1,270 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Columbia make an average of $27,289 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $52,543.
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #8 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 5,250 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from UIC make an average of $43,660 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $23,914 in student loans.
Wheaton College Illinois did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #9. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Wheaton, Illinois, and it awarded 648 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,150 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,623 in student loans.
Northern Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 2,844 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from NIU make an average of $44,681 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,156.
Concordia University, Chicago landed the #11 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 329 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, Chicago make an average of $43,642 per year during the early years of their career.
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Illinois Wesleyan is located in Bloomington, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 404 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,808 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $35,316.
With a ranking of #13, Augustana College did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Rock Island, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 755 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Augustana go into careers with an average salary of $39,096 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $31,405 in student loans.
Bradley University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 1,190 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Bradley make an average of $49,862 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $45,608 in student loans.
Aurora University landed the #15 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Aurora is a private not-for-profit institution located in Aurora, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,249 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Aurora make an average of $43,277 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,988.
Illinois Institute of Technology ranked #16 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 627 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Tech is $62,507 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $33,353.
With a ranking of #17, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 437 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from University of Saint Francis go into careers with an average salary of $55,219 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $30,556 after getting their degree.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #18. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,385 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from SIUE go into careers with an average salary of $44,736 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $23,262.
Western Illinois University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,237 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from WIU make an average of $42,541 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,208 in student loans.
With a ranking of #20, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 831 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,584 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $29,531 after getting their degree.
Roosevelt University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 687 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,646 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $42,570 in student loans.
With a ranking of #22, Saint Xavier University did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 713 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from SXU make an average of $43,193 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $21,551 after getting their degree.
North Central College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 653 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from North Central is $42,999 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $32,632 in student loans.
Judson University did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. Judson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 241 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Judson make an average of $39,373 a year.
With a ranking of #25, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,016 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from SIUC go into careers with an average salary of $43,674 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $17,783.
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