2023 Best Colleges in Illinois
87
Colleges
$56,333
Avg Salary*
54%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Top Illinois Colleges ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Our analysis looked at 87 schools in Illinois to determine which ones were the best in terms of overall quality. To come up with this ranking, we look at more than 20 factors that are all objective measurements. These factors include freshman retention, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and post graduate earnings, among other things.
Find out more about our ranking methodology.
Customizing Your List
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location and field of study as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to veterans and returning adults or those who value diversity and value for your money.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head!
Top Colleges in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Northwestern University tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Illinois for overall quality. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9,290 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern make an average of $80,033 per year during the early years of their career.
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Out of the 87 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list.Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,805 students in 2020-2021.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 89%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UChicago go into careers with an average salary of $76,730 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Chicago Report
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in Illinois list means University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 15,117 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UIUC go into careers with an average salary of $71,539 during the early years of their career.
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Out of the 87 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 5,599 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Chicago go into careers with an average salary of $63,232 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Loyola University Chicago
Out of the 87 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Wheaton College Illinois landed the #5 spot on the list. Wheaton College Illinois is located in Wheaton, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 857 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,473 during the early years of their career..
Full Wheaton College Illinois Report
Illinois State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. Illinois State is located in Normal, Illinois and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5,907 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State make an average of $55,457 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Illinois State University
DePaul University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 6,382 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from DePaul go into careers with an average salary of $63,489 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on DePaul University
Illinois Institute of Technology came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2,044 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $77,682 during the early years of their career..
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Concordia University, Chicago landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. Located in River Forest, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2,010 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, Chicago is $46,133 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Concordia University, Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges in Illinois list. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 8,910 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UIC go into careers with an average salary of $59,780 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Report
With a ranking of #11, Bradley University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Illinois list.Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,675 students in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $61,889 during the early years of their career..
Full Bradley University Report
Rasmussen University - Illinois came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 1,107 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from Rasmussen University - Illinois make an average of $35,667 a year.
Read full report on Rasmussen University - Illinois
Columbia College Chicago came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. Columbia is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 1,409 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Columbia go into careers with an average salary of $41,679 during the early years of their career.
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Lake Forest College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in Illinois list. Lake Forest is located in Lake Forest, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 462 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $59,021 during the early years of their career..
Full Lake Forest College Report
Augustana College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges in Illinois list. Augustana College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Rock Island, Illinois that handed out 914 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Augustana is $58,227 during the early years of their career.
Full Augustana College Report
DeVry University - Illinois landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. This large private for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 6,865 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from DeVry University - Illinois make an average of $44,484 per year during the early years of their career.
Full DeVry University - Illinois Report
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. Illinois Wesleyan is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bloomington, Illinois. It awarded 393 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,966 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Illinois Wesleyan University
Aurora University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Illinois ranking, coming in at #18. Aurora is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Aurora, Illinois. It awarded 2,259 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,800 during the early years of their career..
Full Aurora University Report
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges in Illinois list. Harold Washington College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,139 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Harold Washington College make an average of $31,873 per year during the early years of their career.
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Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. Elmhurst is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,024 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst make an average of $56,183 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Elmhurst University Report
National Louis University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges in Illinois list.Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,175 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from NLU is $45,402 during the early years of their career.
Full National Louis University Report
College of Lake County ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in Illinois list.Grayslake, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,676 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from College of Lake County is $36,832 during the early years of their career.
Full College of Lake County Report
University of St Francis landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Illinois ranking. Located in Joliet, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,070 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from University of Saint Francis make an average of $59,498 per year during the early years of their career.
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Benedictine University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Illinois ranking.Lisle, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,943 students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Benedictine U go into careers with an average salary of $57,344 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Benedictine University
With a ranking of #25, Lewis University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Illinois list.Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,871 students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Lewis make an average of $55,906 a year.
Read full report on Lewis University
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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