by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a grad degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in Illinois ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
After analyzing 38 grad schools in Illinois, we came up with our list of those that offered the best master's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best grad schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a master's degree from the school. Recent students who earned a master's degree in Illinois entered the job market making an average of $59,317 while those in the top 25 schools on our list made an average of $60,051.
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that graduate students take on while pursuing their master's degree. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty master'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 Master'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.
We go into more detail on these factors on our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named University of Chicago the best grad school in Illinois in terms of overall quality for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,326 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from UChicago make an average of $73,139 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 in Illinois on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 5,216 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Northwestern make an average of $80,937 a year.
Out of the 38 master’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. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,812 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from UIUC make an average of $64,936 a year.
Read full report on University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Loyola University Chicago. The school came in at #4 in Illinois on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,245 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Loyola Chicago make an average of $57,705 per year during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Concordia University, Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Concordia University, Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,377 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,140 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, DePaul University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,751 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from DePaul make an average of $60,953 a year.
With a ranking of #7, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 1,110 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $81,811 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #8, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,193 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a master’s degree from UIC go into careers with an average salary of $63,995 during the early years of their career.
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #9 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheaton, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 176 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Wheaton College Illinois is $31,797 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #10, Aurora University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 903 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,745 during the early years of their career.
National Louis University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. NLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,095 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from NLU go into careers with an average salary of $51,267 during the early years of their career.
Bradley University landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Bradley University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 289 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $78,254 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #13, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 831 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Illinois State make an average of $52,034 per year during the early years of their career.
University of St Francis ranked #14 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 494 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $70,621 during the early years of their career.
Benedictine University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #15. Lisle, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 887 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Benedictine U go into careers with an average salary of $57,286 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #16, Columbia College Chicago did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 74 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Columbia is $34,835 during the early years of their career.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Olivet Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 452 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Olivet Nazarene make an average of $60,608 a year.
Elmhurst University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 246 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Elmhurst make an average of $70,866 per year during the early years of their career.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 676 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,054 during the early years of their career.
Lewis University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Romeoville, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 691 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Lewis go into careers with an average salary of $70,882 during the early years of their career.
Saint Xavier University landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 232 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from SXU make an average of $57,750 per year during the early years of their career.
North Central College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Naperville, Illinois, and it awarded 123 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from North Central is $59,779 during the early years of their career.
Dominican University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Dominican U is located in River Forest, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 322 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,335 during the early years of their career.
Northern Illinois University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 1,182 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,678 during the early years of their career.
Roosevelt University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #25. Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 665 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Roosevelt make an average of $46,881 per year during the early years of their career.
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