2026 Best Value Project Management Schools in Illinois

[Project Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/project-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value project management schools.
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2026 Best Value Project Management Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the project management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Project Management Schools
Millikin University tops our 2026 list of the best value project management schools in Illinois. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the project management program here. Project Management graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $55,915 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in project management, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Project Management graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $68,181 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Roosevelt University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in project management, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,300 to complete the project management program here. Early-career project management graduates make about $50,101. That is a strong return on a $20,300 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Elmhurst College earned it the #4 place for project management. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. Project Management graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Project Management graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $62,290 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,750 median debt. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Benedictine University earned it the #5 place for project management. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,648 in tuition and fees. Project Management graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $54,212. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Judson University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value project management schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,297. Typical student debt for project management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, project management degree recipients from Judson University generally make around $47,550. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.