2027 Best Finance Schools in Illinois
Finance programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best finance schools.
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Best Schools for Finance in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the finance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Finance
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in finance. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 38 finance students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in finance from Northwestern University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in finance, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 278 finance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $75,381 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full finance details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best finance schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 237 finance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $55,591. Typical student debt for the program is $17,625.
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Illinois State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best finance schools. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 168 finance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Illinois State University earn around $54,958 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full finance program report for Illinois State University
Students looking for a strong finance program will find one at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #5. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. Northern Illinois University awarded about 62 finance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $54,802 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Read more about the finance program at Northern Illinois University
Loyola University Chicago came in at #6 for finance this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 104 finance degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Finance graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $66,919 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $24,988 in student loans.
See the full finance program report for Loyola University Chicago
Depaul University landed the #7 spot for finance this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 230 finance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $66,863. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
Read more about the finance program at Depaul University
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #8 for finance this year. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 finance students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Illinois Wesleyan University earn around $62,619 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the finance program at Illinois Wesleyan University
Elmhurst College placed #9 among the best finance schools. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 finance degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $57,171. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete this degree.
See the full finance program report for Elmhurst College
Bradley University earned the #10 position for finance this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 finance students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the finance program make about $54,261 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,905 to complete this degree.
Read more about the finance program at Bradley University
Augustana College Illinois placed #11 among the best finance schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rock Island. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 27 finance students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Augustana College Illinois earn around $39,096 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,764.
Get the full finance details for Augustana College Illinois
Lake Forest College earned the #12 position for finance this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lake Forest. Lake Forest College graduates 78% of students within six years. About 30 finance degrees were awarded at Lake Forest College in the most recent year. Finance graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $61,264 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the finance program at Lake Forest College
Lewis University earned the #13 position for finance this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lewis University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 finance students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Lewis University earn around $52,742 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,688.
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North Central College came in at #14 for finance this year. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 32 finance degrees were awarded at North Central College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $51,420. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the finance program at North Central College
Dominican University placed #15 among the best finance schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 17 finance degrees were awarded at Dominican University in the most recent year. Finance graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,546 early in their careers. Dominican University graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans.
See the full finance program report for Dominican University
Benedictine University placed #16 among the best finance schools. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 16 finance degrees were awarded at Benedictine University in the most recent year. Students who receive their finance degree from Benedictine University earn around $51,444 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
See the full finance program report for Benedictine University
Aurora University came in at #17 for finance this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Aurora University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 finance students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Aurora University earn around $51,437 in the first couple years of their career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans.
More information about a degree in finance from Aurora University
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #18 for finance this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 finance degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $48,807. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $12,502 in student loans.
More information about a degree in finance from Northeastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best finance schools. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 finance students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Eastern Illinois University earn around $51,370 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,468.
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Saint Xavier University landed the #20 spot for finance this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Saint Xavier University awarded about 22 finance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $46,452. Typical student debt for the program is $23,326.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #21 for finance this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. About 60% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 21 finance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the finance program make about $48,708 in their early career. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $20,447 in student loans.
Read more about the finance program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Roosevelt University came in at #22 for finance this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roosevelt University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 finance students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the finance program make about $50,158 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the finance program at Roosevelt University
Western Illinois University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best finance schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 finance students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their finance degree from Western Illinois University earn around $47,926 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full finance details for Western Illinois University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 23 schools evaluated.
- 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.