2027 Best Computer Science Schools in Illinois
Computer Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools to find the best for computer science students.
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Best Schools for Computer Science in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall computer science education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Computer Science
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for computer science. 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 336 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Northwestern University earn around $99,981 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $14,600 in student loans.
See the full computer science program report for Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong computer science program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 1,684 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $135,600 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 454 computer science degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their computer science degree from University Of Chicago earn around $126,748 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top schools for computer science. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 35 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong computer science program will find one at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 586 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $89,963 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $19,087 in student loans.
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Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #6 for computer science 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 10 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Illinois Wesleyan University earn around $50,808 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans.
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Elmhurst College earned the #7 position for computer science this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Elmhurst College earn around $72,910 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete this degree.
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Wheaton College Illinois ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wheaton. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. Wheaton College Illinois awarded about 17 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $81,470 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,292.
See the full computer science program report for Wheaton College Illinois
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #9 position for computer science this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 778 computer science degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $89,577 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University placed #10 among the best computer science schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 69 computer science degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $81,363 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #11 among the best computer science schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 89 computer science degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $76,106 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,745.
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Knox College placed #12 among the best computer science schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Galesburg. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Knox College in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Knox College earn a median of $27,822 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,673.
More information about a degree in computer science from Knox College
Rockford College landed the #13 spot for computer science this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rockford. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Rockford College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Rockford College earn around $56,020 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,094 to complete this degree.
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Northern Illinois University earned the #14 position for computer science this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 214 computer science degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $77,257 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,966.
See the full computer science program report for Northern Illinois University
Governors State University earned the #15 position for computer science this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. There were roughly 159 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $52,115. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
See the full computer science program report for Governors State University
Lewis University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 315 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $74,918 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Bradley University earned the #17 position for computer science this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $66,457 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Northeastern Illinois University landed the #18 spot for computer science this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. About 22% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 97 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Northeastern Illinois University earn around $62,831 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the computer science program at Northeastern Illinois University
University Of Illinois At Springfield ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. University Of Illinois At Springfield awarded about 265 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $85,117 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $30,301 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from University Of Illinois At Springfield
Augustana College Illinois ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rock Island. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Augustana College Illinois awarded about 33 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Augustana College Illinois generally make around $74,745. Augustana College Illinois graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from Augustana College Illinois
Lake Forest College came in at #21 for computer science this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 21 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Lake Forest College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $48,587. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 89 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $70,053 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Chicago State University earned the #23 position for computer science this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 16%. Chicago State University awarded about 75 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Chicago State University generally make around $47,477. Students borrow a median of $43,322 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for Chicago State University
Aurora University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best computer science schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 26 computer science degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Aurora University earn around $51,605 in the first couple years of their career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $25,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from Aurora University
North Central College came in at #25 for computer science this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. North Central College graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 computer science students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of North Central College earn a median of $53,544 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,678 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in computer science from North Central College
Rest of the Top 28 Computer Science Schools
These schools also placed among the best for computer science this year:
More Computer Science Rankings
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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 · 28 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.