2026 Best Value Electrician Schools in Illinois
[Electrician](/majors/construction-trades/electrical-power-transmission-installers/electrician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for electrician students.
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2026 Best Value Electrician Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the electrician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Electrician Schools
For return on investment in electrician, no school beat City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $7,500. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Illinois Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in electrician, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $8,099. Electrician graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. Set against $8,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Prairie State College one of the best values for electrician. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. Students from in state pay about $4,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Electrician graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans. Early-career electrician graduates make about $37,500. Set against $15,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at John Wood Community College earned it the #4 place for electrician. John Wood Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Quincy. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,700. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $13,844. Soon after graduation, electrician degree recipients from John Wood Community College generally make around $45,748. That is a strong return on a $13,844 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Kaskaskia College one of the best values for electrician. Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Centralia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Electrician graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Early-career electrician graduates make about $45,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value electrician schools. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the electrician program here. Early-career electrician graduates make about $44,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rock Valley College placed #7 among the best values for electrician. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,379. Electrician graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. Early-career electrician graduates make about $41,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hvac Technical Institute came in at #8 for value in electrician this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Hvac Technical Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Electrician graduates carry a median of $6,861 in student loans. Early-career electrician graduates make about $32,208.
Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park earned the #9 position for value in electrician this year. Located in the suburb of Melrose Park, Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Typical student debt for electrician graduates is $19,858. Electrician graduates of Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park earn a median of $38,050 early in their careers. Set against $19,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
