2026 Best Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Illinois
Higher Education/Higher Education Administration 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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for higher education/higher education administration students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Higher Education/Higher Education Administration in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall higher education/higher education administration education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in higher education/higher education administration. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 39 higher education/higher education administration degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from Northwestern University earn around $60,945 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in higher education/higher education administration from Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for higher education/higher education administration. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $61,834 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
See the full higher education/higher education administration program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Concordia University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in higher education/higher education administration, ranking #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. Concordia University Chicago graduates 36% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $91,059. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete this degree.
Read more about the higher education/higher education administration program at Concordia University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in higher education/higher education administration, ranking #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 15 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $55,802 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
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Students looking for a strong higher education/higher education administration program will find one at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $63,264 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,209.
See the full higher education/higher education administration program report for Northern Illinois University
National Louis University placed #6 among the best higher education/higher education administration schools. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. National Louis University awarded about 25 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from National Louis University earn around $87,412 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in higher education/higher education administration from National Louis University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #7 spot for higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $46,568 in their early career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans.
Get the full higher education/higher education administration details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 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.
