2026 Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in Illinois

Engineering & Applied Physics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for engineering & applied physics students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in Illinois

Best Schools for Engineering & Applied Physics in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall engineering & applied physics education in Illinois.

Top Schools in Engineering & Applied Physics

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

87 Engineering & Applied Physics Degrees Awarded

$64,304 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign the best school in the country for a degree in engineering & applied physics. 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 87 engineering & applied physics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering & applied physics program make about $64,304 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,136 in student loans. More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

Augustana College Illinois
Rock Island, IL

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

10 Engineering & Applied Physics Degrees Awarded

$54,165 Median Starting Salary

Augustana College Illinois is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering & applied physics, ranking #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Rock Island. Augustana College Illinois graduates 73% of students within six years. About 10 engineering & applied physics degrees were awarded at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering & applied physics program make about $54,165 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in engineering & applied physics from Augustana College Illinois

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 7 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.