2027 Best Engineering Schools in Illinois
Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for engineering students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Engineering in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall engineering education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Engineering
No school ranked higher than University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year for engineering. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 2,918 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $89,042. Typical student debt for the program is $20,628.
More information about a degree in engineering from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong engineering program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 872 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $88,382. Typical student debt for the program is $16,567.
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University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 155 engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $81,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
See the full engineering program report for University Of Chicago
College Of Dupage is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. About 25 engineering degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for College Of Dupage
North Central College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 24 engineering students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from North Central College earn around $46,247 in the first couple years of their career. North Central College graduates carry a median of $25,699 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for North Central College
Illinois Central College landed the #6 spot for engineering this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. There were roughly 26 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Central College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Illinois Central College earn around $53,190 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,222.
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North Park University came in at #7 for engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. North Park University awarded about 12 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from North Park University earn around $51,611 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,360.
See the full engineering program report for North Park University
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #8 spot for engineering this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 766 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $75,067. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,586 in student loans.
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Harper College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Harper College awarded about 90 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University came in at #10 for engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 22 engineering degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $121,173 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from Depaul University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. About 300 engineering degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $68,853 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,142 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
College Of Lake County landed the #12 spot for engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. College Of Lake County awarded about 25 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Typical student debt for the program is $9,785.
More information about a degree in engineering from College Of Lake County
Mchenry County College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. There were roughly 18 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Mchenry County College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Mchenry County College earn around $24,177 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,440.
More information about a degree in engineering from Mchenry County College
Rock Valley College landed the #14 spot for engineering this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. Rock Valley College awarded about 44 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Rock Valley College earn around $41,080 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,236 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from Rock Valley College
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #15 position for engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 39 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Moraine Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for Moraine Valley Community College
Bradley University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 195 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $73,106 in their early career. Bradley University graduates carry a median of $26,978 in student loans.
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Olivet Nazarene University came in at #17 for engineering this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 32 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $66,394 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College landed the #18 spot for engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College awarded about 100 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $33,073 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,093 to complete this degree.
Read more about the engineering program at City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #19 position for engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 669 engineering degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $74,385 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,201.
More information about a degree in engineering from Illinois Institute Of Technology
Loyola University Chicago landed the #20 spot for engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 49 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $68,020 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Loyola University Chicago
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College came in at #21 for engineering this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chicago. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College awarded about 21 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete this degree.
See the full engineering program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College
Northern Illinois University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 214 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $74,997. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,698 in student loans.
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Augustana College Illinois ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. Augustana College Illinois awarded about 14 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $54,165 in their early career. Augustana College Illinois graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Augustana College Illinois
Parkland College placed #24 among the best engineering schools. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 12 engineering degrees were awarded at Parkland College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Parkland College generally make around $40,409. Parkland College graduates carry a median of $10,168 in student loans.
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City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College placed #25 among the best engineering schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 15 engineering students who graduated with this degree at City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $33,960 early in their careers. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College graduates carry a median of $11,533 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College
Rest of the Top 28 Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong engineering education:
More Engineering Rankings
View All Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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.
