2027 Best Value Health Professions Schools in Illinois
[Health Professions](/majors/health-care-professions/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 103 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for health professions students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Health Professions Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in health professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Health Professions Schools
Joliet Junior College earned the #1 spot for value among health professions schools in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $15,463. Early-career health professions graduates make about $60,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Land College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health professions, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,048 to complete the health professions program here. Health Professions graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $51,981 early in their careers. Set against $9,048 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Moraine Valley Community College one of the best values for health professions. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $14,673 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $59,150. That is a strong return on a $14,673 median debt.
Illinois Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in health professions, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $12,102. Health Professions graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $61,034 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Carl Sandburg College one of the best values for health professions. Set in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,390, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Students borrow a median of $9,460 to complete the health professions program here. Health Professions graduates of Carl Sandburg College earn a median of $66,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value health professions schools. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $11,428. Health Professions graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $54,906 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shawnee Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value health professions schools. Located in the rural area of Ullin, Shawnee Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,650 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,162 to complete the health professions program here. Health Professions graduates of Shawnee Community College earn a median of $56,436 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,162 median debt.
Richland Community College came in at #8 for value in health professions this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,680 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Health Professions graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $57,503 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
South Suburban College came in at #9 for value in health professions this year. Located in the suburb of South Holland, South Suburban College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,093, with out-of-state students paying around $12,683. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $8,307. Health Professions graduates of South Suburban College earn a median of $51,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,307 median debt.
Elgin Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value health professions schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $10,793 in student loans. Health Professions graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $61,093 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Area Community College landed the #11 spot for health professions value this year. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,440, while out-of-state students pay about $7,440. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $11,340. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $61,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Land Community College placed #12 among the best values for health professions. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,744, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,437 to complete the health professions program here. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $58,128. Set against $17,437 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity International University Illinois came in at #13 for value in health professions this year. Set in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,320. Students borrow a median of $26,892 to complete the health professions program here. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from Trinity International University Illinois generally make around $41,182. Set against $26,892 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Triton College earned the #14 position for value in health professions this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $16,247 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $62,313. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spoon River College came in at #15 for value in health professions this year. Spoon River College is a small public school located in the rural area of Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,090, with out-of-state students paying around $13,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,386.
Kishwaukee College landed the #16 spot for health professions value this year. Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Malta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $13,680 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,328 to complete the health professions program here. Early-career health professions graduates make about $49,242. That is a strong return on a $10,328 median debt.
Kankakee Community College placed #17 among the best values for health professions. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $16,984 in student loans. Health Professions graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $61,148 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,984 median debt.
Oakton Community College came in at #18 for value in health professions this year. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,985, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the health professions program here. Early-career health professions graduates make about $65,524. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County came in at #19 for value in health professions this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $11,993 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $65,387. That is a strong return on a $11,993 median debt.
Rock Valley College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value health professions schools. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,334, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $15,640. Early-career health professions graduates make about $63,917. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Prairie State College placed #21 among the best values for health professions. Located in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,176 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,064. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $18,369 in student loans. Health Professions graduates of Prairie State College earn a median of $45,749 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earned the #22 position for value in health professions this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $13,707. Soon after graduation, health professions degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College generally make around $50,233. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John A Logan College came in at #23 for value in health professions this year. Set in the town of Carterville, John A Logan College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $7,540. Health Professions graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Early-career health professions graduates make about $59,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage placed #24 among the best values for health professions. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,889 to complete the health professions program here. Health Professions graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $59,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,889 median debt.
Highland Community College Freeport landed the #25 spot for health professions value this year. Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Freeport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,936, compared with $7,360 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for health professions graduates is $17,500. Health Professions graduates of Highland Community College Freeport earn a median of $62,499 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Health Professions Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s health professions value ranking:
More Health Professions Rankings
View All Health Professions Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 103 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.
