2026 Best International Studies Schools in Illinois
International Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their international studies programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools to find the best for international studies students.
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Best Schools for International Studies in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall international studies education in Illinois.
Top Schools in International Studies
Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in international studies. 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. About 22 international studies degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. International Studies graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
Read more about the international studies program at Loyola University Chicago
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for international studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 international studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the international studies program make about $30,438 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,628 in student loans.
See the full international studies program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong international studies program will find one at Depaul University, which ranked #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 36 international studies degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, international studies degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $41,636. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $23,989 in student loans.
Read more about the international studies program at Depaul University
More International Studies Rankings
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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 · 19 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.
