2026 Best General Psychology Schools in Illinois
General Psychology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general psychology programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 49 schools to find the best for general psychology students.
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Best Schools for General Psychology in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general psychology education in Illinois.
Top Schools in General Psychology
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for general psychology. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 111 general psychology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. General Psychology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $44,088 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general psychology program report for Northwestern University
Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 188 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $43,942 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general psychology program at Illinois State University
Students looking for a strong general psychology program will find one at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 353 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $30,565 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top schools for general psychology. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 232 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $32,463 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Loyola University Chicago
Wheaton College Illinois is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general psychology, ranking #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wheaton. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. About 35 general psychology degrees were awarded at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year. General Psychology graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $31,658 early in their careers. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for Wheaton College Illinois
Depaul University came in at #6 for general psychology 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%. There were roughly 187 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Depaul University earn around $33,820 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Depaul University
Elmhurst College earned the #7 position for general psychology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 83 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Elmhurst College earn around $32,553 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Northern Illinois University placed #8 among the best general psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 245 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $59,994 in their early career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,194 in student loans.
Read more about the general psychology program at Northern Illinois University
Dominican University came in at #9 for general psychology this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Dominican University graduates 55% of students within six years. Dominican University awarded about 48 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $30,846. Dominican University graduates carry a median of $23,832 in student loans.
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Aurora University came in at #10 for general psychology this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 89 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $31,484 in their early career. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Eastern Illinois University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 95 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Eastern Illinois University earn around $35,740 in the first couple years of their career. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for Eastern Illinois University
University Of St Francis placed #12 among the best general psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of St Francis graduates 67% of students within six years. University Of St Francis awarded about 20 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $70,918 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,681 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern Illinois University came in at #13 for general psychology this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. About 79 general psychology degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $35,637. Students borrow a median of $16,157 to complete this degree.
See the full general psychology program report for Northeastern Illinois University
North Central College landed the #14 spot for general psychology this year. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at North Central College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $27,688. Typical student debt for the program is $26,655.
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Bradley University came in at #15 for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Bradley University earn around $30,159 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #16 among the best general psychology schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 171 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $42,261 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Augustana College Illinois earned the #17 position for general psychology this year. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College Illinois in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $29,801 in their early career. Augustana College Illinois graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for Augustana College Illinois
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #18 for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates 75% of students within six years. Illinois Wesleyan University awarded about 32 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of $34,650 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Illinois Wesleyan University
Benedictine University came in at #19 for general psychology this year. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $32,314 in their early career. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #20 for general psychology this year. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 100 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $32,287 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #21 for general psychology this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Springfield awarded about 77 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $31,978 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500.
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Lewis University placed #22 among the best general psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 general psychology degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. General Psychology graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $31,104 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Judson University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Judson University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Judson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Judson University generally make around $34,964. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Judson University
National Louis University landed the #24 spot for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. About 112 general psychology degrees were awarded at National Louis University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $35,798. Students borrow a median of $37,170 to complete this degree.
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Governors State University landed the #25 spot for general psychology this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Governors State University graduates 21% of students within six years. About 82 general psychology degrees were awarded at Governors State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Governors State University earn around $29,449 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,375 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Governors State University
Rest of the Top 39 General Psychology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general psychology education:
More General Psychology Rankings
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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 · 49 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.