2027 Best General Economics Schools in Illinois
General Economics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general economics students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for General Economics in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Economics
No school ranked higher than University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year for general economics. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 246 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $58,921 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,228 in student loans.
See the full general economics program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong general economics program will find one at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #2. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 general economics degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
Read more about the general economics program at Loyola University Chicago
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 71 general economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $37,767 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,002.
See the full general economics program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Depaul University one of the top schools for general economics. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 11 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $53,417 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,433.
See the full general economics program report for Depaul University
A rank of #5 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for general economics. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 18 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $44,015 early in their careers. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full general economics details for Illinois State University
North Central College landed the #6 spot for general economics this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. North Central College awarded about 14 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of North Central College earn a median of $52,728 early in their careers. North Central College graduates carry a median of $26,801 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general economics from North Central College
Mckendree University landed the #7 spot for general economics this year. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Mckendree University graduates 53% of students within six years. Mckendree University awarded about 16 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Mckendree University earn around $51,068 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general economics program at Mckendree University
Northern Illinois University came in at #8 for general economics this year. 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 22 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $45,386 early in their careers. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,879 in student loans.
Get the full general economics details for Northern Illinois University
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #9 spot for general economics this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. About 61% of students finish within six years. Olivet Nazarene University awarded about 12 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Olivet Nazarene University earn around $54,169 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full general economics program report for Olivet Nazarene University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #10 spot for general economics this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. About 16 general economics degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $37,798 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,049 to complete this degree.
Get the full general economics details for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. About 10 general economics degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $40,004. Typical student debt for the program is $17,600.
Read more about the general economics program at Northeastern Illinois University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 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.
