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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Economics in Illinois

35 Ranked Colleges
2,155 Degrees Awarded
$28,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 49,055 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,736 and had an average of $22,046 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 2,155 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $51,939 and $23,350 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois” ranking looked at 35 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in economics.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Economics in Illinois

1
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University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 626 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Economics at University of Chicago

2
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Principia College
Elsah, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Principia College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois. Principia is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elsah, Illinois. It awarded 8 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Economics at Principia

3
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Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lake Forest College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois. Lake Forest is located in Lake Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Lake Forest College

4
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Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Knox College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois. Galesburg, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Knox College

5
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Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Monmouth College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Monmouth, Illinois, and it awarded 13 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Monmouth College

6
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Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 402 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Northwestern University

7
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Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Wheaton, Illinois, and it awarded 35 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Economics Report

8

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 563 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Economics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

9
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Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking. Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jacksonville, Illinois. It awarded 10 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Economics at Illinois College

10
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Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Illinois Wesleyan is a small school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 9 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Economics at Illinois Wesleyan

11
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McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Lebanon, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full McKendree University Economics Report

12
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Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois

Augustana College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Augustana

13
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North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central Economics Report

14

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 129 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at University of Illinois at Chicago

15
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Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking. Olivet Nazarene is a small school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 19 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene Economics Report

16

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Economics at Northeastern Illinois University

17
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Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 16 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Economics at Roosevelt

18
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Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. Dominican U is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Economics at Dominican University

19
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Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 45 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Illinois State University

20
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DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. DePaul is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 45 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at DePaul

21

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Economics Report

22

Western Illinois University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking. WIU is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 14 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Economics at Western Illinois University

23
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Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Economics at Eastern Illinois University

24

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.

Full Northern Illinois University Economics Report

25
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Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

Governors State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #25. Governors State University is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Economics at GSU

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