by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Illinois, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **43** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 43 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Loyola University Chicago earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Illinois. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $58,568. Graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes Fox College Inc one of the top colleges in Illinois. Based in Tinley Park, IL, Fox College Inc is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,670. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,978. Typical student debt is $18,767.
A rank of #3 makes Harper College one of the top colleges in Illinois. Harper College is a public school based in Palatine, IL. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Early-career graduates earn a median of $44,523. Graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans.
A rank of #4 makes College Of Lake County one of the top colleges in Illinois. Set in Grayslake, IL, College Of Lake County is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. College Of Lake County students take on a median of $9,785 in debt.
Elgin Community College came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Illinois. Based in Elgin, IL, Elgin Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Elgin Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,975. Elgin Community College students take on a median of $7,727 in debt.
College Of Dupage placed #6 among the best colleges in Illinois. College Of Dupage is a public school based in Glen Ellyn, IL. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. College Of Dupage graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,025. Typical student debt is $12,492.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #7 among the best colleges in Illinois. Located in Carbondale, IL, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Southern Illinois University Carbondale posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,334. Median early-career earnings reach $46,566. The median student debt is $23,730.
Moody Bible Institute placed #8 among the best colleges in Illinois. Set in Chicago, IL, Moody Bible Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Moody Bible Institute posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,638 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $13,318 in student loans.
Oakton Community College placed #9 among the best colleges in Illinois. Located in Des Plaines, IL, Oakton Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,838. Typical student debt is $7,750.
Joliet Junior College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Joliet, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Median early-career earnings reach $40,118. Joliet Junior College students take on a median of $11,995 in debt.
Waubonsee Community College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Waubonsee Community College is a public school based in Sugar Grove, IL. In-state tuition and fees average $3,504, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,659 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $9,939.
Rock Valley College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set in Rockford, IL, Rock Valley College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,379. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,080. The median student debt is $9,236.
Illinois Central College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in East Peoria, IL. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Illinois Central College graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,190. Illinois Central College students take on a median of $12,222 in debt.
National Louis University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Chicago, IL, National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. National Louis University graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,733. Typical student debt is $29,242.
Mchenry County College placed #15 among the best colleges in Illinois. Based in Crystal Lake, IL, Mchenry County College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Median early-career earnings reach $24,177. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete a degree here.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College landed the #16 spot in Illinois this year. This public school is set in Chicago, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $33,073. Graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans.
Heartland Community College placed #17 among the best colleges in Illinois. Heartland Community College is a public school based in Normal, IL. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, compared with $13,110 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,710. Typical student debt is $13,266.
Lewis And Clark Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Godfrey, IL, Lewis And Clark Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,313. Lewis And Clark Community College students take on a median of $9,602 in debt.
Moraine Valley Community College placed #19 among the best colleges in Illinois. Moraine Valley Community College is a public school based in Palos Hills, IL. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Median early-career earnings reach $43,844. Moraine Valley Community College students take on a median of $11,149 in debt.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Springfield, IL, Lincoln Land Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,744, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,834. Typical student debt is $11,272.
Carl Sandburg College landed the #21 spot in Illinois this year. This public school is set in Galesburg, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,390, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,534. Graduates carry a median of $8,604 in student loans.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College landed the #22 spot in Illinois this year. Set in Olney, IL, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,260 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Median early-career earnings reach $38,331. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College students take on a median of $9,434 in debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Chicago, IL, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Median early-career earnings reach $33,326. Typical student debt is $7,500.
Lake Land College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Mattoon, IL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $30,294. Lake Land College students take on a median of $7,769 in debt.
Trinity College Of Nursing And Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in Rock Island, IL, Trinity College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,069. Trinity College Of Nursing And Health Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,760. Typical student debt is $27,750.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.