With all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a college degree. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in Illinois ranking is part of that endeavor.
Our analysis looked at 46 schools in Illinois to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
Higher Than Average Earnings
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a bachelor's degree from the school. Recent students who earned a bachelor's degree in Illinois entered the job market making an average of $40,117 while those in the top 25 schools on our list made an average of $41,354.
Starting Salary ( 33737 to 46125 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their bachelor's degree.
When attending a school in Illinois, bachelor's degree students accumulate an average of $25,584 in student debt before graduation.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty bachelor's recipients will have paying back their loans.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best bachelor's degree schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our 2024 rankings named University of Chicago the best school in Illinois in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,163 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UChicago make an average of $46,910 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $16,306 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $708.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Illinois list means Northwestern University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,722 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern make an average of $52,286 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $16,402 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $576 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 9,305 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UIUC make an average of $46,801 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $19,646. This translates to an average monthly payment of $415 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Loyola University Chicago. The school came in at #4 in Illinois on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 3,353 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,070 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,173 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $652 for a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Illinois list means University of Illinois at Chicago is a great place for students working on their degree. This large public school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 5,247 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,988 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $19,837 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $259.
DePaul University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,335 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,199 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,227. This translates to an average monthly payment of $517 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Illinois State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. This large public school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 4,745 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State make an average of $42,033 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,026 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $312 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #8, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Illinois Tech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 620 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Illinois Tech make an average of $58,640 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,518.
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Wheaton College Illinois is located in Wheaton, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 661 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,267 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,388 after getting their degree.
Lake Forest College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Lake Forest is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 449 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Lake Forest is $39,931 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,702 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $319 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Bradley University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 1,287 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Bradley make an average of $51,038 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,303. Average monthly loan payments are around $575 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #12, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 416 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,522 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,368 after getting their degree.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 1,335 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Columbia go into careers with an average salary of $28,083 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,500 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $530 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Elmhurst University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Elmhurst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 759 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst make an average of $41,236 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,104. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $321.
Northern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,080 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from NIU make an average of $39,358 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,460 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $216.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 393 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan is $43,102 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,718 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $401.
Augustana College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Rock Island, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 914 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Augustana make an average of $35,627 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,921 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $321 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Aurora University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,259 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Aurora make an average of $38,378 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,457. This translates to an average monthly payment of $198 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, the fairly large public school handed out 2,476 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from SIUC go into careers with an average salary of $39,295 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,351 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $165 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #20, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Joliet, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 461 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,532 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,749 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $332.
North Central College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 751 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from North Central is $37,557 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,114 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $330.
Lewis University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Romeoville, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,119 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Lewis make an average of $43,012 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,336. This translates to an average monthly payment of $411 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #23, Millikin University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Millikin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 451 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Millikin go into careers with an average salary of $36,501 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,210 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $430.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, the fairly large public school handed out 2,308 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from SIUE make an average of $39,579 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $24,462. Average monthly loan payments are around $221 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Dominican University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Dominican University is a small private not-for-profit school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 547 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Dominican U make an average of $38,909 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,690 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $140 for a 10-year repayment plan.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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