by our College Data Analytics TeamNorthwestern University ranks #1 of 65 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Illinois ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 69% six-year graduation rate and $77,996 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Illinois, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **65** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 65 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.
Northwestern University leads the 65 ranked colleges in Illinois, followed by University Of Chicago (#2) and University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year in Illinois. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $78,551. Typical student debt is $16,616.
Out of the 65 colleges in Illinois in this year's ranking, University Of Chicago landed the #2 spot. Set in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Early-career graduates earn a median of $81,002. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #3 place in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school based in Champaign, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,778.
Illinois State University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Illinois. Based in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,660. Graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans.
Out of the 65 colleges in Illinois in this year's ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #5 spot. Based in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,710. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,568. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete a degree here.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #6 in this year's ranking. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school based in Chicago, IL. University Of Illinois At Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,829. Graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans.
Depaul University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Chicago, IL, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,390. The median student debt is $25,340.
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Wheaton, IL, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Median early-career earnings reach $43,654. Wheaton College Illinois students take on a median of $23,292 in debt.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a private for-profit school based in Addison, IL. About 42% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,536 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $101,006. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete a degree here.
Illinois Wesleyan University landed the #10 spot in Illinois this year. Set in Bloomington, IL, Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates 75% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,704. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,808. Students borrow a median of $26,857 to complete a degree here.
Lewis University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Romeoville, IL. Lewis University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Median early-career earnings reach $55,718. The median student debt is $24,838.
Bradley University landed the #12 spot in Illinois this year. Set in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Bradley University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,513. Typical student debt is $26,380.
Elmhurst College did well this year, earning the #13 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Elmhurst, IL. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,955. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,232. Typical student debt is $22,400.
Northern Illinois University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Northern Illinois University is a public school based in Dekalb, IL. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,308. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete a degree here.
Rush University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Chicago, IL, Rush University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,751. Early-career graduates earn a median of $81,938. Students borrow a median of $31,206 to complete a degree here.
North Central College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Naperville, IL, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. North Central College posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $45,726. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,247. North Central College students take on a median of $25,699 in debt.
Augustana College Illinois placed #17 among the best colleges in Illinois. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rock Island, IL. Augustana College Illinois graduates 73% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $51,598. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Augustana College Illinois students take on a median of $26,764 in debt.
Lake Forest College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Lake Forest, IL, Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,402. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,168. Typical student debt is $26,661.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Located in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Illinois Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $71,315. Typical student debt is $26,774.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #20 among the best colleges in Illinois. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public school based in Edwardsville, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,302. The median student debt is $23,917.
Aurora University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Aurora, IL, Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution. Aurora University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Aurora University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,483. Graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans.
Benedictine University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Based in Lisle, IL, Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,212. Benedictine University students take on a median of $25,338 in debt.
University Of St Francis did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Joliet, IL, University Of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Francis posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,110. Median early-career earnings reach $70,918. Graduates carry a median of $25,695 in student loans.
Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing placed #24 among the best colleges in Illinois. Based in Peoria, IL, Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,008. Median early-career earnings reach $91,413. Graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
Moody Bible Institute landed the #25 spot in Illinois this year. 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%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,786. Median early-career earnings reach $38,638. Students borrow a median of $13,318 to complete a degree here.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 65 in Illinois. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
