by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Illinois, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **45** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 45 colleges on more than 20 objective measures 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:
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Illinois. Set in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. The median student debt is $16,616.
University Of Chicago came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Illinois. Based in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. University Of Chicago graduates report median early-career earnings of $81,002. The median student debt is $15,854.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top colleges in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school based in Champaign, IL. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,778.
You'll be in good company at Illinois State University, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. 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. Illinois State University students take on a median of $21,896 in debt.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school based in Chicago, IL. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Median early-career earnings reach $61,829. The median student debt is $20,115.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #6 spot in Illinois this year. Set in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,568. Loyola University Chicago students take on a median of $23,521 in debt.
Wheaton College Illinois placed #7 among the best colleges in Illinois. Based in Wheaton, IL, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,546. Wheaton College Illinois graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,654. Graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans.
Depaul University landed the #8 spot in Illinois this year. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,226. The median student debt is $25,310.
Illinois Wesleyan University placed #9 among the best colleges in Illinois. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bloomington, IL. Illinois Wesleyan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. Students from in state pay about $57,704 in tuition and fees. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,808. Students borrow a median of $26,857 to complete a degree here.
Rush University landed the #10 spot in Illinois this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,751. Rush University graduates report median early-career earnings of $81,296. Typical student debt is $31,206.
Elmhurst College placed #11 among the best colleges in Illinois. Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit school based in Elmhurst, IL. Elmhurst College posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,232. Graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Addison, IL, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,536. Median early-career earnings reach $101,006. Typical student debt is $39,146.
Bradley University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,380 in student loans.
Lewis University landed the #14 spot in Illinois this year. Lewis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Romeoville, IL. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,718 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete a degree here.
Northern Illinois University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Dekalb, IL, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Northern Illinois University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Northern Illinois University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,308. Northern Illinois University students take on a median of $25,209 in debt.
University Of St Francis placed #16 among the best colleges in Illinois. Set in Joliet, IL, University Of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $38,110 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,918. The median student debt is $25,695.
North Central College landed the #17 spot in Illinois this year. Located 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,247 early in their careers. North Central College students take on a median of $25,699 in debt.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public school based in Edwardsville, IL. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,092. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,302. The median student debt is $23,917.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #19 spot in Illinois this year. Set in Rock Island, IL, Augustana College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Augustana College Illinois graduates 73% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,598. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,764.
Aurora University placed #20 among the best colleges in Illinois. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit school based in Aurora, IL. Aurora University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $51,483. Aurora University students take on a median of $24,507 in debt.
Lake Forest College did well this year, earning the #21 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lake Forest, IL. About 78% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $56,402. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,168 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,661.
Benedictine University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,212. Graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans.
Illinois Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based 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. Median early-career earnings reach $71,315. Graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans.
Saint Xavier University landed the #24 spot in Illinois this year. Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,753. Graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans.
Eastern Illinois University placed #25 among the best colleges in Illinois. Eastern Illinois University is a public school based in Charleston, IL. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,603. Typical student debt is $24,293.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
