by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Illinois, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **23** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 23 graduate schools using more than 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year in Illinois. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,322. Early-career graduates earn a median of $78,551. The median student debt is $16,616.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the top graduate schools in Illinois. Located in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. The median student debt is $15,854.
Out of the 23 graduate schools in Illinois in this year's ranking, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #3 spot. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,461. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete a degree here.
Rush University came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Illinois. Based in Chicago, IL, Rush University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,751. Early-career graduates earn a median of $81,296. Typical student debt is $31,206.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Illinois. Set in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago students take on a median of $23,521 in debt.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Chicago, IL, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,115.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot in Illinois this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $52,202. Early-career graduates earn a median of $71,315. Typical student debt is $26,774.
Illinois State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,660. Graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans.
University Of St Francis did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Joliet, IL, University Of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $38,110 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,918. The median student debt is $25,695.
Depaul University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans.
Northern Illinois University placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. 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. The median student debt is $25,209.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Set in Edwardsville, IL, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,302. The median student debt is $23,917.
Concordia University Chicago placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Set in River Forest, IL, Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 36%. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,488. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,760. Typical student debt is $26,956.
Lewis University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Romeoville, IL. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,718 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,838.
Saint Anthony College Of Nursing did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Rockford, IL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,811. Median early-career earnings reach $71,970. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete a degree here.
Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science did well this year, earning the #16 position. Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science is a private not-for-profit school based in North Chicago, IL. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $95,802.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in Carbondale, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,334. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,566. Southern Illinois University Carbondale students take on a median of $23,730 in debt.
Adler School Of Professional Psychology placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Based in Chicago, IL, Adler School Of Professional Psychology is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $55,542.
Aurora University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit school based in Aurora, IL. Aurora University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,170. Aurora University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,483. Aurora University students take on a median of $24,507 in debt.
The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Chicago ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,780. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,118. Typical student debt is $40,645.
National Louis University placed #21 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Based in Chicago, IL, National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,733. Graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans.
Western Illinois University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Western Illinois University is a public school based in Macomb, IL. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,926. Graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans.
Mckendree University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in Lebanon, IL, Mckendree University is a private not-for-profit institution. Mckendree University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,740. Median early-career earnings reach $51,068. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete a degree here.
Trinity International University Illinois came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Located in Deerfield, IL, Trinity International University Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,320. Trinity International University Illinois graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,001. Graduates carry a median of $26,892 in student loans.
Governors State University placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Based in University Park, IL, Governors State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,711 early in their careers. Governors State University students take on a median of $24,990 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools 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.