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 **40** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 40 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:
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 graduate school 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 average $68,322. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $78,551. Graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the top graduate schools in Illinois. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Median early-career earnings reach $81,002. The median student debt is $15,854.
The strong outcomes at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #3 place in Illinois. Set in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
Midwestern University Downers Grove came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Illinois. Located in Downers Grove, IL, Midwestern University Downers Grove is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $98,692 early in their careers.
The strong outcomes at Loyola University Chicago earned it the #5 place in Illinois. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Loyola University Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Loyola University Chicago graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,568. Typical student debt is $23,521.
Illinois Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Median early-career earnings reach $71,315. Illinois Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $26,774 in debt.
Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in North Chicago, IL. Median early-career earnings reach $95,802.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Set 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, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Median early-career earnings reach $61,829. Typical student debt is $20,115.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Set in Addison, IL, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,536. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $101,006. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete a degree here.
Bradley University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,380.
Rush University placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Based in Chicago, IL, Rush University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,751 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $81,938 early in their careers. The median student debt is $31,206.
Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Based in Peoria, IL, Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,008. Graduates go on to earn a median of $91,413 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $18,500.
Illinois State University landed the #13 spot in Illinois this year. Illinois State University is a public school based in Normal, IL. Illinois State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #14 spot in Illinois this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit school based in Wheaton, IL. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,654 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,292.
Depaul University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Depaul University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,390. Typical student debt is $25,340.
North Central College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Naperville, IL, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. North Central College posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,726. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,247. Typical student debt is $25,699.
Concordia University Chicago did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in River Forest, IL, Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,488. Median early-career earnings reach $58,760. Graduates carry a median of $26,956 in student loans.
Saint Anthony College Of Nursing placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Based in Rockford, IL, Saint Anthony College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,811. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $71,970. Typical student debt is $22,500.
Lewis University landed the #19 spot in Illinois this year. Based in Romeoville, IL, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $55,718. Lewis University students take on a median of $24,838 in debt.
University Of St Francis came in at #20 in this year's ranking. 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. In-state tuition and fees average $38,110. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,918. The median student debt is $25,695.
Illinois College Of Optometry came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Chicago, IL, Illinois College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $105,772.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Edwardsville, IL, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,302. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete a degree here.
Benedictine University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Lisle, IL, Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $32,648 in tuition and fees. Benedictine University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,212. Graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans.
Aurora University placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit school based in Aurora, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,170. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans.
Western Illinois University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Macomb, IL, Western Illinois University is a public institution. Western Illinois University posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,572. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,926. Graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published 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.
