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 **61** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 61 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Illinois. Set in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Northwestern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $78,551. The median student debt is $16,616.
You'll be in good company at University Of Chicago, which ranked #2 this year. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. University Of Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,324. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $81,002. The median student debt is $15,854.
You'll be in good company at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. 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. The median student debt is $20,778.
Out of the 61 graduate schools in Illinois in this year's ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #4 spot. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Median early-career earnings reach $58,568. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top graduate schools in Illinois. Based in Chicago, IL, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,829. Typical student debt is $20,115.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Set 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%. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $71,315. Illinois Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $26,774 in debt.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #7 spot in Illinois this year. Based in Wheaton, IL, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,654. Graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans.
Bradley University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,160. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,513. Bradley University students take on a median of $26,380 in debt.
Depaul University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Chicago, IL, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $55,390. Graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
Illinois State University landed the #10 spot in Illinois this year. This public school is set in Normal, IL. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,660. The median student debt is $21,896.
Rush University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Chicago, IL, Rush University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,751. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $81,938. Students borrow a median of $31,206 to complete a degree here.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set 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.
North Central College placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Set in Naperville, IL, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,726. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,247. Typical student debt is $25,699.
Benedictine University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Lisle, IL, Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,212 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,338.
Midwestern University Downers Grove came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Downers Grove, IL. Graduates go on to earn a median of $98,692 early in their careers.
Elmhurst College placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Located in Elmhurst, IL, Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,232. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete a degree here.
Lewis University landed the #17 spot in Illinois this year. Lewis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Romeoville, IL. Lewis University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. Median early-career earnings reach $55,718. Typical student debt is $24,838.
University Of St Francis came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Located in Joliet, IL, University Of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Francis graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,110. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,918. Graduates carry a median of $25,695 in student loans.
Northern Illinois University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Dekalb, IL, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Northern Illinois University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,308. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete a degree here.
Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. This private not-for-profit school is set in Peoria, IL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,008. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $91,413. The median student debt is $18,500.
Concordia University Chicago did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in River Forest, IL, Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $37,488 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,760. The median student debt is $26,956.
Aurora University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Aurora, IL, Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,483. The median student debt is $24,507.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. This public school is set in Edwardsville, IL. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Median early-career earnings reach $54,302. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete a degree here.
Lake Forest College placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Set in Lake Forest, IL, Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lake Forest College graduates 78% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $56,402 in tuition and fees. Lake Forest College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,168. Typical student debt is $26,661.
Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in North Chicago, IL, Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $95,802 early in their careers.
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. Graduate schools are scored on 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.
