by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Illinois, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **38** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 38 graduate schools 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Northwestern University to be the best graduate school in Illinois. Located in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $78,551. The median student debt is $16,616.
Out of the 38 graduate schools in Illinois in this year's ranking, University Of Chicago landed the #2 spot. Based in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $81,002. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 38 graduate schools in Illinois in this year's ranking, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #3 spot. Set in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,461. Graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,710. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #5 this year. 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%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,829. Typical student debt is $20,115.
Wheaton College Illinois placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Based in Wheaton, IL, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,654. Wheaton College Illinois students take on a median of $23,292 in debt.
Rush University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Chicago, IL, Rush University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,751. Rush University graduates report median early-career earnings of $81,296. The median student debt is $31,206.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,315. The median student debt is $26,774.
Depaul University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Chicago, IL, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Depaul University students take on a median of $25,310 in debt.
Illinois State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set 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, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Illinois State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,660. Typical student debt is $21,896.
Bradley University landed the #11 spot in Illinois this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Peoria, IL. About 76% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,380.
University Of St Francis placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. Set 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,110. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,918 early in their careers. University Of St Francis students take on a median of $25,695 in debt.
Lewis University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Lewis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Romeoville, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,718. Graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans.
North Central College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Naperville, IL, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,726. Median early-career earnings reach $46,247. Students borrow a median of $25,699 to complete a degree here.
Elmhurst College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Elmhurst, IL, Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $42,955. Elmhurst College graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,232. Typical student debt is $22,400.
Concordia University Chicago landed the #16 spot in Illinois this year. 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. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,488. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,760. The median student debt is $26,956.
Benedictine University landed the #17 spot in Illinois this year. Set in Lisle, IL, Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Benedictine University posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $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 landed the #18 spot in Illinois this year. 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.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois did well this year, earning the #19 position. This private for-profit school is set in Addison, IL. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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.
Northern Illinois University placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. This public school is set in Dekalb, IL. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Northern Illinois University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,308. The median student debt is $25,209.
Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Peoria, IL, Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,008. Graduates go on to earn a median of $91,413 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $18,500.
Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lake Forest, IL. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $113,944.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #23 spot in Illinois this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bourbonnais, IL. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,900. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,505. Graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans.
Aurora University placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Illinois. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,483. Aurora University students take on a median of $24,507 in debt.
Lake Forest College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Lake Forest, IL, Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lake Forest College posts a six-year graduation rate of 78%. Students from in state pay about $56,402 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,168 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,661.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*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.
