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Illinois State University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Illinois. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 83.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking for a college that has your back, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 177 institutions for veteran and military-affiliated students in Illinois, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 177 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every veteran weighs these factors the same way. Narrow your list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges for veterans:
Illinois State University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in Illinois. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 83.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
University of Illinois Chicago earned the #2 place in Illinois. University of Illinois Chicago scores 80.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #3 place in Illinois. The school's overall veterans score is 77.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Benedictine University earned the #4 place in Illinois. It scores 77.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 79.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at College of Lake County, which ranked #5 this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 76.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
William Rainey Harper College placed #6 among the best colleges for veterans in Illinois. William Rainey Harper College scores 76.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 75.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign landed the #8 spot in Illinois this year. The school's overall veterans score is 75.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
University of Chicago came in at #9 in this year's ranking. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 75.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 40.5, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Waubonsee Community College landed the #10 spot in Illinois this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Aurora University placed #11 among the best colleges for veterans in Illinois. It scores 74.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 96.1, and veteran resources 66.7.
North Central College landed the #12 spot in Illinois this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.0 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 61.1, and veteran resources 66.7.
National Louis University earned the #13 position in Illinois. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 73.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
McKendree University earned the #14 position in Illinois. McKendree University scores 73.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 84.6, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
College of DuPage earned the #15 position in Illinois. College of DuPage scores 73.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 72.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Western Illinois University placed #17 among the best colleges for veterans in Illinois. Western Illinois University scores 72.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
The Chicago School at Chicago ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 72.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Rasmussen University-Illinois placed #19 among the best colleges for veterans in Illinois. It scores 72.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
Saint Xavier University landed the #20 spot in Illinois this year. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 71.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 73.6, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Kankakee Community College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. It scores 71.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Northern Illinois University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. It scores 70.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Elgin Community College landed the #23 spot in Illinois this year. Elgin Community College scores 70.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Roosevelt University placed #24 among the best colleges for veterans in Illinois. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 70.7 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College placed #25 among the best colleges for veterans in Illinois. City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College scores 70.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
