Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Illinois
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division I athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Illinois13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division I (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 95% graduate
- 2
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Illinois
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 85% graduate
- 3
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 73% graduate
- 4
Bradley University
Peoria, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 76% graduate
- 5
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 68% graduate
- 6
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 62% graduate
- 7
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 65% graduate
- 8
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL · Public#27 in Illinois
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 57% graduate
- 9
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 62% graduate
- 10
- 11
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 47% graduate
- 12
Chicago State University
Chicago, IL · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 15% graduate
- 13
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 45% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | $29,167 | $15,000 | $89,363 | 95% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $14,355 | $19,500 | $81,054 | 85% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| Bradley University | $22,719 | $27,000 | $66,852 | 76% |
| DePaul University | $30,902 | $23,168 | $68,751 | 68% |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $10,974 | $16,704 | $68,740 | 62% |
| Illinois State University | $19,398 | $20,482 | $62,117 | 65% |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | $14,889 | $20,500 | $56,346 | 57% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $13,297 | $21,543 | $53,390 | 62% |
| Northern Illinois University | $13,391 | $22,162 | $57,808 | 49% |
| Eastern Illinois University | $12,786 | $21,500 | $51,989 | 47% |
| Chicago State University | $12,335 | $30,625 | $42,778 | 15% |
| Western Illinois University | $12,937 | $25,251 | $54,163 | 45% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 5
- California 26
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 6
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 14
- Georgia 6
- Idaho 3
- Indiana 11
- Iowa 4
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 8
- Louisiana 12
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 9
- Michigan 7
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 8
- New York 23
- North Carolina 19
- Ohio 13
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 4
- Pennsylvania 15
- Rhode Island 4
- South Carolina 12
- Tennessee 12
- Texas 26
- Utah 7
- Virginia 14
- Washington 5
- Wisconsin 4