Best colleges in Illinois
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Illinois57 schools
57 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 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
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Illinois
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 96% graduate
- 2
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 95% graduate
- 3
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Illinois
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- 85% graduate
- 4
- 5
- 6
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- 75% graduate
- 7
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit#7 in Illinois
- Value grade B-
- 75% graduate
- 8
- 9
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- Value grade C+
- 73% graduate
- 10
- 11
Bradley University
Peoria, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 76% graduate
- 12
- 13
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 62% graduate
- 14
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 67% graduate
- 15
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- 70% graduate
- 16
- 17
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 67% graduate
- 18
North Central College
Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit#18 in Illinois
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 64% graduate
- 19
Hebrew Theological College
Skokie, IL · Private nonprofitTop 17% for low debt
- Value grade C+
- 50% graduate
- 20
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · PublicTop 24% for earnings
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 65% graduate
- 21
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit#21 in Illinois
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 58% graduate
- 22Tie
- 22Tie
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL · Private nonprofit#22 in Illinois
- Value grade B-
- 61% graduate
- 24
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 67% graduate
- 25
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | $14,860 | $15,000 | $91,885 | 96% |
| Northwestern University | $29,167 | $15,000 | $89,363 | 95% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $14,355 | $19,500 | $81,054 | 85% |
| Wheaton College | $26,975 | $23,250 | $63,756 | 85% |
| Lake Forest College | $28,673 | $26,158 | $61,825 | 78% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | $18,425 | $25,000 | $82,592 | 75% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | $28,199 | $27,000 | $70,871 | 75% |
| Knox College | $24,595 | $27,000 | $54,820 | 68% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| Augustana College | $22,736 | $27,000 | $62,971 | 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% |
| University of St. Francis | $13,006 | $21,079 | $63,926 | 67% |
| Elmhurst University | $24,185 | $20,489 | $61,462 | 70% |
| VanderCook College of Music | $19,780 | $27,000 | $47,863 | 67% |
| Lewis University | $17,028 | $21,500 | $66,099 | 67% |
| North Central College | $21,044 | $24,500 | $60,123 | 64% |
| Hebrew Theological College | $26,861 | $14,000 | $33,291 | 50% |
| Illinois State University | $19,398 | $20,482 | $62,117 | 65% |
| Trinity Christian College | $19,125 | $25,009 | $55,700 | 58% |
| Monmouth College | $17,133 | $27,000 | $51,110 | 65% |
| Olivet Nazarene University | $20,729 | $25,000 | $53,213 | 61% |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $49,790 | $27,000 | $40,151 | 67% |
| Aurora University | $18,838 | $20,318 | $58,709 | 60% |
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3