Best large colleges in Illinois
Colleges with 10,000 or more undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best large colleges in Illinois8 schools
8 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 10,000 or more undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Illinois
- 35,564 undergraduates
- 85% graduate
- 2
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- 12,487 undergraduates
- 73% graduate
- 3
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- 14,374 undergraduates
- 68% graduate
- 4
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- 22,107 undergraduates
- 62% graduate
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chamberlain University-Illinois
Addison, IL · Private for-profitTop 3% for earnings
- 12,214 undergraduates
- 42% graduate
- 8
DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL · Private for-profit#57 in Illinois
- 26,146 undergraduates
- 37% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $14,355 | $19,500 | $81,054 | 85% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| 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% |
| Northern Illinois University | $13,391 | $22,162 | $57,808 | 49% |
| Chamberlain University-Illinois | $31,837 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 42% |
| DeVry University-Illinois | $30,770 | $24,807 | $45,987 | 37% |
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 5
- Arizona 6
- California 29
- Colorado 6
- District of Columbia 3
- Florida 13
- Georgia 8
- Idaho 3
- Indiana 6
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 4
- Louisiana 4
- Maryland 4
- Massachusetts 6
- Michigan 8
- Minnesota 3
- Mississippi 3
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 4
- New York 19
- North Carolina 9
- Ohio 9
- Oklahoma 3
- Oregon 3
- Pennsylvania 6
- South Carolina 4
- Tennessee 4
- Texas 19
- Utah 8
- Virginia 8
- Washington 3
- Wisconsin 3