Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Illinois
Colleges ranked by what former students earn ten years after enrolling, compared with four years of net price.
Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Illinois21 schools
21 schools qualify, ranked by earnings for the price.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by earnings divided by four years of net price, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- Earnings are 1.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $68,740 ten years out
- 2
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Illinois
- Earnings are 1.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $91,885 ten years out
- 3
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Illinois
- Earnings are 1.4× the four-year net price
- Earnings $81,054 ten years out
- 4
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- Earnings are 1.2× the four-year net price
- Earnings $63,926 ten years out
- 5
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Earnings are 1.1× the four-year net price
- Earnings $82,592 ten years out
- 6
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- Earnings are 1.0× the four-year net price
- Earnings $66,099 ten years out
- 7
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Earnings are 0.8× the four-year net price
- Earnings $89,363 ten years out
- 8Tie
Monmouth College
Monmouth, IL · Private nonprofit#22 in Illinois
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $51,110 ten years out
- 8Tie
Bradley University
Peoria, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $66,852 ten years out
- 8Tie
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit#21 in Illinois
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $55,700 ten years out
- 8Tie
North Central College
Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit#18 in Illinois
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $60,123 ten years out
- 8Tie
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL · Private nonprofit#10 in Illinois
- Earnings are 0.7× the four-year net price
- Earnings $62,971 ten years out
- 13Tie
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $61,462 ten years out
- 13Tie
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit#7 in Illinois
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $70,871 ten years out
- 13Tie
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Illinois
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $63,756 ten years out
- 13Tie
Knox College
Galesburg, IL · Private nonprofit#8 in Illinois
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $54,820 ten years out
- 13Tie
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Earnings are 0.6× the four-year net price
- Earnings $68,751 ten years out
- 18Tie
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit#5 in Illinois
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $61,825 ten years out
- 18Tie
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- Earnings are 0.5× the four-year net price
- Earnings $71,530 ten years out
- 20
Hebrew Theological College
Skokie, IL · Private nonprofitTop 17% for low debt
- Earnings are 0.3× the four-year net price
- Earnings $33,291 ten years out
- 21
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Earnings are 0.2× the four-year net price
- Earnings $40,151 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Chicago | $10,974 | $16,704 | $68,740 | 62% |
| University of Chicago | $14,860 | $15,000 | $91,885 | 96% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $14,355 | $19,500 | $81,054 | 85% |
| University of St. Francis | $13,006 | $21,079 | $63,926 | 67% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | $18,425 | $25,000 | $82,592 | 75% |
| Lewis University | $17,028 | $21,500 | $66,099 | 67% |
| Northwestern University | $29,167 | $15,000 | $89,363 | 95% |
| Monmouth College | $17,133 | $27,000 | $51,110 | 65% |
| Bradley University | $22,719 | $27,000 | $66,852 | 76% |
| Trinity Christian College | $19,125 | $25,009 | $55,700 | 58% |
| North Central College | $21,044 | $24,500 | $60,123 | 64% |
| Augustana College | $22,736 | $27,000 | $62,971 | 73% |
| Elmhurst University | $24,185 | $20,489 | $61,462 | 70% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | $28,199 | $27,000 | $70,871 | 75% |
| Wheaton College | $26,975 | $23,250 | $63,756 | 85% |
| Knox College | $24,595 | $27,000 | $54,820 | 68% |
| DePaul University | $30,902 | $23,168 | $68,751 | 68% |
| Lake Forest College | $28,673 | $26,158 | $61,825 | 78% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| Hebrew Theological College | $26,861 | $14,000 | $33,291 | 50% |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $49,790 | $27,000 | $40,151 | 67% |
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 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 62
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 77
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15