Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Illinois
Colleges ranked by six-year graduation rate, from federal data.
Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Illinois57 schools
57 schools qualify, ranked by graduation rate. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Has a graduation rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by graduation rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Illinois
- 96% graduate
- 7,643 undergraduates
- 2
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 95% graduate
- 9,157 undergraduates
- 3
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Illinois
- 85% graduate
- 35,564 undergraduates
- 4
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Illinois
- 85% graduate
- 2,119 undergraduates
- 5
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit#5 in Illinois
- 78% graduate
- 1,796 undergraduates
- 6
Bradley University
Peoria, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- 76% graduate
- 3,883 undergraduates
- 7
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- 75% graduate
- 3,316 undergraduates
- 8
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit#7 in Illinois
- 75% graduate
- 1,576 undergraduates
- 9
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- 73% graduate
- 12,487 undergraduates
- 10
- 11
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- 70% graduate
- 3,138 undergraduates
- 12
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- 68% graduate
- 14,374 undergraduates
- 13
- 14
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- 67% graduate
- 2,762 undergraduates
- 15
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- 67% graduate
- 1,306 undergraduates
- 16
VanderCook College of Music
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit#16 in Illinois
- 67% graduate
- 99 undergraduates
- 17
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- 67% graduate
- 3,948 undergraduates
- 18
- 19
- 20
North Central College
Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit#18 in Illinois
- 64% graduate
- 2,397 undergraduates
- 21
- 22
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- 62% graduate
- 8,195 undergraduates
- 23
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- 62% graduate
- 22,107 undergraduates
- 24
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL · Private nonprofit#22 in Illinois
- 61% graduate
- 2,569 undergraduates
- 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% |
| Bradley University | $22,719 | $27,000 | $66,852 | 76% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | $18,425 | $25,000 | $82,592 | 75% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | $28,199 | $27,000 | $70,871 | 75% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| Augustana College | $22,736 | $27,000 | $62,971 | 73% |
| Elmhurst University | $24,185 | $20,489 | $61,462 | 70% |
| DePaul University | $30,902 | $23,168 | $68,751 | 68% |
| Knox College | $24,595 | $27,000 | $54,820 | 68% |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $49,790 | $27,000 | $40,151 | 67% |
| University of St. Francis | $13,006 | $21,079 | $63,926 | 67% |
| VanderCook College of Music | $19,780 | $27,000 | $47,863 | 67% |
| Lewis University | $17,028 | $21,500 | $66,099 | 67% |
| Monmouth College | $17,133 | $27,000 | $51,110 | 65% |
| Illinois State University | $19,398 | $20,482 | $62,117 | 65% |
| North Central College | $21,044 | $24,500 | $60,123 | 64% |
| Illinois College | $18,298 | $25,565 | $52,575 | 64% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $13,297 | $21,543 | $53,390 | 62% |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $10,974 | $16,704 | $68,740 | 62% |
| Olivet Nazarene University | $20,729 | $25,000 | $53,213 | 61% |
| 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