Colleges where the most freshmen return in Illinois
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Illinois21 schools
21 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
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 a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention 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
- 99% of freshmen return
- 96% graduate
- 2
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 98% of freshmen return
- 95% graduate
- 3
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Illinois
- 95% of freshmen return
- 85% graduate
- 4
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Illinois
- 93% of freshmen return
- 85% graduate
- 5
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit#5 in Illinois
- 90% of freshmen return
- 78% graduate
- 6
Hebrew Theological College
Skokie, IL · Private nonprofitTop 17% for low debt
- 86% of freshmen return
- 50% graduate
- 7
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- 86% of freshmen return
- 75% graduate
- 8
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- 86% of freshmen return
- 68% graduate
- 9
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- 84% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 10
- 11
Bradley University
Peoria, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for graduation
- 83% of freshmen return
- 76% graduate
- 12
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL · Private nonprofit#10 in Illinois
- 82% of freshmen return
- 73% graduate
- 13
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitTop 13% for earnings
- 82% of freshmen return
- 73% graduate
- 14
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit#21 in Illinois
- 81% of freshmen return
- 58% graduate
- 15
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- 80% of freshmen return
- 62% graduate
- 16
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit#7 in Illinois
- 80% of freshmen return
- 75% graduate
- 17
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for graduation
- 80% of freshmen return
- 70% graduate
- 18
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- 79% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 19
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for earnings
- 79% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 20
North Central College
Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit#18 in Illinois
- 77% of freshmen return
- 64% graduate
- 21
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% |
| Hebrew Theological College | $26,861 | $14,000 | $33,291 | 50% |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | $18,425 | $25,000 | $82,592 | 75% |
| DePaul University | $30,902 | $23,168 | $68,751 | 68% |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $49,790 | $27,000 | $40,151 | 67% |
| Knox College | $24,595 | $27,000 | $54,820 | 68% |
| Bradley University | $22,719 | $27,000 | $66,852 | 76% |
| Augustana College | $22,736 | $27,000 | $62,971 | 73% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| Trinity Christian College | $19,125 | $25,009 | $55,700 | 58% |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $10,974 | $16,704 | $68,740 | 62% |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | $28,199 | $27,000 | $70,871 | 75% |
| Elmhurst University | $24,185 | $20,489 | $61,462 | 70% |
| Lewis University | $17,028 | $21,500 | $66,099 | 67% |
| University of St. Francis | $13,006 | $21,079 | $63,926 | 67% |
| North Central College | $21,044 | $24,500 | $60,123 | 64% |
| Monmouth College | $17,133 | $27,000 | $51,110 | 65% |
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 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15