College Compass GuideTrue north for every college search.

Every accredited U.S. college

Colleges

Every accredited four-year college, rated on Academic Excellence and Value (what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and student debt), all from federal data.

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Compass Score sorts by outcomes, students and cost together. The other sorts order every college by a different measure.
Ratings
Compass ScoreCompass Score: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges from federal data: outcomes (40%), entering students (40%), cost (15%) and teaching (5%). Choose the lowest grade to show.
ValueValue: what families pay after aid, graduation rate, earnings and debt, from federal data.
Academic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges, from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
Only Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only the eight Ivy League universities.
Location1
Distance (miles)
A broad region of the country, as the guide groups the states. Territories are listed separately.
School
Type of college, as college guides group them (from the federal Carnegie Classification): national universities offer a full range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and do research; liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduates in the arts and sciences; regional universities mostly offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees; regional colleges mostly offer bachelor’s degrees in many fields; specialized schools focus on one field, such as health, art or business.
Public or privatePublic: run by a state or local government. Private: nonprofit or for-profit.
Total enrollment: small is under 2,000 students, medium 2,000 to 9,999, large 10,000 to 24,999, and very large 25,000 or more.
Net price: what a typical student pays per year after grants and scholarships, from the federal College Scorecard.
Coed: men and women together. Single-sex: all-male or all-female.
Campus life
College sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.
Where the campus is, from federal data: in a city, a suburb, a town, or a rural area.
The college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).
The college offers study abroad (federal data).
Admissions and outcomes
How many applicants are admitted (federal data). Most: 65% or more. Selective: 25% to 64%. Highly selective: under 25%.
Your SAT or ACT, to sort colleges Target, Likely and Reach. Signed in, it is kept on your account (private to you); otherwise only in this browser.
Reach, Target or LikelyA rough guide from admitted students' scores and admission rates, not a prediction. Target: your score is in the college's middle range. Likely: above it, or the college admits most applicants. Reach: below it, or the college admits fewer than 1 in 5.
Small classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
Strong outcomes: 75% or more of students graduate (federal data).
Major
Colleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.
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RecommendedOnly Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.Honor RollOnly Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.ValueOnly colleges with a Value score of 85 or higher (grade A), from federal data.AcademicsOnly schools with an Academic Excellence grade of A or better (the top 10% of rated colleges), from federal data.Ivy LeagueOnly the eight Ivy League universities.Clear
Division I sportsCollege sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.ROTCThe college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).Study abroadThe college offers study abroad (federal data).NursingColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.EngineeringColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.Under $20kNet price under $20,000 a year: what a typical student pays after grants and scholarships (federal data).Small classesSmall classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
State: IllinoisClear all

73 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 1%

    University of Chicago

    #1 in Illinois
    Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,339 students

    $14,860 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 2%

    Northwestern University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 23,203 students

    $29,167 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 6%

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    #3 in Illinois
    Champaign, IL · Public · 4-year · 56,563 students

    $14,355 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    Wheaton College

    #4 in Illinois
    Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,799 students

    $26,975 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 12%

    Lake Forest College

    #5 in Illinois
    Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,818 students

    $28,673 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 12%

    Illinois Institute of Technology

    Top 7% for earnings
    Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 8,563 students

    $18,425 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 13%

    Illinois Wesleyan University

    #7 in Illinois
    Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,576 students

    $28,199 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 21%

    Knox College

    #8 in Illinois
    Galesburg, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,001 students

    $24,595 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 21%

    Loyola University Chicago

    Top 13% for earnings
    Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,397 students

    $36,079 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 22%

    Augustana College

    #10 in Illinois
    Rock Island, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,484 students

    $22,736 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 24%

    Bradley University

    Top 13% for graduation
    Peoria, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,217 students

    $22,719 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 24%

    DePaul University

    Top 16% for earnings
    Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 21,348 students

    $30,902 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 25%

    University of Illinois Chicago

    Top 16% for earnings
    Chicago, IL · Public · 4-year · 33,522 students

    $10,974 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 27%

    University of St. Francis

    Top 21% for earnings
    Joliet, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,185 students

    $13,006 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 28%

    Elmhurst University

    Top 21% for graduation
    Elmhurst, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,906 students

    $24,185 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 31%

    VanderCook College of Music

    #16 in Illinois
    Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 340 students

    $19,780 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 32%

    Lewis University

    Top 18% for earnings
    Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,636 students

    $17,028 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 33%

    North Central College

    #18 in Illinois
    Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,856 students

    $21,044 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 37%

    Hebrew Theological College

    Top 17% for low debt
    Skokie, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 197 students

    $26,861 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 38%

    Illinois State University

    Top 24% for earnings
    Normal, IL · Public · 4-year · 20,989 students

    $19,398 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Trinity Christian College

    #21 in Illinois
    Palos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 883 students

    $19,125 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Olivet Nazarene University

    #22 in Illinois
    Bourbonnais, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,275 students

    $20,729 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Monmouth College

    #22 in Illinois
    Monmouth, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 727 students

    $17,133 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 45%

    School of the Art Institute of Chicago

    Top 25% for graduation
    Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,401 students

    $49,790 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 47%

    Aurora University

    #25 in Illinois
    Aurora, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,935 students

    $18,838 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong

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