Why This Matters
-
93 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN ILLINOIS
According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in Illinois include 12 public and 81 private non-profit options.
-
$14,960 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in Illinois is $14,960, according to College Board.
-
$15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID
In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.
Our Research
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in Illinois. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the central United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Top 50 Colleges in Illinois

intelligent score 99.67
Award
Rankings
#1 Academic Influence
#1 Best Colleges
#1 College Advisor
#1 College Evaluator
#2 College Factual
#2 Niche
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 95%
Admission Rate: 6%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
The University of Chicago is a private research university located in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood. It stands out on our list for having the most selective admissions rate of the private schools in Illinois at 7%. This extremely low acceptance rate also places it among the most selective schools nationwide. The university is also among the top nationwide for its affiliation with Nobel laureates - 94 have studied, taught, or researched at the school. Chicago has eight professional schools, including those in law, business, medicine, and public policy. The University of Chicago confers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees and counts among its values diversity, intellectual freedom, and civic-minded research. It's affiliated with two U.S. Department of Energy laboratories: Argonne National Laboratory and the Marine Biological Laboratory. The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 in part by American philanthropist and business magnate John D. Rockefeller.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 15-18
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $2,195
Graduate: $2,257
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
773-702-8650
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 15-18
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 98.44
Award
Rankings
#1 College Factual
#1 Niche
#2 Academic Influence
#2 Best Colleges
#2 College Advisor
#2 College Evaluator
School Information
Evanston, IL
Graduation Rate: 95%
Admission Rate: 7%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
With a 9% acceptance rate, Northwestern University is an extremely competitive private school in Evanston, Illinois. It's the oldest chartered university in the state and stands out on this list for having the highest graduation rate among private schools at 95%. Northwestern has 11 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, including those in medicine, law, business, music, journalism, and education. Current faculty members include three Nobel Prize recipients, three Pulitzer Prize winners, two National Medal of Science awardees, and numerous Guggenheim, Carnegie, and MacArthur fellows. Additionally, 160 current faculty members are members of the national academies, including those in science, medicine, engineering, and education. The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwestern is an extremely low 6:1.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 6-30
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $7,791
Graduate: $6,259
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
847-491-7271
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 6-30
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 98.03
Award
Rankings
#3 Academic Influence
#3 Best Colleges
#3 College Advisor
#3 College Factual
#3 Niche
#4 College Evaluator
School Information
Champaign, IL
Graduation Rate: 86%
Admission Rate: 60%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Founded in 1867, the University of Illinois is the state's flagship public research institution. Located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, it has a student body of over 51,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and also 50 countries. The school's research milestones are vast and include the field of special education, the first graphical web browser, LED lights, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sixteen schools and colleges make upf the University of Illinois, including those in engineering, social work, medicine, law, and aviation. It stands out on this list as having the most selective admissions rate and the highest graduation rate among public schools.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 6-32
Undergraduate: 120-124
Graduate: 30-72
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,060
Graduate: $1,148 - $4,125
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
217-333-0302
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 6-32
Undergraduate: 120-124
Graduate: 30-72
intelligent score 95.73
Award
Rankings
#4 Academic Influence
#4 Best Colleges
#4 College Advisor
#6 College Evaluator
#7 Niche
#10 College Factual
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 68%
Admission Rate: 79%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Part of the University of Illinois system, the University of Illinois Chicago is a public research institution with 34,000 graduate and undergraduate students. It's the largest university in the Chicago metropolitan area as well as the most diverse. With over a quarter of the student body identifying as Hispanic, it's a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution. Advancing racial equity is one of the university's major missions; additionally, it has many diversity initiatives, including seven Centers for Cultural Understanding and Cultural Change on campus and a Black & African Descent Resources website. The school also offers support and resources for undocumented students. Academically, the university confers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees and has 16 colleges, including those in medicine, dentistry, urban affairs, pharmacy, and architecture.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-34
Undergraduate: 120-128
Graduate: 32-68
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $882 - $932
Graduate: $1,039
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
312-996-4350
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-34
Undergraduate: 120-128
Graduate: 32-68
intelligent score 95.27
Award
Rankings
#4 Niche
#5 Best Colleges
#5 College Factual
#7 College Evaluator
#9 Academic Influence
School Information
Wheaton, IL
Graduation Rate: 88%
Admission Rate: 86%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Wheaton College is a small private, interdenominational Christian school in Wheaton, Illinois, that was founded in 1860. There are 2,800 graduate and undergraduate students at Wheaton studying in over 150 academic programs, including the school's prestigious Conservatory of Music. The conservatory offers seven bachelor's degrees in music and has nine student ensembles, including percussion, opera, jazz, and chamber music. Other popular programs at Wheaton College include applied health science, biology, business, communication, and psychology. The school boasts a low student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, and 95% of full-time faculty hold a doctorate or other terminal degree in their field. The college's new student center is named after Todd Beamer, a Wheaton alumnus who played an instrumental role in thwarting the takeover of United Flight 93 by hostages on September 11, 2001.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 16-34
Undergraduate: 124
Graduate: 30-122
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $755 - $1,820
Graduate: $810 - $1,280
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-222-2419
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 16-34
Undergraduate: 124
Graduate: 30-122
intelligent score 94.79
Award
Rankings
#5 Academic Influence
#5 College Evaluator
#6 Best Colleges
#6 College Advisor
#8 College Factual
#12 Niche
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 74%
Admission Rate: 66%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private university located in Chicago. The school has a professional and technology-oriented focus with a high degree of research activity as well. It awards bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, and its seven schools include the Armour College of Engineering, Chicago-Kent College of Law, College of Architecture, and Stuart School of Business. Among its research institutes and affiliates are the Institute for Food Safety and Health, Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy Research, and the Kaplan Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship. Alumni and faculty of the Illinois Institute of Technology are credited with inventing magnetic recording, barcode technology, and tall-building architecture. The school was founded in 1890 and has 7,000 students.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-21
Undergraduate: 120-130
Graduate: 30-72
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,550 - $1,938
Graduate: $1,712 - $2,140
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
312-567-3025
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-21
Undergraduate: 120-130
Graduate: 30-72
intelligent score 94.65
Award
Rankings
#4 College Factual
#5 College Advisor
#6 Academic Influence
#7 Best Colleges
#10 Niche
#11 College Evaluator
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 73%
Admission Rate: 77%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Overlooking Lake Michigan in the heart of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is one of the largest Catholic universities in the country. This school with 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students was founded in 1870 by the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits). It's known for both its athletics and its academics and is often ranked number one in the country by the NCAA with the highest Graduation Success Rate for its Division 1 student athletes. Loyola Chicago has 13 degree-granting colleges and schools, including those in education, law, medicine, nursing, social work, and environmental sustainability. The law and business schools have highly competitive early admissions programs available. Loyola Chicago has four career centers on campus and boasts a 98% job or further-education placement rate for its undergraduate students within three months of graduation.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 6-22
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-72
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Certificate: $760
Undergraduate: $392 - $925
Graduate: $360 - $2,045
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
773-274-3000
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 6-22
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-72
intelligent score 92.56
Award
Rankings
#6 College Factual
#8 Best Colleges
#8 College Evaluator
#9 College Advisor
#11 Academic Influence
#17 Niche
School Information
Normal, IL
Graduation Rate: 72%
Admission Rate: 92%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Large
The oldest public university in Illinois, Illinois State University was founded in 1857 as a teacher preparation school. Today it offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in many disciplines but also retains its roots in education. The school, located in the town of Normal, is one of the top 10 largest producers of teachers in the country. The most popular undergraduate majors at Illinois State are elementary education, special education, nursing, marketing, and finance. Veterans are particularly welcome at the university, which is a Top 10 Military Friendly school and has an active Veterans and Military Services Office. The office helps veterans, military members, and their dependents with admissions, academic advising, financial aid counseling, disability support/student accommodations, career services, and other support services. Additionally, its online Pause to Applause series shares the success stories of veterans who have graduated from Illinois State University.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-26
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-78
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate
In-State: $384
Out-of-State: $768
Graduate
In-State: $422
Out-of-State: $877
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
309-438-2181
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-26
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-78
intelligent score 92.14
Award
Rankings
#5 Niche
#7 Academic Influence
#7 College Advisor
#7 College Factual
#9 Best Colleges
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 70%
Admission Rate: 69%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
DePaul University, located in the heart of Chicago, Illinois, is the largest Catholic university in the United States in terms of enrollment. It has 21,670 undergraduate and graduate students, the majority of whom live on campus. The university offers over 130 undergraduate majors and 175 graduate degree programs through its 10 colleges and schools. These schools include business, law, theater, music, and education. The Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media is particularly unique with its collaborative education that blends technology, artistry, and business. Among the unique undergraduate degrees offered by this college are a Bachelor of Arts in Animation, a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television, and a Bachelor of Science in Game Programming. DePaul has a particularly strong alumni network of 200,000 Blue Demons worldwide and offers an alumni mentorship program and many activities year round, including group participation in the university's annual Vincentian Service Day.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-86
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-111
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $758 - $1,007
Graduate: $695 - $1,224
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
312-362-8300
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-86
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-111
intelligent score 91.97
Award
Rankings
#6 Niche
#9 College Evaluator
#10 Best Colleges
#17 College Factual
School Information
Bloomington, IL
Graduation Rate: 79%
Admission Rate: 45%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9
Undergraduate: 128
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,733
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
309-556-3031
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9
Undergraduate: 128
intelligent score 91.65
Award
Rankings
School Information
Peoria, IL
Graduation Rate: 78%
Admission Rate: 76%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-110
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $899 - $1,175
Graduate: $780 - $1,039
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
309-677-1000
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-110
intelligent score 89.71
Award
Rankings
School Information
Lake Forest, IL
Graduation Rate: 74%
Admission Rate: 64%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-48
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,684
Graduate: $1,024
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
847-735-5000
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-48
intelligent score 86.91
Award
Rankings
School Information
Rock Island, IL
Graduation Rate: 70%
Admission Rate: 69%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 124
Graduate: 84
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $2,015
Graduate: $821
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
309-794-7341
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 124
Graduate: 84
intelligent score 85.69
Award
Rankings
School Information
Joliet, IL
Graduation Rate: 67%
Admission Rate: 68%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-44
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Certificate: $399 - $420
Undergraduate: $425 - $899
Graduate: $420 - $799
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-735-7500
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-44
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 84.50
Award
Rankings
School Information
Elmhurst, IL
Graduation Rate: 69%
Admission Rate: 71%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-18
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-71
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Certificate: $510 - $900
Undergraduate: $1,172
Graduate: $510 - $950
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
630-617-3400
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-18
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-71
intelligent score 83.97
Award
Rankings
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 53%
Admission Rate: 96%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 16
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $777 - $1,062
Graduate: $1,197 - $1,356
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
312-369-1000
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 16
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 83.93
Award
Rankings
School Information
Carbondale, IL
Graduation Rate: 55%
Admission Rate: 95%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-88
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-72
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate
In-State: $0
Out-of-State: $329
Graduate
In-State: $480
Out-of-State: $1,186
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
618-536-4405
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-88
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-72
intelligent score 82.19
Award
Rankings
School Information
Naperville, IL
Graduation Rate: 69%
Admission Rate: 68%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-130
Graduate: 30-77
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,379
Graduate: $598 - $964
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
630-637-5100
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-130
Graduate: 30-77
intelligent score 81.96
Award
Rankings
School Information
Elsah, IL
Graduation Rate: 76%
Admission Rate: 84%
Urbanicity: Rural
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9
Undergraduate: 120
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,085
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
618-374-2131
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9
Undergraduate: 120
intelligent score 80.05
Award
Rankings
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 58%
Admission Rate: 67%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 10-41
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $625 - $1,050
Graduate: $555 - $1,290
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
773-244-5500
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 10-41
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 77.66
Award
Rankings
School Information
Aurora, IL
Graduation Rate: 64%
Admission Rate: 86%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-64
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $450
Graduate: $492 - $750
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
630-844-5533
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-64
intelligent score 77.15
Award
Rankings
School Information
Springfield, IL
Graduation Rate: 56%
Admission Rate: 79%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-33
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-52
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate
Resident: $293 - $321
Non-Resident: $613 - $647
Graduate
Resident: $332
Non-Resident: $681
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
217-206-6600
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-33
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-52
intelligent score 77.10
Award
Rankings
School Information
Romeoville, IL
Graduation Rate: 69%
Admission Rate: 71%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-31
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-63
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Certificate: $625
Undergraduate: $445 - $1,094
Graduate: $600 - $845
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
815-836-5250
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-31
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-63
intelligent score 77.02
Award
Rankings
School Information
Dekalb, IL
Graduation Rate: 59%
Admission Rate: 70%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-52
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-72
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Certificate
In-State: $705 - $830
Out-of-State: $1,074 - $ 1,199
Undergraduate
In-State: $360
Out-of-State: $721
Graduate
In-State: $505 - $964
Out-of-State: $874 - $1,654
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
815-753-0446
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-52
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-72
intelligent score 76.79
Award
Rankings
School Information
River Forest, IL
Graduation Rate: 55%
Admission Rate: 88%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-33
Associate: 64
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Certificate: $415 - $710
Associate: $490
Undergraduate: $415 - $956
Graduate: $460 - $710
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
708-209-3100
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-33
Associate: 64
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 76.72
Award
Rankings
School Information
Edwardsville, IL
Graduation Rate: 55%
Admission Rate: 98%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-33
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-66
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $319 - $478
Graduate: $360 - $526
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
618-650?3705
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-33
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-66
intelligent score 73.78
Award
Rankings
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 49%
Admission Rate: 92%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-27
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Certificate: $431 - $474
Undergraduate: $561 - $1,729
Graduate: $474 - $2,351
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
877-277-5978
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-27
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 73.77
Award
Rankings
School Information
Lisle, IL
Graduation Rate: 56%
Admission Rate: 80%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-15
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-72
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Certificate: $800
Undergraduate: $590 - $1,090
Graduate: $700 - $1,818
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
630-829-6300
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-15
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-72
intelligent score 72.37
Award
Rankings
School Information
Charleston, IL
Graduation Rate: 58%
Admission Rate: 72%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-18
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate
In-State: $330
Out-of-State: $412
Graduate
In-State: $335
Out-of-State: $806
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
217-581-2223
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 12-18
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 72.26
Award
Rankings
School Information
Bourbonnais, IL
Graduation Rate: 63%
Admission Rate: 61%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-39
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,555
Graduate: $458
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-648-1463
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 9-39
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 72.22
Award
Rankings
School Information
Macomb, IL
Graduation Rate: 58%
Admission Rate: 72%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 18
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $326 - $490
Graduate: $374 - $562
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
309-298-3157
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 18
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 71.64
Award
Rankings
School Information
Lebanon, IL
Graduation Rate: 57%
Admission Rate: 78%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 14-18
Associate: 60
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $405 - $1,040
Graduate: $450 - $605
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
618-537-6831
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 14-18
Associate: 60
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 71.31
Award
Rankings
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 50%
Admission Rate: 97%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 8-30
Associate: 65
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $430
Graduate: $400 - $1,162
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
888-658-8632
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 8-30
Associate: 65
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 70.67
Award
Rankings
School Information
Quincy, IL
Graduation Rate: 56%
Admission Rate: 60%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $915
Graduate: $484
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
217-222-8020
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 70.27
Award
Rankings
School Information
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate: 34%
Admission Rate: 47%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 18-21
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate
Resident: $312 - $335
Non-Resident: $584 - $664
Graduate
Resident: $349 - $1,070
Non-Resident: $675 - $1,603
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
773-995-2513
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Certificate: 18-21
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-60
intelligent score 70.17
Award
Rankings
School Information
Greenville, IL
Graduation Rate: 61%
Admission Rate: 80%
Urbanicity: Town
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-40
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $470
Graduate: $488
accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
618-664-7100
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-40
Discover More Options
What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Illinois
There are many considerations students should keep in mind when selecting a college. One factor that is often overlooked is the local job market. Before choosing a state in which to attend college, consider local employment opportunities. As of May 2022, the five industries that employ the most people in Illinois are office and administrative support occupations, transportation and material moving, management, sales, and food preparation and serving.
For jobseekers with a bachelor’s degree, the five fastest-growing occupations in Illinois are agents and talent managers, data scientists, logisticians, medical and health services managers, and actuaries.
Also, here are some of the companies that made the list of largest employers in Illinois: Abbott Laboratories, Allstate Corporation, Deloitte, Unity Point Optimum Health, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
What’s Next?
While researching colleges in Illinois, it’s important to consider financial aid. Below is a list of federal and state resources that offer grants, scholarships, and other financial opportunities for undergraduate students in Illinois.
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission. This agency administers several scholarship, grant, prepaid tuition, and student loan repayment/forgiveness programs to support the post-secondary educational goals of Illinois students.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.