US CollegesColleges in Illinois: cost, admission and results
107 degree-granting colleges and universities in Illinois, with the admission rate, net price, graduation rate and earnings of each. The largest are University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (36,258 undergraduates), University of Illinois Chicago (22,170 undergraduates), Illinois State University (19,057 undergraduates).
Illinois at a glance
- Colleges on this site
- 107
- Public / private nonprofit / for-profit
- 23 / 76 / 8
- Median in-state tuition and fees
- $22,698
- Median net price a year
- $17,318
- Median admission rate
- 77%
- Median graduation rate
- 53%
- Median earnings 10 years on
- $58,865
No college in this list matches.
| College | Admission rate | Net price a year | Graduation rate | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adler UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Ambria College of NursingHoffman Estates, IL · Private for-profit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $67,642 |
| American Islamic CollegeChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 100% | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL · Private nonprofit | 63% | $21,153 | 73% | $67,144 |
| Aurora UniversityAurora, IL · Private nonprofit | 81% | $19,385 | 61% | $64,180 |
| Benedictine UniversityLisle, IL · Private nonprofit | 95% | $18,910 | 43% | $67,314 |
| Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation Inc.Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Blackburn CollegeCarlinville, IL · Private nonprofit | 63% | $25,577 | 45% | $48,794 |
| Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health SciencesQuincy, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $70,103 |
| Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL · Private nonprofit | 77% | $22,469 | 73% | $76,013 |
| Carl Sandburg CollegeGalesburg, IL · Public | not reported | $9,186 | 45% | $38,801 |
| Catholic Theological Union at ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Chamberlain University-IllinoisAddison, IL · Private for-profit | 83% | $38,263 | 35% | $96,897 |
| Chicago College of Oriental MedicineChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Chicago State UniversityChicago, IL · Public | 43% | $7,273 | 15% | $48,395 |
| Chicago Theological SeminaryChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeChicago, IL · Public | not reported | $6,462 | 26% | $42,885 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeChicago, IL · Public | not reported | $5,287 | 33% | $47,007 |
| College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, IL · Public | not reported | $5,165 | 24% | $51,188 |
| Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 89% | $36,529 | 47% | $48,427 |
| Concordia University-ChicagoRiver Forest, IL · Private nonprofit | 93% | $17,217 | 47% | $56,714 |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 76% | $27,308 | 67% | $75,602 |
| Dominican UniversityRiver Forest, IL · Private nonprofit | 90% | $14,013 | 61% | $66,693 |
| East-West UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | $18,499 | 18% | $34,926 |
| Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston, IL · Public | 65% | $12,717 | 50% | $55,885 |
| Elmhurst UniversityElmhurst, IL · Private nonprofit | 74% | $23,165 | 64% | $67,398 |
| Endeavor Health School of Nurse Anesthesia-DePaul UniversityEvanston, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Erikson InstituteChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Eureka CollegeEureka, IL · Private nonprofit | 85% | $16,360 | 36% | $51,381 |
| Fox CollegeTinley Park, IL · Private for-profit | 70% | $7,092 | 53% | $46,609 |
| Garrett-Evangelical Theological SeminaryEvanston, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Generations CollegeChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | $17,983 | 7% | $42,438 |
| Governors State UniversityUniversity Park, IL · Public | 48% | $15,833 | 23% | $61,863 |
| Greenville UniversityGreenville, IL · Private nonprofit | 98% | $20,905 | 52% | $49,304 |
| Hebrew Theological CollegeSkokie, IL · Private nonprofit | 57% | $12,583 | 77% | $41,318 |
| Illinois CollegeJacksonville, IL · Private nonprofit | 78% | $18,763 | 61% | $57,546 |
| Illinois College of OptometryChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 55% | $22,443 | 71% | $90,804 |
| Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · Public | 88% | $17,829 | 67% | $67,557 |
| Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, IL · Private nonprofit | 39% | $27,863 | 73% | $76,193 |
| Institute for Clinical Social WorkChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| John A Logan CollegeCarterville, IL · Public | not reported | $7,393 | 49% | $38,119 |
| John Wood Community CollegeQuincy, IL · Public | not reported | $6,248 | 51% | $42,918 |
| Judson UniversityElgin, IL · Private nonprofit | 48% | $19,224 | 34% | $59,095 |
| Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, IL · Public | not reported | $4,358 | 44% | $43,671 |
| Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL · Private nonprofit | 71% | $19,292 | 73% | $56,244 |
| Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit | 57% | $24,987 | 73% | $70,470 |
| Lakeview College of NursingDanville, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $88,107 |
| Lewis UniversityRomeoville, IL · Private nonprofit | 71% | $17,318 | 57% | $59,389 |
| Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 82% | $36,340 | 72% | $78,431 |
| Lutheran School of Theology at ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| McCormick Theological SeminaryChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| McKendree UniversityLebanon, IL · Private nonprofit | 72% | $18,457 | 51% | $63,391 |
| Meadville Theological School of Lombard CollegeChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Methodist CollegePeoria, IL · Private nonprofit | 39% | $41,238 | 30% | $71,324 |
| Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-SkokieSkokie, IL · Private for-profit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $34,086 |
| Midwestern Career CollegeChicago, IL · Private for-profit | not reported | $17,110 | 54% | $46,857 |
| Midwestern University-Downers GroveDowners Grove, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Millikin UniversityDecatur, IL · Private nonprofit | 67% | $16,652 | 51% | $57,738 |
| Monmouth CollegeMonmouth, IL · Private nonprofit | 91% | $17,612 | 58% | $54,098 |
| Moody Bible InstituteChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 83% | $19,426 | 63% | $49,594 |
| Morrison Institute of TechnologyMorrison, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | $21,531 | 76% | $58,180 |
| Morton CollegeCicero, IL · Public | not reported | $6,075 | 28% | $47,728 |
| National Louis UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 95% | $10,364 | 32% | $52,883 |
| National University of Health SciencesLombard, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $54,747 |
| North Central CollegeNaperville, IL · Private nonprofit | 77% | $22,836 | 62% | $65,646 |
| North Park UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 69% | $15,949 | 52% | $61,717 |
| Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago, IL · Public | 75% | $9,377 | 25% | $56,278 |
| Northern Baptist Theological SeminaryLisle, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL · Public | 70% | $14,505 | 48% | $61,351 |
| Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · Private nonprofit | 7.7% | $34,420 | 96% | $104,255 |
| Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL · Private nonprofit | 56% | $19,978 | 60% | $58,865 |
| Parkland CollegeChampaign, IL · Public | not reported | $5,553 | 36% | $42,861 |
| Principia CollegeElsah, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | 71% | not reported |
| Quincy UniversityQuincy, IL · Private nonprofit | 51% | $22,711 | 44% | $55,330 |
| Rasmussen University-IllinoisRockford, IL · Private for-profit | not reported | $21,203 | 46% | $47,524 |
| Rock Valley CollegeRockford, IL · Public | not reported | $3,385 | 38% | $44,656 |
| Rockford UniversityRockford, IL · Private nonprofit | 93% | $22,581 | 44% | $58,999 |
| Roosevelt UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 97% | $21,512 | 34% | $56,800 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceNorth Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Rush UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $91,211 |
| Saint Anthony College of NursingRockford, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | 100% | $85,334 |
| Saint Francis Medical Center College of NursingPeoria, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $80,384 |
| Saint Xavier UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 84% | $10,171 | 55% | $64,661 |
| School of the Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 77% | $53,331 | 68% | $47,612 |
| Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL · Public | 98% | $13,111 | 56% | $59,436 |
| Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · Public | 87% | $12,554 | 59% | $57,388 |
| Spertus CollegeChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| St. John's CollegeSpringfield, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $84,869 |
| Taylor Business InstituteChicago, IL · Private for-profit | 91% | not reported | 100% | $31,053 |
| Telshe Yeshiva-ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 100% | $8,494 | 53% | not reported |
| The Chicago School at ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 34% | not reported | not reported | $60,280 |
| Toyota Technological Institute at ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Trinity Christian CollegePalos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit | 85% | $15,155 | 64% | $60,507 |
| Trinity College of Nursing & Health SciencesRock Island, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | $74,463 |
| Trinity International University-IllinoisDeerfield, IL · Private nonprofit | 100% | not reported | 46% | $51,278 |
| University of ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 4.5% | $16,776 | 95% | $103,872 |
| University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL · Public | 77% | $9,540 | 61% | $73,666 |
| University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield, IL · Public | 86% | $7,528 | 53% | $64,479 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · Public | 42% | $13,042 | 86% | $87,599 |
| University of Saint Mary of the LakeMundelein, IL · Private nonprofit | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| University of St FrancisJoliet, IL · Private nonprofit | 65% | $15,961 | 64% | $69,137 |
| VanderCook College of MusicChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | 89% | $21,556 | 27% | $54,590 |
| Waubonsee Community CollegeSugar Grove, IL · Public | not reported | $2,551 | 44% | $48,582 |
| Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL · Public | 71% | $10,018 | 49% | $57,175 |
| Wheaton CollegeWheaton, IL · Private nonprofit | 87% | $26,059 | 82% | $68,390 |
| Worsham College of Mortuary ScienceWheeling, IL · Private for-profit | 92% | $19,755 | 83% | $61,393 |
"Not reported" means the Department of Education has no figure, often because the college is small, new, or does not take first-time students. Medians are the middle value of the colleges listed here.
The colleges of Illinois in brief
Of the 107 colleges listed for Illinois, 23 are public, 76 are private nonprofit and 8 are private for-profit. By level, 69 mainly award bachelor's degrees, 19 mainly award two-year associate degrees and 19 mainly award graduate degrees. Together they teach about 304,685 undergraduates, 56% of them at public colleges. The three largest, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Chicago and Illinois State University, hold 25% of the total, and the middle-sized college has 1,667 undergraduates. The towns with the most colleges are Chicago (38), Rockford (4) and Quincy (3).
What college costs in Illinois
At the public colleges, the median published tuition and fees are $12,640 a year for students from Illinois and $13,544 for students from elsewhere. At the private nonprofit colleges the median is $37,950. Published prices are not what most families pay. Counting colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the lowest average net price after grants is at Waubonsee Community College ($2,551) and Rock Valley College ($3,385) and the highest at School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($53,331) and Chamberlain University-Illinois ($38,263). The median net price across the state, $17,318, is about the same as the national median of $17,357.
Getting in
61 of the 107 colleges report an admission rate. The hardest to get into are University of Chicago (4.5% admitted), Northwestern University (7.7% admitted) and The Chicago School at Chicago (34% admitted). 40 of them admit at least seven applicants in ten. 18 colleges have an open admission policy and report no rate: they do not turn applicants away on grades or test scores.
Finishing and earning
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, the highest share of students finishing their course is at Northwestern University (96%), University of Chicago (95%) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (86%). The median graduation rate of the state's colleges is 53%, against 49% for the country. Ten years after starting, former students with federal aid earn the most at Northwestern University ($104,255), University of Chicago ($103,872) and Chamberlain University-Illinois ($96,897). The state median for that measure is $58,865, 11% above the national $53,132. Students who finish leave with a median federal loan debt of $19,684 (national median $19,994). Earnings follow the subjects a college teaches as much as its quality, so compare like with like.
Questions about colleges in Illinois
How many colleges are there in Illinois?
This site lists 107 open, degree-granting colleges and universities in Illinois, out of 3,161 on the whole site. Schools that mainly give short certificates are not counted.
What is the largest college in Illinois?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, with about 36,258 undergraduate students.
Which college in Illinois has the lowest net price?
Among colleges with at least 300 undergraduates, Waubonsee Community College: students with federal aid paid an average of $2,551 a year after grants. Students from other states or countries usually pay more.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.