PlainCollege

State profile · 234 colleges · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Colleges in Illinois

Colleges in Illinois from PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset, compared on acceptance, cost, and 10-year former-student earnings.

234
Colleges
$43,991
Avg 10-yr earnings (189 of 234)
74.1%
Avg acceptance

Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

Illinois · the picture in one line

Illinois's 189 of 234 colleges that report earnings average $43,991 in 10-year former-student earnings - 25th highest of 56 states and territories that report.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

#25
of 56 states by avg former-student earnings
$92,405
top earnings - Chamberlain University-Illinois
74.1%
avg acceptance (67 reporting)
64 / 81 / 89
public / nonprofit / for-profit

Best earnings-to-cost value among Illinois colleges with reported figures: University of Chicago.

Illinois · enrollment ≠ earnings

In Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads by undergraduate enrollment (36,258 students, #1 of 178) but ranks #7 of 178 on 10-year median earnings ($81,054), while Chamberlain University-Illinois tops earnings at $92,405 (#1 of 178) with 14,027 students (#7 of 178). The biggest campus is not always the highest-paying outcome.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

36,258
University of enrollment #1
$92,405
Chamberlain University-Illinois earnings #1
#1
Enrollment rank of earnings leader
#7
Earnings rank of enrollment leader

Enrollment is IPEDS fall headcount; earnings are Scorecard 10-year medians for federally aided former students. Different populations, not one ROI ratio.

Enrollment of Illinois's #1 campuses by size vs earnings

Same unit (undergraduate students) for both named leaders.

students

What this shows University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is largest by enrollment; Chamberlain University-Illinois leads on 10-year earnings at $92,405.

Source IPEDS via College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

This page aggregates colleges and universities in Illinois returned by PlainCollege's U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard snapshot. It combines IPEDS-derived institutional fields with Treasury-derived earnings published for federal-aid recipients. Coverage includes public flagships, regional comprehensives, community and technical colleges, private nonprofit institutions, and for-profit schools.

The state-aggregate statistics below include all reporting institutions in Illinois as a single denominator, community colleges, public universities, private nonprofits, and for-profit institutions are pooled. State averages are therefore useful for high-level framing (in-state tuition is X, average admission rate is Y, average earnings are Z) but should not be read as representative of any specific sector or institution. Drill into individual school profiles for the full picture: admissions, costs (sticker and net), federal-aid usage, completion, retention, demographics, and earnings outcomes 6 and 10 years after enrollment.

The Scorecard data used here was retrieved in March–July 2026. That retrieval window is not the measurement year: tuition and enrollment fields retain their source reporting periods, while 10-year institution earnings describe federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year, a decade after entry.

Largest Colleges in Illinois by Enrollment

IPEDS Fall enrollment via College Scorecard.

students

What this shows Enrollment size reflects institutional scale, not quality or on-campus experience - a large school here can still be a small, selective program relative to its state peers.

Source IPEDS As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Highest Earnings, 10-Year Median: Illinois

U.S. Treasury earnings linkage via College Scorecard.

USD

What this shows Former-student earnings vary by program mix and local labor market as much as by the school itself; this comparison does not isolate a school's causal effect.

Source College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

The ROI lens

Illinois colleges: earnings vs. cost

Illinois colleges, positioned by earnings vs net price Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 14 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Illinois colleges, positioned by earnings vs net price COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $36K $97K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $1K $38K Avg Net Price ($) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: $81K earn · $14K net · 85% grad University of Illi… DeVry University-Illinois: $46K earn · $31K net · 37% grad DeVry University-I… University of Illinois Chicago: $69K earn · $11K net · 61% grad University of Illi… Illinois State University: $62K earn · $19K net · 65% grad Illinois State Uni… College of DuPage: $47K earn · $7K net · 25% grad College of DuPage DePaul University: $69K earn · $31K net · 69% grad DePaul University Chamberlain University-Illinois: $92K earn · $32K net · 45% grad Loyola University Chicago: $72K earn · $36K net · 75% grad Northern Illinois University: $58K earn · $13K net · 49% grad College of Lake County: $43K earn · $8K net · 38% grad William Rainey Harper College: $48K earn · $12K net · 47% grad Joliet Junior College: $43K earn · $2K net · 21% grad Northwestern University: $89K earn · $29K net · 96% grad Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: $56K earn · $15K net · 56% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

National context

How Illinois ranks among the states

Illinois's average 10-year earnings of $43,991 place it in the 57th percentile among all 56 states and territories tracked by the College Scorecard.

Illinois: average former-student earnings vs. every state

State-average 10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$43,991 Top 43% higher than 57% of 56 states & territories

$24,000–$28,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Below this entry. $28,000–$32,000: 1 states & territories (2%). Below this entry. $32,000–$36,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Below this entry. $36,000–$40,000: 12 states & territories (21%). Below this entry. $40,000–$44,000: 14 states & territories (25%). This entry sits in this band. $44,000–$48,000: 10 states & territories (18%). Above this entry. $48,000–$52,000: 7 states & territories (13%). Above this entry. $52,000–$56,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Above this entry. $56,000–$60,000: 3 states & territories (5%). Above this entry. IL $24,000 $60,000 every state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $4K-wide band; taller bars hold more states & territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Illinois vs. every state, at a glance
EarningsAffordabilityOptionsAccess

Each axis is this state's percentile among all states & territories on that metric (Earnings/Affordability/Options/Access) -- not a composite grade, just four independent comparisons in one shape.

School type matters

How school type shapes earnings in Illinois

Average 10-year former-student earnings by institution type. Program mix, selectivity, student background, and local labor markets all contribute to the observed gaps, so read this beside each school's own figures.

Average former-student earnings by school type - Illinois

Mean of per-school 10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

avg earnings

What this shows Keeping schools within one state reduces some regional variation, but this descriptive comparison does not control for program mix, selection, or student background.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
234
Total Schools
$18,759
Avg In-State Tuition (130 of 234)
74.1%
Avg Acceptance Rate (67 of 234)
$43,991
Avg Median Earnings (189 of 234)
64 Public 81 Private NP 89 For-Profit
Ownership Breakdown

What the IPEDS Data Shows for Colleges in Illinois

PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset contains 234 postsecondary institutions in Illinois. The ownership mix is 64 public institutions, 81 private nonprofits, and 89 private for-profit schools. Public institutions often report lower in-state tuition because state appropriations subsidize the published price, while private nonprofits may show higher sticker prices partly offset by institutional aid.

Cost and selectivity signals vary widely even within a single state. The average in-state tuition among the 130 of 234 Illinois institutions that report one is $18,759, and the average admission rate among the 67 that report one sits at 74.1%. Admission rates from IPEDS exclude open-enrollment institutions, which is why community colleges and many for-profits show as unreported rather than at 100 percent. Looking at the table, the acceptance-rate column is blank for schools that don’t screen applicants, a meaningful distinction when evaluating selectivity alongside earnings.

Institution-level earnings connect cost to one observed outcome. Among the 189 of 234 Illinois colleges that report 10-year median earnings, federally aided former students show a mean of $43,991, based on Treasury-derived records published through the Scorecard. Because earnings depend heavily on field of study, student background, and local labor markets, state-level averages should be read alongside each school’s program mix. The table sorts institutions with reported IPEDS enrollment so users can compare acceptance rates, enrollment scale, and median earnings side by side.

All Schools in Illinois

School Name City Type Enrollment Acceptance Rate 10yr Earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public 36,258 42.4% $81,054
DeVry University-Illinois Lisle For-Profit 27,825 98.4% $45,987
University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public 22,170 77.3% $68,740
Illinois State University Normal Public 19,057 88.1% $62,117
College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Public 16,114 - $46,909
DePaul University Chicago Private NP 14,090 75.9% $68,751
Chamberlain University-Illinois Addison For-Profit 14,027 82.6% $92,405
Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private NP 11,737 81.6% $71,530
Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public 11,301 69.8% $57,808
College of Lake County Grayslake Public 9,420 - $43,424
William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public 9,313 - $48,071
Joliet Junior College Joliet Public 9,306 - $42,889
Northwestern University Evanston Private NP 9,201 7.7% $89,363
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public 8,750 97.5% $56,346
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale Public 8,494 86.9% $53,390
University of Chicago Chicago Private NP 7,569 4.5% $91,885
Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public 7,490 - $43,892
Triton College River Grove Public 6,902 - $41,728
Elgin Community College Elgin Public 6,648 - $45,516
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago Public 6,409 - $32,427
Oakton College Des Plaines Public 6,072 - $47,852
Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove Public 5,721 - $44,788
Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public 5,675 - $36,884
Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private NP 5,368 89.5% $42,195
Illinois Central College East Peoria Public 5,052 - $37,366
McHenry County College Crystal Lake Public 4,691 - $45,143
Western Illinois University Macomb Public 4,410 71.2% $54,163
National Louis University Chicago Private NP 4,406 95.0% $45,799
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago Public 4,372 - $41,625
Rock Valley College Rockford Public 4,359 - $39,158
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Chicago Public 4,207 - $36,531
Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public 4,188 65.3% $51,989
Lewis University Romeoville Private NP 4,015 71.3% $66,099
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago Public 3,982 74.6% $52,234
Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Public 3,976 - $38,479
Aurora University Aurora Private NP 3,974 80.8% $58,709
Bradley University Peoria Private NP 3,574 76.8% $66,852
Parkland College Champaign Public 3,348 - $38,320
Saint Xavier University Chicago Private NP 3,096 84.3% $58,656
Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private NP 3,006 73.6% $61,462
Heartland Community College Normal Public 2,997 - $40,768
Roosevelt University Chicago Private NP 2,849 97.2% $48,712
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private NP 2,833 54.9% $82,592
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago Private NP 2,805 77.5% $40,151
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College Chicago Public 2,789 - $37,962
Morton College Cicero Public 2,640 - $42,406
Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private NP 2,603 55.9% $53,213
Dominican University River Forest Private NP 2,561 90.3% $60,327
Governors State University University Park Public 2,556 48.3% $58,169
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Chicago Public 2,505 - $36,484
Augustana College Rock Island Private NP 2,490 62.7% $62,971
Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public 2,487 - $37,724
Lake Land College Mattoon Public 2,448 - $38,877
Prairie State College Chicago Heights Public 2,443 - $36,696
North Central College Naperville Private NP 2,428 77.3% $60,123
Black Hawk College Moline Public 2,354 - $37,253
University of Illinois Springfield Springfield Public 2,263 85.9% $57,103
Wheaton College Wheaton Private NP 2,121 87.4% $63,756
South Suburban College South Holland Public 2,042 - $33,680
Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby Public 2,040 - $40,810
John A Logan College Carterville Public 2,016 - $34,096
Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public 1,985 - $38,767
Benedictine University Lisle Private NP 1,942 95.2% $63,446
Kishwaukee College Malta Public 1,936 - $39,657
Kaskaskia College Centralia Public 1,920 - $38,801
North Park University Chicago Private NP 1,818 68.5% $59,572
Lake Forest College Lake Forest Private NP 1,813 56.8% $61,825
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Chicago Public 1,777 - $28,467
McKendree University Lebanon Private NP 1,752 71.7% $58,572
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College Chicago Public 1,661 - $31,114
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Public 1,634 - $37,533
Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington Private NP 1,582 39.3% $70,871
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park Melrose Park For-Profit 1,539 - $38,683
Moody Bible Institute Chicago Private NP 1,510 82.7% $45,399
Danville Area Community College Danville Public 1,508 - $34,867
Chicago State University Chicago Public 1,384 43.3% $42,778
Millikin University Decatur Private NP 1,382 66.7% $51,262
John Wood Community College Quincy Public 1,371 - $38,631
Richland Community College Decatur Public 1,346 - $38,793
Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois Springfield For-Profit 1,326 - $33,601
Concordia University-Chicago River Forest Private NP 1,323 92.8% $54,089
University of St Francis Joliet Private NP 1,223 65.3% $63,926
Rend Lake College Ina Public 1,175 - $35,775
Sauk Valley Community College Dixon Public 1,158 - $40,458
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc Lisle For-Profit 1,156 - $52,873
Rasmussen University-Illinois Rockford For-Profit 1,145 - $39,080
Knox College Galesburg Private NP 1,127 70.8% $54,820
Carl Sandburg College Galesburg Public 1,051 - $35,274
Quincy University Quincy Private NP 1,010 50.9% $50,369
Rockford University Rockford Private NP 972 92.9% $54,794
Greenville University Greenville Private NP 955 97.5% $46,827
Highland Community College Freeport Public 931 - $37,928
Illinois College Jacksonville Private NP 930 78.2% $52,575
Midwestern Career College Chicago For-Profit 887 - $36,432
Trinity Christian College Palos Heights Private NP 820 84.9% $55,700
Spoon River College Canton Public 774 - $38,386
Judson University Elgin Private NP 708 47.6% $56,313
Monmouth College Monmouth Private NP 702 90.9% $51,110
Shawnee Community College Ullin Public 698 - $32,999
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Rockford For-Profit 682 - $34,104
Southeastern Illinois College Harrisburg Public 680 - $33,763
MDT College of Health Sciences Chicago For-Profit 575 64.2% $43,946
Eureka College Eureka Private NP 522 85.0% $51,641
G Skin & Beauty Institute Schaumburg For-Profit 490 - $29,032
Blackburn College Carlinville Private NP 471 63.2% $46,802
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview Bridgeview For-Profit 470 - $25,671
East-West University Chicago Private NP 468 - $29,963
Cosmetology & Spa Academy Crystal Lake For-Profit 445 - $29,779
ETI School of Skilled Trades Willowbrook For-Profit 443 - $52,800
Principia College Elsah Private NP 339 - -
G Skin & Beauty Institute Oakbrook For-Profit 337 - $32,281
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago Chicago For-Profit 333 - $53,341
Generations College Chicago Private NP 310 - $34,706
HVAC Technical Institute Chicago For-Profit 285 - -
First Institute of Travel Inc. Crystal Lake For-Profit 278 - $36,196
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing Peoria Private NP 273 - $72,850
Methodist College Peoria Private NP 245 38.9% $69,800
Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy Chicago For-Profit 233 - $32,349
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW Chicago For-Profit 216 - $28,554
Fox College Tinley Park For-Profit 200 70.2% $41,539
Paul Mitchell the School-Tinley Park Tinley Park For-Profit 191 - $28,378
State Career College Gurnee For-Profit 185 - -
Worsham College of Mortuary Science Wheeling For-Profit 183 92.0% $61,574
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences Quincy Private NP 176 - $72,430
Verve College Oak Brook For-Profit 176 - -
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture Urbana For-Profit 173 - $18,077
Saint Anthony College of Nursing Rockford Private NP 172 - $77,709
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Normal Normal For-Profit 171 - $26,236
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford Rockford For-Profit 170 - $25,109
University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts Springfield For-Profit 164 - $27,084
John Amico School of Hair Design Oak Forest For-Profit 162 - -
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville Libertyville For-Profit 162 - $35,650
Capital Area Career Center Springfield Public 161 94.4% $55,357
Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago Chicago For-Profit 160 - $27,652
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NE Chicago For-Profit 160 - $27,330
Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute Skokie For-Profit 141 - $25,148
Universal Spa Training Academy Downers Grove For-Profit 139 - $41,928
Rush University Chicago Private NP 138 - $75,194
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin Elgin For-Profit 138 - $35,650
Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology Oswego For-Profit 136 - $23,412
Empire Beauty School-Stone Park Stone Park For-Profit 136 - $24,407
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Glendale Heights Glendale Heights For-Profit 132 - $27,330
St. John's College Springfield Private NP 126 - $86,331
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Peoria Peoria For-Profit 125 - $26,236
Ambria College of Nursing Hoffman Estates For-Profit 123 - $67,290
Trenz Beauty Academy Calumet City For-Profit 109 - -
Pivot Point Academy Bloomingdale For-Profit 103 - $30,453
Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology Dekalb For-Profit 99 - -
Taylor Business Institute Chicago For-Profit 98 91.2% $25,559
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Rockford Rockford For-Profit 97 - $21,463
CAAN Academy of Nursing Matteson Private NP 96 - -
Chicago Professional Center Prospect Heights For-Profit 95 - -
The Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness Chicago Chicago For-Profit 93 - $31,369
Hebrew Theological College Skokie Private NP 90 57.1% $33,291
Hair Professionals Career College Palos Hills For-Profit 86 - $23,417
CALC Institute of Technology Alton For-Profit 83 - $32,088
Stellar Career College Chicago For-Profit 83 - $30,337
Cameo Beauty Academy Oak Lawn For-Profit 82 - $24,513
Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago Chicago Private NP 78 100.0% -
VanderCook College of Music Chicago Private NP 76 89.5% $47,863
Capri Beauty College New Lenox For-Profit 75 - $26,804
Larry's Barber College Chicago For-Profit 68 - -
Lakeview College of Nursing Danville Private NP 66 - $84,522
Estelle Medical Academy Skokie For-Profit 66 - $24,290
Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus Chicago For-Profit 66 - $38,284
Oehrlein School of Cosmetology East Peoria For-Profit 65 - $18,890
Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago Chicago For-Profit 64 - $29,075
Steven Papageorge Hair Academy Chicago For-Profit 60 - $29,592
Morrison Institute of Technology Morrison Private NP 59 - $63,571
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling Sterling For-Profit 59 - $21,463
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences Rock Island Private NP 56 - $58,743
Hair Professionals Career College Sycamore For-Profit 55 - $23,568
Trinity International University-Illinois Deerfield Private NP 55 100.0% $46,989
Rosel School of Cosmetology Niles For-Profit 55 - $19,819
Networks Barber College Calumet City For-Profit 54 - -
Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy Joliet For-Profit 53 - $30,341
University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Chicago For-Profit 53 - $28,955
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Peru PERU For-Profit 52 - $21,949
Ms Roberts Academy of Beauty Culture Hillside For-Profit 52 - $24,535
Cannella School of Hair Design-Villa Park Villa Park For-Profit 51 - $26,970
Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills Vernon Hills For-Profit 50 - $24,407
Gem City College Quincy For-Profit 41 - $19,219
Graham Hospital School of Nursing Canton Private NP 40 100.0% $63,586
Reflections Academy of Beauty Decatur For-Profit 40 - -
The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Downers Grove For-Profit 39 - -
Phipps Academy of Barbering Richton Park For-Profit 39 - -
Career Center of Southern Illinois Red Bud Public 36 56.5% $48,452
Capri Beauty College Oak Forest For-Profit 33 - $26,804
Illinois Media School Chicago For-Profit 32 - $38,284
Cosmetology Concepts Niles Niles For-Profit 31 - $20,303
Larry's Barber College Chicago For-Profit 29 - -
Larry's Barber College-Joliet Joliet For-Profit 27 - -
Americare Technical School Park Ridge For-Profit 25 100.0% -
The Chicago School at Chicago Chicago Private NP 21 34.5% $56,899
American Islamic College Chicago Private NP 16 100.0% -
Creative Touch Cosmetology School Waterloo For-Profit 16 - -
National University of Health Sciences Lombard Private NP 13 - $58,723
I M Beauty School Glenview For-Profit 13 - -
Adler University Chicago Private NP 9 - -
Pacific College of Health and Science Chicago For-Profit 2 - $26,209
Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Skokie Skokie For-Profit 0 - $44,136
Catholic Theological Union at Chicago Chicago Private NP - - -
Midwestern University-Downers Grove Downers Grove Private NP - - -
Chicago Theological Seminary Chicago Private NP - - -
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Evanston Private NP - - -
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago Private NP - - -
Illinois College of Optometry Chicago Private NP - - -
Institute for Clinical Social Work Chicago Private NP - - -
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management Lake Forest Private NP - - -
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Chicago Private NP - - -
McCormick Theological Seminary Chicago Private NP - - -
Meadville Theological School of Lombard College Chicago Private NP - - -
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Lisle Private NP - - -
University of Saint Mary of the Lake Mundelein Private NP - - -
Spertus College Chicago Private NP - - -
Erikson Institute Chicago Private NP - - -
Endeavor Health School of Nurse Anesthesia-DePaul University Evanston Private NP - - -
Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation Inc. Chicago Private NP - - -
Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago Chicago Private NP - - -
Northwest Suburban College Rollng Meadows Private NP - - -
Chicago College of Oriental Medicine Chicago Private NP - - -
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges-Olney Central College Olney Public - - $37,533
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges-Frontier Community College Fairfield Public - - $37,533
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges-Lincoln Trail College Robinson Public - - $37,533
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges-Wabash Valley College Mount Carmel Public - - $37,533
Triton College - Intl Union of Operating Engr Local 399 Trning Fac. Chicago Public - - $41,728
Pivot Point Academy - Wahl Barber Academy Chicago For-Profit - - $30,453
SAE Institute of Technology-Chicago Chicago For-Profit - - $39,544
Rasmussen University-Aurora Aurora For-Profit - - $39,080
Rasmussen University-Romeoville/Joliet Romeoville For-Profit - - $39,080
Rasmussen University-Mokena/Tinley Park Mokena For-Profit - - $39,080
Relay Graduate School of Education - Chicago Chicago Private NP - - -
Networks Barber College Chicago For-Profit - - -
Phipps Academy of Barbering - Bradley Bradley For-Profit - - -

Featured Colleges in Illinois

Quick picks from this state – compare two schools side by side

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
36,258 students
DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL
27,825 students
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL
22,170 students
Illinois State University
Normal, IL
19,057 students
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, IL
16,114 students
Compare University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs DeVry University-Illinois →

Explore more Illinois data

Highest-earning colleges → Best value colleges → ROI calculator → Compare states →

Guides & Resources

Is College Worth It?

A data-driven answer using earnings and cost data.

How to Compare Colleges

A framework for picking schools with data, not rankings alone.

Financial Aid & Net Price

How net price differs from sticker price and financial aid.

Understanding College Earnings Data

How Scorecard earnings figures are measured and their limits.

About This Data

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, PlainCollege's current snapshots were retrieved in March–July 2026. This state's institution-level figures come from the July retrieval, including IPEDS-derived characteristics. Earnings represent median income 10 years after enrollment for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year, using U.S. Treasury-derived records published through the Scorecard.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What this means for Illinois applicants

  • Illinois has 234 colleges in PlainCollege's Scorecard dataset, spanning community colleges, public flagships, and private institutions.
  • Average reported admission rate across Illinois colleges is 74.1% - individual schools vary widely, check each profile for its own rate.
  • State-level averages pool every reporting institution together; run a specific school's numbers before assuming the state figure applies to it.Use the ROI calculator

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or educational advice. State-level averages pool every reporting institution and do not predict any individual school's outcome.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. State-level rollups are computed directly from College Scorecard and IPEDS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.