2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in Illinois
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in Illinois? We have ranked 240 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree evaluated 188 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Illinois
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 Graduate Degrees school in Illinois. This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,322. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $16,616. Read the full report on Northwestern University
University Of Chicago came in at #2 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in Illinois. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $15,854. See the full University Of Chicago profile
Out of the 188 schools in Illinois in this year's ranking, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #3 spot. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $20,778. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
The strong Graduate Degrees programs at University Of St Francis earned it the #4 place in Illinois. Located in Joliet, IL, University Of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Francis posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $38,110. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $25,695. See the full University Of St Francis profile
A rank of #5 makes Illinois State University one of the top choices in Illinois. Illinois State University is a public school based in Normal, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $21,896 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. See the full Illinois State University profile
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Bourbonnais, IL, Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,900. Olivet Nazarene University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,797 in debt. See the full Olivet Nazarene University profile
Bradley University landed the #7 spot in Illinois this year. Based in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Bradley University graduates 76% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $26,380. Read more about Bradley University
Aurora University landed the #8 spot in Illinois this year. Set in Aurora, IL, Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. In-state tuition and fees run about $29,170. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $24,507. Read more about Aurora University
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Set in Chicago, IL, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Illinois Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $52,202. Illinois Institute Of Technology Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,774 in debt. Get the full Illinois Institute Of Technology report
Loyola University Chicago landed the #10 spot in Illinois this year. Set in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Loyola University Chicago Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $23,521 in debt. Get the full Loyola University Chicago report
Lewis University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Lewis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Romeoville, IL. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full Lewis University report
Dominican University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set in River Forest, IL, Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,828. Graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. See the full Dominican University profile
Elmhurst College placed #13 among Graduate Degrees schools in Illinois. Located in Elmhurst, IL, Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,955. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $22,400. Get the full Elmhurst College report
Concordia University Chicago came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in River Forest, IL, Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $37,488 in tuition and fees. Concordia University Chicago Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,956 in debt. Get the full Concordia University Chicago report
Benedictine University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lisle, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. In-state tuition and fees average $32,648. Graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. Read the full report on Benedictine University
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Set in Chicago, IL, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. University Of Illinois At Chicago Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $20,115 in debt. Read more about University Of Illinois At Chicago
Depaul University placed #17 among Graduate Degrees schools in Illinois. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $25,310. More on Depaul University
National Louis University placed #18 among Graduate Degrees schools in Illinois. Based in Chicago, IL, National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,245. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $29,242. Read the full report on National Louis University
Northern Illinois University landed the #19 spot in Illinois this year. Northern Illinois University is a public school based in Dekalb, IL. Northern Illinois University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Northern Illinois University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $25,209 in debt. Read more about Northern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Charleston, IL, Eastern Illinois University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. Get the full Eastern Illinois University report
Western Illinois University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. This public school is set in Macomb, IL. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans. More on Western Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #22 among Graduate Degrees schools in Illinois. This public school is set in Edwardsville, IL. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $23,917. Read more about Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Roosevelt University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Chicago, IL, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,315. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $23,879. See the full Roosevelt University profile
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #24 spot in Illinois this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public school based in Carbondale, IL. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Graduates carry a median of $23,730 in student loans. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Mckendree University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Lebanon, IL, Mckendree University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $34,740 in tuition and fees. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $24,362. See the full Mckendree University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Illinois
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
North Park University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. North Park University is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans. Read more about North Park University
Devry University Illinois did well this year, earning the #27 position. Devry University Illinois is a private for-profit school based in Lisle, IL. Devry University Illinois posts a six-year graduation rate of 18%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,008. Graduates carry a median of $43,684 in student loans. See the full Devry University Illinois profile
Northeastern Illinois University did well this year, earning the #28 position. This public school is set in Chicago, IL. Northeastern Illinois University posts a six-year graduation rate of 22%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Northeastern Illinois University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $17,600 in debt. Read more about Northeastern Illinois University
University Of Illinois At Springfield did well this year, earning the #29 position. Based in Springfield, IL, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Illinois At Springfield
Saint Xavier University placed #30 among Graduate Degrees schools in Illinois. Set in Chicago, IL, Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Xavier University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,945. Saint Xavier University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $25,735 in debt. See the full Saint Xavier University profile
Governors State University placed #31 among Graduate Degrees schools in Illinois. Located in University Park, IL, Governors State University is a public institution. Governors State University graduates 21% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $24,990. More on Governors State University
Trinity International University Illinois ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Located in Deerfield, IL, Trinity International University Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,320. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,892. Read more about Trinity International University Illinois
Chicago State University landed the #33 spot in Illinois this year. Based in Chicago, IL, Chicago State University is a public institution. About 16% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,754 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Chicago State University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $43,322 in debt. Get the full Chicago State University report
Spoon River College did well this year, earning the #34 position. More on Spoon River College
Maccormac College landed the #35 spot in Illinois this year. Read the full report on Maccormac College
Empire Beauty School Vernon Hills landed the #36 spot in Illinois this year. Read the full report on Empire Beauty School Vernon Hills
Hair Professionals Career College Sycamore placed #37 among Graduate Degrees schools in Illinois. More on Hair Professionals Career College Sycamore
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College placed #38 among Graduate Degrees schools in Illinois. Read the full report on City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College
Kankakee Community College landed the #39 spot in Illinois this year. Read the full report on Kankakee Community College
John Wood Community College landed the #40 spot in Illinois this year. Read the full report on John Wood Community College
Career Center Of Southern Illinois came in at #41 in this year's ranking. See the full Career Center Of Southern Illinois profile
Blackburn College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. More on Blackburn College
Columbia College Chicago did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Columbia College Chicago
Richland Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Richland Community College
Cannella School Of Hair Design Villa Park landed the #45 spot in Illinois this year. Get the full Cannella School Of Hair Design Villa Park report
Larry S Barber College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Larry S Barber College profile
Chicago Professional Center ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Chicago Professional Center
St Johns College
St Johns College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Get the full St Johns College report
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College landed the #49 spot in Illinois this year. More on City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College
Hvac Technical Institute did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on Hvac Technical Institute
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 188 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 240 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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