2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamp with offerings that you might find attractive.
The Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 42 schools in Illinois to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Rasmussen University - Illinois to be the best school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in Illinois.
The average tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Illinois is $13,883. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $27,566 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Rasmussen University - Illinois, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.
The excellent associate degree programs at William Rainey Harper College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Illinois.
In-state students pay an average of $9,870 in tuition and fees if they attend Harper College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,682. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,799 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Harper College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lincoln Land Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list.
In-state students pay an average of $6,840 in tuition and fees if they attend LLCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,068. Associate Degree recipients from LLCC accumulate an average of $16,056 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
LLCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 81% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend DeVry University - Illinois. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list.
The average tuition and fees at DeVry University - Illinois is $15,032. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $35,424 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at DeVry University - Illinois. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Out of the 42 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at ECC is $7,140. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,516. Associate Degree recipients from ECC accumulate an average of $16,016 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at ECC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Waubonsee Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $9,271 in tuition and fees if they attend Waubonsee full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,076. Associate Degree recipients from Waubonsee accumulate an average of $12,163 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Waubonsee does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Joliet Junior College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Joliet Junior College is $12,570. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,410. Associate Degree recipients from Joliet Junior College accumulate an average of $13,342 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Joliet Junior College. In 2019-2020 about 96% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #8, College of Lake County did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $9,632 in tuition and fees if they attend College of Lake County full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,824. Associate Degree recipients from College of Lake County accumulate an average of $14,641 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
College of Lake County does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 91% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Roosevelt University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
On average, associate degree students take out $17,658 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Roosevelt does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Rock Valley College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $8,924 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Rock Valley College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,564. On average, associate degree students take out $11,336 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rock Valley College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
McHenry County College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $11,608 in tuition and fees if they attend MCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,449. Associate Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $11,243 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at MCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 50% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Prairie State College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list.
In-state students pay an average of $9,342 in tuition and fees if they attend Prairie State College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,064. Associate Degree recipients from Prairie State College accumulate an average of $18,660 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Prairie State College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 80% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list.
Associate Degree recipients from SWIC accumulate an average of $12,561 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at SWIC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Black Hawk College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
On average, associate degree students take out $13,002 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since BHC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 71% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at SIUC is $15,240. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from SIUC accumulate an average of $20,577 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
SIUC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 43% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #16, Heartland Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,810 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Heartland Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,550. Associate Degree recipients from Heartland Community College accumulate an average of $14,253 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Heartland Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #17, Oakton Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Illinois who attend Oakton Community College full time pay an average of $10,446 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,462. On average, associate degree students take out $12,398 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Oakton Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Triton College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
In-state students pay an average of $11,190 in tuition and fees if they attend Triton College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,980. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,807 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Triton College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list.
Associate Degree recipients from Wilbur Wright College accumulate an average of $9,901 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Wilbur Wright College. In 2019-2020 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College Report
With a ranking of #20, City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Associate Degree recipients from Richard J Daley College accumulate an average of $10,885 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Richard J Daley College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 94% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College
Kankakee Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Kankakee Community College is $13,200. Out-of-state students pay an average of $25,560. On average, associate degree students take out $17,166 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Kankakee Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #22, Moraine Valley Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $8,118 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MVCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,334. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,988 in student loans.
Online courses are available at MVCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Morton College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Morton College is $9,476. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,524. Associate Degree recipients from Morton College accumulate an average of $12,317 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Morton College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
South Suburban College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list.
Students from Illinois who attend SSC full time pay an average of $11,033 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,683. On average, associate degree students take out $13,924 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SSC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 79% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Saint Augustine College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list.
The average tuition and fees at St. Augustine College is $12,120. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $4,978 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out St. Augustine College. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
View Best Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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