2023 Best Bachelor's 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 42 schools in Illinois to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences 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.
Featured schools near , edit
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Chicago the best school in Illinois for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average tuition and fees at UChicago is $60,963. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UChicago accumulate an average of $15,217 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
The average tuition and fees at Northwestern is $60,768. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,404 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UIUC is $17,634. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $37,632. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,891 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UIUC. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Out of the 42 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois Wesleyan University landed the # 4 spot on the list.
The average tuition and fees at Illinois Wesleyan is $52,512. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan accumulate an average of $23,212 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Illinois State University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Students from Illinois who attend Illinois State full time pay an average of $13,968 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $24,172. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,109 in student loans.
Illinois State 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, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Lake Forest College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
Lake Forest does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $51,002. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,776 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Since Lake Forest is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Augustana College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $46,189 to cover tuition and fees at Augustana. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,410 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Augustana. During the 2019-2020 year, about 41% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you want to attend Wheaton College Illinois, expect to pay an average of $40,820 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Wheaton College Illinois. In 2019-2020 about 37% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bradley University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $36,360 to cover tuition and fees at Bradley. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Bradley accumulate an average of $25,068 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Bradley does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $47,808 to cover tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,570 in student loans.
Loyola Chicago 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 97% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Western Illinois University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
The average tuition and fees at WIU is $13,297. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $28,617 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that WIU does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Elmhurst University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $39,400 to cover tuition and fees at Elmhurst. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Elmhurst accumulate an average of $21,567 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Elmhurst does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #13, Dominican University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
The average tuition and fees at Dominican U is $35,420. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $26,422 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Dominican U. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
University of St Francis ranked #14 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $28,383 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since University of Saint Francis does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.
Lewis University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list.
If you want to attend Lewis, expect to pay an average of $35,472 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Lewis accumulate an average of $23,413 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Lewis does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Trinity Christian College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $33,275 to cover tuition and fees at Trinity Christian. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,340 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Trinity Christian, 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 70% took at least some of their classes online.
Illinois Institute of Technology ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
Illinois Tech does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $50,375. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,232 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Illinois Tech. In 2019-2020 about 31% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
North Central College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
If you want to attend North Central, expect to pay an average of $42,206 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from North Central accumulate an average of $23,457 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
North Central does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 83% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree programs.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $34,310 to cover tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $26,522 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Concordia University, Chicago. In fact, around 50% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Aurora University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list.
If you want to attend Aurora, expect to pay an average of $26,760 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Aurora accumulate an average of $25,543 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Aurora does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
McKendree University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list.
McKendree does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $33,050. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from McKendree accumulate an average of $24,607 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that McKendree does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 16% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
SIUC does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,240. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,761 in loans while pursuing their degree.
SIUC 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. In 2019-2020 about 43% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list.
If you want to attend NIU, expect to pay an average of $14,738 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,759 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NIU does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 4% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
DePaul University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
DePaul does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $42,012. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from DePaul accumulate an average of $24,156 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 DePaul does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #25, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Students from Illinois who attend EIU full time pay an average of $12,297 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,551. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,733 in student loans.
Online courses are available at EIU, 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 60% took at least some of their classes online.
View Best Bachelor’s 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.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.