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Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois

2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois

27 Schools Ranked

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 Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 27 schools in Illinois to see which graduate certificate 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.

Top Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
202 Total Awards
$53,871 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Northwestern University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in Illinois. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 202 graduate certificates in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Northwestern. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 19% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.

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#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
623 Total Awards
$66,543 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Chicago is a great place for students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 623 graduate certificate awards in .

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UChicago. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 0% took at least some of their classes online.

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#3

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
56 Total Awards
$14,757 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of St Francis. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Located in Joliet, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 56 graduate certificate awards in .

University of Saint Francis does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2022-2023 about 83% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#4

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
19 Total Awards

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Olivet Nazarene University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Illinois. Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 graduate certificates in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Olivet Nazarene. In 2022-2023 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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40 Total Awards
$17,268 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois list. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 40 graduate certificates in .

Online graduate courses are available at UIC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2022-2023 year, about 75% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#6

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
26 Total Awards
$19,014 Average Tuition & Fees

Bradley University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. Bradley is a private not-for-profit institution located in Peoria, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 26 graduate certificates in .

Bradley does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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 graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.

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#7

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
8 Total Awards
$34,037 Average Tuition & Fees

Elmhurst University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Elmhurst is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 graduate certificates in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Elmhurst. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.

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#8

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
25 Total Awards
$15,490 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Lewis University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Romeoville, Illinois, and it awarded 25 graduate certificates in .

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Lewis. During the 2022-2023 year, about 80% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#9

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
315 Total Awards
$22,305 Average Tuition & Fees

Loyola University Chicago ranked #9 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 315 students in .

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Loyola Chicago. During the 2022-2023 year, about 66% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#10

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
147 Total Awards
$12,225 Average Tuition & Fees

National Louis University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois list. NLU is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In , this school awarded 147 graduate certificates to qualified students.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at NLU. During the 2022-2023 year, about 65% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#11

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
258 Total Awards
$10,009 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate. This large public school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 258 graduate certificates in .

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Illinois State does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 45% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.

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#12

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
126 Total Awards
$10,782 Average Tuition & Fees

Concordia University, Chicago landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 126 graduate certificates in .

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Concordia University, Chicago. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.

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#13

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois
7 Total Awards
$19,500 Average Tuition & Fees

Dominican University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 7 students in .

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Dominican U. In fact, around 90% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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#14

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois
32 Total Awards
$12,010 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Illinois at Springfield ranked #14 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois list. UIS is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 graduate certificates in .

UIS does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2022-2023 year, about 85% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#15

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
64 Total Awards
$13,290 Average Tuition & Fees

Western Illinois University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 64 graduate certificates in .

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since WIU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2022-2023 year, about 76% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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36 Total Awards
$18,837 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #16 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 36 graduate certificates in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UIUC. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 58% took at least some of their classes online.

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#17

Benedictine University

Lisle, Illinois
108 Total Awards
$20,258 Average Tuition & Fees

Benedictine University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lisle, Illinois, and it awarded 108 graduate certificates in .

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Benedictine U. During the 2022-2023 year, about 90% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#18

DeVry University - Illinois

Lisle, Illinois
828 Total Awards
$17,552 Average Tuition & Fees

DeVry University - Illinois came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Lisle, Illinois, the large private for-profit school awarded 828 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at DeVry University - Illinois. In fact, around 96% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.

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#19

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
11 Total Awards

McKendree University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Lebanon, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at McKendree. During the 2022-2023 year, about 81% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

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#20

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
30 Total Awards

Northern Illinois University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 graduate certificates in .

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at NIU. In 2022-2023 about 56% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Northern Illinois University Report

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#21

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, Illinois
72 Total Awards
$10,102 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #21, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate. This fairly large public school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 72 graduate certificates in .

SIUE does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 54% took at least some of their classes online.

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#22

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
409 Total Awards
$11,410 Average Tuition & Fees

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #22 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 409 graduate certificates in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at EIU. In 2022-2023 about 66% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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#23

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
19 Total Awards
$10,072 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #23, Governors State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their graduate certificate. This small public school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 19 graduate certificates in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at GSU. In 2022-2023 about 58% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Governors State University Report

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#24

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
26 Total Awards
$23,094 Average Tuition & Fees

Roosevelt University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate programs. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 26 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Roosevelt. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 49% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.

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23 Total Awards
$14,148 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #25 on this year’s Best Graduate Certificate Schools in Illinois list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, the fairly large public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in .

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at SIUC. In 2022-2023 about 30% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

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Best Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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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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