2023 Best Master'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 Master's Degree Schools in Illinois to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 34 schools in Illinois to see which master'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 Master's Degree Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Northwestern University to be the best school for students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Illinois. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 6,071 master’s degrees in .
Northwestern does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 19% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Northwestern University
Request Information
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Chicago is a great place for students working on their master’s degree. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In , this school awarded 3,921 master’s degrees to qualified students.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UChicago does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 0% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.
Full University of Chicago Report
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 7,148 master’s degrees in .
Online graduate courses are available at UIUC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2022-2023 about 58% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of St Francis. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 437 students 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. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 83% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on University of St Francis
Request Information
The excellent master’s degree programs at Illinois State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Illinois. Located in Normal, Illinois, the large public school awarded 735 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in .
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Illinois State. 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.
Read full report on Illinois State University
Request Information
With a ranking of #6, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their master’s degree. Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 306 master’s degrees in .
Olivet Nazarene does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on Olivet Nazarene University
Request Information
Aurora University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree programs. Located in Aurora, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 924 master’s degree awards in .
Aurora does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2022-2023 year, about 68% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Aurora University
Request Information
Bradley University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 429 students in .
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Bradley. In fact, around 80% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.
Request Information
Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree programs. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,218 master’s degree awards in .
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Illinois Tech. During the 2022-2023 year, about 39% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Request Information
Loyola University Chicago did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,588 master’s degrees in .
One thing to take note of is that Loyola Chicago does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2022-2023 year, about 66% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Full Loyola University Chicago Report
Request Information
North Central College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree programs. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Naperville, Illinois, and it awarded 126 master’s degrees in .
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at North Central. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
Full North Central College Report
Request Information
Dominican University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Dominican U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 384 master’s degrees in .
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Dominican U. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2022-2023 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.
Request Information
Lewis University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree programs. Located in Romeoville, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,138 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in .
Lewis does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 80% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.
Read full report on Lewis University
Request Information
With a ranking of #14, Elmhurst University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 272 master’s degree awards in .
Elmhurst does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2022-2023 about 68% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Elmhurst University
Request Information
With a ranking of #15, DePaul University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their master’s degree. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2,403 master’s degrees in .
One thing to take note of is that DePaul does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.
Read full report on DePaul University
Request Information
Concordia University, Chicago came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 1,010 master’s degrees in .
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Concordia University, Chicago does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2022-2023 year, about 89% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Request Information
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree programs. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a large student population. In , this school awarded 2,504 master’s degrees to qualified students.
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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.
Read full report on University of Illinois at Chicago
Request Information
With a ranking of #18, Benedictine University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their master’s degree. Lisle, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 766 students in .
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Benedictine U does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 90% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.
Full Benedictine University Report
Request Information
Eastern Illinois University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree programs. Located in Charleston, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 913 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in .
EIU 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 66% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Eastern Illinois University
Request Information
Northern Illinois University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 1,179 master’s degrees in .
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at NIU. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 56% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.
Read full report on Northern Illinois University
Request Information
Western Illinois University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree programs. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 829 master’s degrees in .
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at WIU. In 2022-2023 about 76% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Request Information
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree programs. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 671 master’s degrees in .
SIUC 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 30% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Request Information
National Louis University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 922 master’s degrees in .
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at NLU. In fact, around 65% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2022-2023.
Read full report on National Louis University
Request Information
With a ranking of #24, Roosevelt University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their master’s degree. Roosevelt University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 531 master’s degrees in .
Roosevelt 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 49% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Full Roosevelt University Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #25, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their master’s degree. SIUE is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 872 master’s degrees in .
SIUE does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 54% of graduates took at least one course online in 2022-2023.
Read full report on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Request InformationView Best Master’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.