Rankings / By State
Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois
- 19
- Schools
- $53,529
- Avg. Earnings
- 48%
- Avg. Graduation
- $16,410
- Avg. Net Price
- $20,966
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 19 schools run from $39,657 to $71,530, a 1.8× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Kishwaukee College delivers the most for the money: roughly $39,657 in median earnings against $4,574 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Kishwaukee College is the lowest-cost school here at $4,574 a year in net price.
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Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of its students, versus a 48% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Waubonsee Community College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.16× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Western Illinois University ($54,163 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Loyola University Chicago ($71,530), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Kishwaukee College costs $4,574 a year and Loyola University Chicago costs $36,079. Yet their graduates earn $39,657 and $71,530, nowhere near the $31,505 price gap.
- On value, Kishwaukee College beats Loyola University Chicago: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with Kishwaukee College and Loyola University Chicago. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $53K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Western Illinois University #1 overall | $54,163 ▲ +1% vs avg | $12,937 | 45% | 75 |
| 2 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville #2 overall | $56,346 ▲ +5% vs avg | $14,889 | 56% | 75 |
| 3 Lewis University #3 overall | $66,099 ▲ +23% vs avg | $17,028 | 65% | 74 |
| $62,117 ▲ +16% vs avg | $19,398 | 65% | 73 | |
| $58,709 ▲ +10% vs avg | $18,838 | 59% | 71 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois
This analysis ranks 19 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $53,529 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 48% and an average net price of $16,410.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Kishwaukee College — Net Price: $4,574 | Graduation Rate: 42%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Loyola University Chicago — 75% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Loyola University Chicago — Median alumni earnings: $71,530
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Legal Profession Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the legal profession and the justice system?
$53,213
Median earnings (10yr)
46%
Median graduation rate
$17,028
Median net price
1.7%
Avg. mobility rate
Law and criminal-justice programs feed careers where outcomes hinge on two numbers most rankings ignore: bar passage and employment in the field. Salaries are famously bimodal, with a cluster at large firms and a long tail in public-interest and government roles. Debt loads can be heavy, so program quality carries unusual stakes.
The median graduation rate across these 19 schools is 46%. Median graduate earnings reach $53,213 ten years after enrollment, roughly $5,213 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $17,028 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $22,223. Some 39% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 1.7%.
What we’re seeing: the gap between programs with strong bar-passage and placement records and the rest is wide, and debt makes that gap consequential. Median earnings of $53,213 against $22,223 in typical debt show why fit and outcomes matter more here than prestige alone.
The podium
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Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Western Illinois University lands at #1 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $54,163 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,937 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Edwardsville, IL · 98% accepted · $14,889 net
Why it ranks #2
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville lands at #2 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (67/100). Graduates earn a median $56,346 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,889 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Lewis University lands at #3 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $66,099 a decade after enrolling, 23% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,028 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Illinois State University lands at #4 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $62,117 a decade after enrolling, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,398 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Aurora University lands at #5 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $58,709 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,838 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
North Park University lands at #6 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $59,572 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,948 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Kishwaukee College lands at #7 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $39,657 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,574 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Eureka College lands at #8 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $51,641 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,349 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Saint Xavier University lands at #9 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $58,656 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,970 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Greenville University lands at #10 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $46,827 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,533 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Loyola University Chicago lands at #11 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (34/100). Graduates earn a median $71,530 a decade after enrolling, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,079 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Waubonsee Community College lands at #12 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $44,788 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,442 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Quincy University lands at #13 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $50,369 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,359 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Olivet Nazarene University lands at #14 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $53,213 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,729 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Roosevelt University lands at #15 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $48,712 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,194 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Blackburn College lands at #16 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $46,802 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,460 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Chicago State University lands at #17 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $42,778 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,335 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Governors State University lands at #18 with a 58/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (69/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $58,169 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,329 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
College of DuPage lands at #19 with a 57/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $46,909 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,401 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 19 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Choosing a school for a criminal justice degree can feel overwhelming, especially in a state like Illinois with many options. With 19 programs listed here, students and families can weigh various outcomes that matter for future success in this field.
What separates the top schools from the rest? Key metrics include graduate earnings, completion rates, and student debt levels. In this list, we’ve ranked schools based on these important outcomes, giving you a clear view of which programs might offer better financial and career prospects.
Take Lewis University and Western Illinois University, for example. Lewis University graduates earn $66,099 on average, but only 65% complete their degree. In contrast, Western Illinois University has a lower average income of $54,163 and a lower graduation rate of 45%. These numbers highlight the tradeoffs students may need to consider while selecting their program.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 17 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.7%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Chicago State University leads the group at 3.7%, with Roosevelt University (3.2%) and Loyola University Chicago (3.1%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 8.6% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Chicago State University enrolls the most, at 25.7%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 21.6% across the list, peaking at 37.6% at Loyola University Chicago.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.58, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Loyola University Chicago is highest at 1.80.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When examining the data, a clear pattern emerges. Lewis University outperforms Western Illinois University in both earnings and graduation rates, with a significant $11,936 difference in average income. This suggests that, despite potentially higher tuition costs, the return on investment for Lewis students may be more favorable in the long run.
After reviewing your options, consider your own priorities. Think about factors like location, campus culture, and financial situation. If a lower net price is essential, schools like the University of Illinois Springfield, with a net price of $9,833, might be more appealing. Finding the right balance is key in making a decision that aligns with your goals.
The data here paints a clear picture of the stakes involved in choosing a college. For many families, this choice can shape not just educational outcomes but also long-term financial stability. A single decision about where to study can lead to varying paths in life, making it crucial to examine these figures thoughtfully.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois ranking? +
Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $54,163 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 45% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Loyola University Chicago posts the highest median earnings on this list: $71,530 ten years after enrollment, well above the $53,529 average across the 19 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Kishwaukee College leads: graduates earn a median $39,657 against net price of about $4,574 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Loyola University Chicago has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 75%, compared with a 48% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $16,410 a year across the 19 ranked schools with cost data. Kishwaukee College is among the most affordable at roughly $4,574. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 19 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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