# Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 19 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-criminal-justice-illinois

## Methodology

Criminal Justice programs in Illinois ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

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.

## Key Findings

- Lewis University graduates earn $66,099, the highest in this list.
- Western Illinois University has a graduation rate of only 45%.
- The average net price across these schools is $17,197.
- Illinois State University graduates have an average debt of $20,482.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Western Illinois University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-illinois-university) | Macomb, IL | 45% | $54,163 | $12,937 | $25,251 | 0.47x |
| 2 | [Lewis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lewis-university) | Romeoville, IL | 65% | $66,099 | $17,028 | $21,500 | 0.33x |
| 3 | [Southern Illinois University Edwardsville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville) | Edwardsville, IL | 56% | $56,346 | $14,889 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 4 | [Illinois State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/illinois-state-university) | Normal, IL | 65% | $62,117 | $19,398 | $20,482 | 0.33x |
| 5 | [Eastern Illinois University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-illinois-university) | Charleston, IL | 46% | $51,989 | $12,786 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 6 | [Eureka College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eureka-college) | Eureka, IL | 41% | $51,641 | $17,349 | $23,250 | 0.45x |
| 7 | [Aurora University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/aurora-university) | Aurora, IL | 59% | $58,709 | $18,838 | $20,318 | 0.35x |
| 8 | [Saint Xavier University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-xavier-university) | Chicago, IL | 58% | $58,656 | $10,970 | $22,223 | 0.38x |
| 9 | [Blackburn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/blackburn-college) | Carlinville, IL | 55% | $46,802 | $18,460 | $24,242 | 0.52x |
| 10 | [Greenville University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/greenville-university) | Greenville, IL | 46% | $46,827 | $19,533 | $23,875 | 0.51x |
| 11 | [Elmhurst University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elmhurst-university) | Elmhurst, IL | 68% | $61,462 | $24,185 | $20,489 | 0.33x |
| 12 | [Northeastern Illinois University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeastern-illinois-university) | Chicago, IL | 18% | $52,234 | $14,109 | $14,600 | 0.28x |
| 13 | [Loyola University Chicago](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loyola-university-chicago) | Chicago, IL | 75% | $71,530 | $36,079 | $24,157 | 0.34x |
| 14 | [Waubonsee Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/waubonsee-community-college) | Sugar Grove, IL | 40% | $44,788 | $11,442 | $7,000 | 0.16x |
| 15 | [Olivet Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/olivet-nazarene-university) | Bourbonnais, IL | 61% | $53,213 | $20,729 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 16 | [Quincy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/quincy-university) | Quincy, IL | 44% | $50,369 | $20,359 | $24,000 | 0.48x |
| 17 | [University of Illinois Springfield](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-illinois-springfield) | Springfield, IL | 57% | $57,103 | $9,833 | $19,128 | 0.33x |
| 18 | [Chicago State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chicago-state-university) | Chicago, IL | 16% | $42,778 | $12,335 | $30,625 | 0.72x |
| 19 | [Governors State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/governors-state-university) | University Park, IL | 21% | $58,169 | $12,329 | $18,618 | 0.32x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-criminal-justice-illinois

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.