Rankings / By State
Best Online Colleges in Illinois
- 50
- Schools
- $51,134
- Avg. Earnings
- 51%
- Avg. Graduation
- $12,628
- Avg. Net Price
- $15,782
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $34,867 at the low end to $82,592 at the top. That 2.4× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Joliet Junior College offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $42,889 against $1,672 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is Joliet Junior College, at $1,672 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates 85% of its students, well above the 51% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Kaskaskia College: graduates owe only 0.10× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ($56,346 earnings), not the highest earner, Illinois Institute of Technology ($82,592). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Joliet Junior College ($1,672/yr) and Loyola University Chicago ($36,079/yr) produce graduates earning $42,889 and $71,530 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $34,407 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Joliet Junior College outperforms Illinois Institute of Technology: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Joliet Junior College and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
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 $52K 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 2026-07-20
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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville #1 overall | $56,346 ▲ +10% vs avg | $14,889 | 56% | 73 |
| 2 Illinois Institute of Technology #2 overall | $82,592 ▲ +62% vs avg | $18,425 | 74% | 72 |
| 3 Illinois State University #3 overall | $62,117 ▲ +21% vs avg | $19,398 | 65% | 71 |
| $66,099 ▲ +29% vs avg | $17,028 | 65% | 70 | |
| $60,327 ▲ +18% vs avg | $11,745 | 59% | 69 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Online Colleges in Illinois
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $51,134 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 51% and an average net price of $12,628.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Joliet Junior College — Net Price: $1,672 | Graduation Rate: 21%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — 85% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Illinois Institute of Technology — Median alumni earnings: $82,592
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Access & Flexibility Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about online education and the working-adult learner?
$50,351
Median earnings (10yr)
49%
Median graduation rate
$11,594
Median net price
1.5%
Avg. mobility rate
The online education market has matured. What was once a niche offering for non-traditional students is now a central way Americans access higher education. The programs that succeed pair flexibility with the support structures and academic rigor that lead to completion and career outcomes rather than enrollment alone.
Across the 50 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $50,351 ten years after they first enrolled, about $2,351 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 49%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $11,594 a year, with about $18,102 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 34% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.5%.
Online delivery is no longer a compromise; the best programs post outcomes competitive with their on-campus peers. With median earnings of $50,351 and a net price of $11,594, these programs show that flexibility and quality can coexist.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Edwardsville, IL · 98% accepted · $14,889 net
Why it ranks #1
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville lands at #1 with a 73/100 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, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,889 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 #2
Illinois Institute of Technology lands at #2 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (62/100). Graduates earn a median $82,592 a decade after enrolling, 62% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,425 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 #3
Illinois State University lands at #3 with a 71/100 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, 21% 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 #4
Lewis University lands at #4 with a 70/100 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, 29% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,028 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
Dominican University lands at #5 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $60,327 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,745 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 #6
Eastern Illinois University lands at #6 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $51,989 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,786 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
North Park University lands at #7 with a 69/100 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, 17% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,948 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 #8
Northern Illinois University lands at #8 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $57,808 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,391 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 #9
Lake Land College lands at #9 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $38,877 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,254 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
Champaign, IL · 42% accepted · $14,355 net
Why it ranks #10
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign lands at #10 with a 69/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $81,054 a decade after enrolling, 59% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,355 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Moraine Valley Community College lands at #11 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $43,892 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,829 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 #12
North Central College lands at #12 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $60,123 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,044 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 #13
Lewis and Clark Community College lands at #13 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $37,724 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,349 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 #14
Aurora University lands at #14 with a 68/100 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, 15% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Bradley University lands at #15 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $66,852 a decade after enrolling, 31% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,719 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 #16
Illinois Valley Community College lands at #16 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $40,810 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,232 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 #17
Western Illinois University lands at #17 with a 68/100 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, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,937 a year. 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 #18
Elgin Community College lands at #18 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $45,516 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,026 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 #19
DePaul University lands at #19 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $68,751 a decade after enrolling, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $30,902 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 #20
Elmhurst University lands at #20 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $61,462 a decade after enrolling, 20% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,185 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 #21
Carl Sandburg College lands at #21 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $35,274 a decade after enrolling, 31% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,662 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 #22
Kishwaukee College lands at #22 with a 67/100 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, 22% 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 carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
McHenry County College lands at #23 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $45,143 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,042 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 #24
Saint Xavier University lands at #24 with a 67/100 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, 15% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Black Hawk College lands at #25 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (57/100). Graduates earn a median $37,253 a decade after enrolling, 27% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,944 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 #26
Kaskaskia College lands at #26 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $38,801 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,477 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 #27
Triton College lands at #27 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $41,728 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,138 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 #28
Sauk Valley Community College lands at #28 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $40,458 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,493 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 #29
Loyola University Chicago lands at #29 with a 66/100 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, 40% 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 #30
Benedictine University lands at #30 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $63,446 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,313 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 #31
Northeastern Illinois University lands at #31 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $52,234 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,109 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 #32
University of Illinois Chicago lands at #32 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (62/100). Graduates earn a median $68,740 a decade after enrolling, 34% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,974 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Lincoln Land Community College lands at #33 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $38,479 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,299 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 #34
Joliet Junior College lands at #34 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (93/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $42,889 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $1,672 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 #35
Waubonsee Community College lands at #35 with a 66/100 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, 12% 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 #36
Rend Lake College lands at #36 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $35,775 a decade after enrolling, 30% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,187 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 #37
Richland Community College lands at #37 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $38,793 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,741 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 #38
Judson University lands at #38 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $56,313 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,558 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 #39
College of Lake County lands at #39 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $43,424 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,607 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 #40
Rock Valley College lands at #40 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $39,158 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,242 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 #41
Morton College lands at #41 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $42,406 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,191 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 #42
John Wood Community College lands at #42 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $38,631 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,050 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 #43
Illinois College lands at #43 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $52,575 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,298 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 #44
Greenville University lands at #44 with a 66/100 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, 8% 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 carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
Olivet Nazarene University lands at #45 with a 65/100 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, 4% above 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
Danville Area Community College lands at #46 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $34,867 a decade after enrolling, 32% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,777 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 #47
McKendree University lands at #47 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $58,572 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,717 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 #48
Rockford University lands at #48 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $54,794 a decade after enrolling, 7% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,436 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 #49
Roosevelt University lands at #49 with a 65/100 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, 5% 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 #50
Kankakee Community College lands at #50 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $38,767 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,665 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 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
This ranking scores 50 institutions on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt burdens, and social mobility data from Opportunity Insights. Every data point comes from federal sources. No surveys, no opinions.
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in our algorithm. We use Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card — built on 30 million anonymized tax records — to measure whether a college changes a family's economic trajectory across generations. Schools that take low-income students and launch them into higher earnings rank higher than schools that admit wealthy students and take credit for their success.
The transparency penalty matters here. Schools that don't report their data get scored lower than schools that do. If an institution won't show you its numbers, we think you should know that before you write them a tuition check.
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 48 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.5%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Illinois Institute of Technology leads the group at 3.6%, with Northeastern Illinois University (3.2%) and Roosevelt University (3.2%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 8.8% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Morton College enrolls the most, at 19.6%, 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 20% across the list, peaking at 60.6% at Illinois Institute of Technology.
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 1.41, 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Online Colleges in Illinois: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Online Colleges in Illinois ranking? +
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Edwardsville, IL ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Online Colleges in Illinois ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $56,346 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 56% 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? +
Illinois Institute of Technology posts the highest median earnings on this list: $82,592 ten years after enrollment, well above the $51,134 average across the 50 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, Joliet Junior College leads: graduates earn a median $42,889 against net price of about $1,672 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? +
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 85%, compared with a 51% 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 $12,628 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. Joliet Junior College is among the most affordable at roughly $1,672. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Online 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 50 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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