Rankings / Online
Best Online Education Programs in Illinois
- 38
- Schools
- $57,509
- Avg. Earnings
- 54%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,819
- Avg. Net Price
- $22,265
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $42,778 at the low end to $81,054 at the top. That 1.9× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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College of DuPage offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $46,909 against $7,401 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 College of DuPage, at $7,401 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: Wheaton College graduates 86% of its students, well above the 54% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor College of DuPage: graduates owe only 0.22× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to University of St Francis ($63,926 earnings), not the highest earner, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($81,054). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. College of DuPage ($7,401/yr) and Loyola University Chicago ($36,079/yr) produce graduates earning $46,909 and $71,530 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $28,678 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, College of DuPage outperforms University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with College of DuPage and Wheaton College. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
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 $58K 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 University of St Francis #1 overall | $63,926 ▲ +11% vs avg | $13,006 | 66% | 100 |
| 2 National Louis University #2 overall | $45,799 ▼ -20% vs avg | $12,641 | 33% | 100 |
| 3 University of Illinois Springfield #3 overall | $57,103 ▼ -1% vs avg | $9,833 | 57% | 100 |
| $58,572 ▲ +2% vs avg | $24,717 | 57% | 100 | |
| $58,169 ▲ +1% vs avg | $12,329 | 21% | 100 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Online Education Programs in Illinois
This analysis ranks 38 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $57,509 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 54% and an average net price of $17,819.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: College of DuPage — Net Price: $7,401 | Graduation Rate: 25%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Wheaton College — 86% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Median alumni earnings: $81,054
Data Insight
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Educator Pipeline Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the educator pipeline?
$57,456
Median earnings (10yr)
57%
Median graduation rate
$18,367
Median net price
1.7%
Avg. mobility rate
Society needs more teachers than it is producing, yet pay and working conditions make retention a persistent problem. Education programs are the gateway to the profession. The best of them pair pedagogical training with strong clinical practice and placement networks that keep graduates in the profession.
Start with the medians across these 38 schools. Graduates earn a median of $57,456 ten years after enrollment, or about $9,456 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 57%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $18,367 a year with about $22,387 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 39% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.7%.
In education, low debt matters as much as a solid paycheck. Graduates earn a median of $57,456 against a typical net price of $18,367. That ratio makes cost-conscious program selection essential in a profession with modest pay and a public mission.
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
Why it ranks #1
University of St Francis lands at #1 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $63,926 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,006 a year, well under 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 #2
National Louis University lands at #2 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (68/100) and pulled down by social mobility (51/100). Graduates earn a median $45,799 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,641 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 #3
University of Illinois Springfield lands at #3 with a 100/100 composite, led by value per dollar (73/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $57,103 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,833 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 #4
McKendree University lands at #4 with a 100/100 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, 2% 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 puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Governors State University lands at #5 with a 100/100 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, 1% 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 #6
Aurora University lands at #6 with a 100/100 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, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,838 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
Blackburn College lands at #7 with a 100/100 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, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,460 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 #8
Greenville University lands at #8 with a 100/100 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, 19% 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 #9
Olivet Nazarene University lands at #9 with a 100/100 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, 7% 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 puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Benedictine University lands at #10 with a 100/100 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, 10% 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 puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Concordia University-Chicago lands at #11 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (67/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $54,089 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,436 a year. 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 #12
Western Illinois University lands at #12 with a 100/100 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% below 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 carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Lewis University lands at #13 with a 100/100 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, 15% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Edwardsville, IL · 98% accepted · $14,889 net
Why it ranks #14
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville lands at #14 with a 100/100 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, 2% below 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 carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
DePaul University lands at #15 with a 100/100 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, 20% 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
Carbondale, IL · 87% accepted · $13,297 net
Why it ranks #16
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale lands at #16 with a 100/100 composite, led by academic quality (67/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $53,390 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,297 a year, well under 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 #17
Rockford University lands at #17 with a 100/100 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, 5% below 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Champaign, IL · 42% accepted · $14,355 net
Why it ranks #18
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign lands at #18 with a 100/100 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, 41% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,355 a year, well under 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 #19
Bradley University lands at #19 with a 100/100 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, 16% 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 #20
Chicago State University lands at #20 with a 100/100 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, 26% 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 #21
Northern Illinois University lands at #21 with a 100/100 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, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,391 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 #22
Northeastern Illinois University lands at #22 with a 100/100 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, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,109 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 #23
College of DuPage lands at #23 with a 100/100 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, 18% 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
Why it ranks #24
Eastern Illinois University lands at #24 with a 100/100 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, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,786 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 #25
Dominican University lands at #25 with a 100/100 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, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,745 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 #26
Illinois College lands at #26 with a 100/100 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, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,298 a year. 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 #27
Elmhurst University lands at #27 with a 100/100 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, 7% 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 #28
University of Illinois Chicago lands at #28 with a 100/100 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, 20% 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 #29
Saint Xavier University lands at #29 with a 100/100 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, 2% 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 #30
Illinois State University lands at #30 with a 100/100 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, 8% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Loyola University Chicago lands at #31 with a 100/100 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, 24% 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 #32
Millikin University lands at #32 with a 100/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $51,262 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,989 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 #33
North Central College lands at #33 with a 100/100 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, 5% 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 #34
Roosevelt University lands at #34 with a 99/100 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, 15% 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 #35
North Park University lands at #35 with a 86/100 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, 4% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #36
Quincy University lands at #36 with a 82/100 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, 12% 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 #37
Wheaton College lands at #37 with a 80/100 composite, led by academic quality (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $63,756 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,975 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 #38
Judson University lands at #38 with a 73/100 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, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,558 a year. 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
Cut it by what you care about
The same 38 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
This ranking scores 38 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
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 28 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.7%. Chicago State University leads the group at 3.7%, with Northeastern Illinois University (3.2%) and Roosevelt University (3.2%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 7.2% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Chicago State University leads at 25.7%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 25.6% across this list. DePaul University posts the highest success rate at 43%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.63 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Loyola University Chicago reaches 1.80, the highest on the list.
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 Education Programs in Illinois: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Online Education Programs in Illinois ranking? +
University of St Francis in Joliet, IL ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Online Education Programs in Illinois ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $63,926 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 66% 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? +
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign posts the highest median earnings on this list: $81,054 ten years after enrollment, well above the $57,509 average across the 38 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, College of DuPage leads: graduates earn a median $46,909 against net price of about $7,401 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? +
Wheaton College has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 86%, compared with a 54% 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 $17,819 a year across the 38 ranked schools with cost data. College of DuPage is among the most affordable at roughly $7,401. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Online Education Programs 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 38 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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