Best College ROI in Il 2026
62 colleges in Il analyzed for return on investment. Judson University leads with a ROI Score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY).
Il has 62 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 12 public institutions and 50 private ones. Across the 62 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $23K and earn $86K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
95% of Il colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Judson University (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Il
Judson University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Il's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $12K in median debt.
East-West University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
St. Augustine College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $13K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Il
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judson University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $12K | $95K | A (100) |
| 2 | East-West University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $13K | $95K | A (99) |
| 3 | St. Augustine College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $13K | $95K | A (99) |
| 4 | National Louis University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $16K | $95K | A (98) |
| 5 | North Central College(private) | Computer Science | $16K | $95K | A (98) |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign(public) | Computer Science | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 7 | Bradley University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 8 | DePaul University(private) | Computer Programming | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 9 | Illinois State University(public) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (96) |
| 10 | Northwestern University(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 11 | Olivet Nazarene University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 12 | Quincy University(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 13 | Saint Xavier University(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 14 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 15 | University of Chicago(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 16 | University of Illinois Springfield(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 17 | Principia College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 18 | Benedictine University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 19 | Columbia College Chicago(private) | Computer Programming | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 20 | Concordia University-Chicago(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
College debt and earnings data for Il is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Judson University has the best ROI in Il with a score of 100/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $12K in median debt.
Across 62 Il colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $23K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $86K.
Judson University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Il has 62 colleges in our database (12 public, 50 private). Of the 62 with reportable ROI, 95% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).