Compare 7 Business/Commerce, General. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $57,237.
With top graduates earning $72,412, Business/Commerce, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $15K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige across Illinois's 7 ranked programs.
Benedictine University's Business/Commerce program leads with graduates earning $72,412, well above the state average of $57,237. Northeastern Illinois University follows at $67,572, demonstrating how regional publics compete effectively with private institutions. Lake Forest College rounds out the top three at $64,213, showing consistent strength across diverse institutional types.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $72,412 | 75 | $22,500 | Excellent | $22,900 | Manageable |
| #2 | $67,572 | 31 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Good | |
| #3 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $64,213 | 55 | $26,158 | Good | $35,000 | Challenging |
| #4 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | $57,865 | 61 | $22,223 | Good | $20,742 | Manageable |
| #5 | Trinity Christian CollegePrivate | $53,895 | 9 | $25,009 | Good | $18,426 | Challenging |
| #6 | $53,072 | 17 | $26,082 | Good | $19,098 | Challenging | |
| #7 | National Louis UniversityPrivate | $40,275 | 9 | $19,750 | Manageable | $17,284 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
