Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois (2026)
Updated
This page lists 16 Liberal Arts programs in Illinois ordered by median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. For 2 of the 16 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
University of Chicago ranks 1st on this list and reports $96,510 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. The median across the listed schools is $55,198, with figures ranging from $96,510 to $28,309 after completing.
The list includes 9 public and 7 private nonprofit institutions, so public colleges make up 56% of the list. University of Chicago ranks 38th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
University of Illinois Springfield posts the lowest average net price at $9,833.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Liberal Arts Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Chicago · Chicago, IL | $96,510 | $14,860 | -$1,264* | 4.5% |
| University of Chicago reports $96,510 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 4%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (20 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | Northwestern University · Evanston, IL | $93,180 | $29,167 | $1,764 | 7.7% |
| Northwestern University posts median earnings of $93,180 four years after completing a Liberal Arts degree, alongside a six-year completion rate of 95%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (6 graduates) | |||||
| 3 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $86,444 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| With an average net price of $30,902, DePaul University shows $86,444 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($86,444) | |||||
| 4 | Quincy University · Quincy, IL | $62,841 | $20,359 | $16,502 | 50.9% |
| Quincy University ranks 4th on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 45%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (7 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | Aurora University · Aurora, IL | $60,775 | $18,838 | $14,525 | 80.9% |
| Aurora University admits 81% of applicants and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $60,775 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (35 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $57,697 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
| Northern Illinois University, a public university in Dekalb, reports $57,697 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $13,391. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (75 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($57,697) | |||||
| 7 | Western Illinois University · Macomb, IL | $55,944 | $12,937 | $6,941 | 71.2% |
| Western Illinois University posts an average net price of $6,941 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $55,944 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (131 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($55,944) | |||||
| 8 | Northeastern Illinois University · Chicago, IL | $55,569 | $14,109 | $13,709 | 74.6% |
| Northeastern Illinois University ranks 172nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $55,569 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (106 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($55,569) | |||||
| 9 | Saint Xavier University · Chicago, IL | $54,826 | $10,970 | $7,572 | 84.3% |
| Saint Xavier University shows an average net price of $10,970 and a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($54,826) | |||||
| 10 | Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL | $52,078 | $12,786 | $9,828 | 65.4% |
| Eastern Illinois University reports $52,078 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 65%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (102 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($52,078) | |||||
| 11 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $50,744 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
| Illinois State University admits 88% of applicants and its Liberal Arts graduates earn a median of $50,744 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (91 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($50,744) | |||||
| 12 | Governors State University · University Park, IL | $50,703 | $12,329 | $9,563 | 48.3% |
| Governors State University reports an average net price of $9,563 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $50,703 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (103 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($50,703) | |||||
| 13 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $43,236 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reports $43,236 in median earnings of Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $13,297. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (44 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($43,236) | |||||
| 14 | University of Illinois Springfield · Springfield, IL | $43,026 | $9,833 | $5,778 | 85.9% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 53%, University of Illinois Springfield admits 86% of applicants and ranks 400th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (9 graduates) | |||||
| 15 | Chicago State University · Chicago, IL | $32,391 | $12,335 | $9,073 | 43.3% |
| Chicago State University posts median earnings of $32,391 for its Liberal Arts graduates two years after completing, alongside a 43% admission rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (44 graduates) | |||||
| 16 | Lewis University · Romeoville, IL | $28,309 | $17,028 | $10,382 | 71.3% |
| A private nonprofit university in Romeoville, Lewis University shows an average net price of $10,382 for families earning under $30,000 and a 67% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (6 graduates) | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Liberal Arts graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Liberal Arts earnings cohort in Illinois appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 16 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked University of Chicago and second-ranked Northwestern University is $3,330, while the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $68,201.