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# Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

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](/school/university-of-chicago/majors/) 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

16 schools in list order

| 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](/school/university-of-chicago/majors/) reports [$96,510 in median earnings](/school/university-of-chicago/outcomes/) 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](/school/northwestern-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $93,180](/school/northwestern-university/outcomes/) 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,](/school/depaul-university/cost/) [DePaul University](/school/depaul-university/majors/) 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](/school/quincy-university/majors/) ranks 4th on this list and reports a [six-year completion rate of 45%](/school/quincy-university/outcomes/). |
|  | 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](/school/aurora-university/majors/) [admits 81% of applicants](/school/aurora-university/admissions/) 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](/school/northern-illinois-university/majors/), a public university in Dekalb, reports [$57,697 in median earnings](/school/northern-illinois-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/western-illinois-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $6,941](/school/western-illinois-university/cost/) 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](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/majors/) [ranks 172nd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/northeastern-illinois-university/) 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](/school/saint-xavier-university/majors/) shows an [average net price of $10,970](/school/saint-xavier-university/cost/) 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](/school/eastern-illinois-university/majors/) reports [$52,078 in median earnings](/school/eastern-illinois-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/illinois-state-university/majors/) [admits 88% of applicants](/school/illinois-state-university/admissions/) 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](/school/governors-state-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $9,563](/school/governors-state-university/cost/) 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](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/majors/) reports [$43,236 in median earnings](/school/southern-illinois-university-carbondale/outcomes/) 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%](/school/university-of-illinois-springfield/outcomes/), [University of Illinois Springfield](/school/university-of-illinois-springfield/majors/) 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](/school/chicago-state-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $32,391](/school/chicago-state-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/lewis-university/majors/) shows an [average net price of $10,382](/school/lewis-university/cost/) 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.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-liberal-arts-colleges/)
-   [Best Colleges in Illinois](/rankings/best-colleges-in-illinois/)
-   [Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California](/rankings/best-liberal-arts-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New York](/rankings/best-liberal-arts-colleges-in-new-york/)
-   [Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Pennsylvania](/rankings/best-liberal-arts-colleges-in-pennsylvania/)
-   [Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Indiana](/rankings/best-liberal-arts-colleges-in-indiana/)
-   Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois for Social Mobility