Compare 41 Psychology, General. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $42,887.
With top graduates earning $61,389, Psychology, General. stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs across 41 Illinois programs demonstrates why evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Northwestern University's Psychology program leads with graduates earning $61,389, well above the state average of $42,887. But the story extends beyond Northwestern—Loyola University Chicago delivers $52,586 outcomes with an accessible 81% acceptance rate, proving strong psychology programs aren't limited to highly selective schools.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $61,389 | 139 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable |
| #2 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $52,586 | 262 | $24,157 | Good | $54,045 | High |
| #3 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | $51,194 | 9 | $27,000 | Manageable | $25,486 | High |
| #4 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $50,244 | 53 | $27,000 | Manageable | $37,219 | High |
| #5 | $49,195 | 149 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | High | |
| #6 | Elmhurst UniversityPrivate | $48,321 | 107 | $20,489 | Good | $27,470 | High |
| #7 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $48,252 | 52 | $27,000 | Manageable | $41,405 | High |
| #8 | Dominican UniversityPrivate | $47,929 | 42 | $24,411 | Manageable | $19,865 | High |
| #9 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $47,752 | 201 | $23,168 | Manageable | $41,563 | High |
| #10 | $47,000 | 459 | $16,704 | Good | $24,323 | High | |
| #11 | North Central CollegePrivate | $46,972 | 95 | $24,500 | Manageable | $30,000 | High |
| #12 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $46,741 | 34 | $23,250 | Manageable | $35,000 | High |
| #13 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $46,467 | 22 | $27,000 | Manageable | $47,679 | High |
| #14 | Aurora UniversityPrivate | $45,688 | 60 | $20,318 | Manageable | $19,500 | High |
| #15 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $45,546 | 78 | $22,500 | Manageable | $22,900 | High |
| #16 | North Park UniversityPrivate | $44,426 | 20 | $25,500 | Manageable | $24,179 | High |
| #17 | Trinity Christian CollegePrivate | $43,954 | 35 | $25,009 | Manageable | $18,426 | High |
| #18 | $43,847 | 102 | $21,500 | Manageable | $17,781 | High | |
| #19 | Mckendree UniversityPrivate | $43,254 | 42 | $23,250 | Manageable | $22,582 | High |
| #20 | $43,117 | 96 | $18,618 | Manageable | $13,991 | Challenging | |
| #21 | Illinois CollegePrivate | $42,995 | 33 | $25,565 | Manageable | $22,975 | High |
| #22 | $42,777 | 61 | $19,128 | Manageable | $13,450 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $42,569 | 184 | $20,500 | Manageable | $21,500 | High | |
| #24 | Lewis UniversityPrivate | $42,266 | 74 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,044 | High |
| #25 | Monmouth CollegePrivate | $42,222 | 14 | $27,000 | Challenging | $27,185 | 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 →
