City Rankings
Best Colleges in Chicago, Illinois
Top colleges in Chicago ranked by national standing and graduate outcomes -- updated 2026.
Colleges listed: 32
Avg grad earnings: $62,146
Top Colleges in Chicago
Nationally ranked schools appear first. Remaining schools are ordered by median graduate earnings.
| # | School | Grad Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Chicago #14 national | $91,885 |
| 2 | Illinois Institute of Technology #195 national | $82,592 |
| 3 | DePaul University #246 national | $68,751 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago #248 national | $68,740 |
| 5 | Loyola University Chicago #341 national | $71,530 |
| 6 | Saint Xavier University #578 national | $58,656 |
| 7 | North Park University #680 national | $59,572 |
| 8 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College #891 national | $41,625 |
| 9 | City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College #1167 national | $37,962 |
| 10 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago #1192 national | $40,151 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Excludes for-profit institutions.
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