7. University of Illinois Chicago

Estimated First Year Earnings:  $61,300

The University of Illinois Chicago is a public research university in Chicago, Illinois with more than one-third of first-generation undergraduates. With 91 bachelor’s programs and 18:1 student-faculty ratio, the university offers a wide range of students with the educational opportunity in an ethnically and culturally diverse environment.

Undergraduate Enrollment:  22,279 

Sticker Price for On Campus:  $30,968

Percent Paying Sticker Price: 15%

Acceptance Rate:  73%

4-year Graduation Rate:  34%

6. Loyola University Chicago

Estimated First Year Earnings:  $63,500

Loyola University Chicago is one of the largest Catholic  universities in the US.  Located in Chicago, Illinois, this private Jesuit research university has a 14:1 student faculty ratio and 98% of undergraduates have a job or are in grad school three months after graduation.

Undergraduate Enrollment:  11,819

Sticker Price for On Campus:  $63,640

Percent Paying Sticker Price: 1%

Acceptance Rate:  71%

4-year Graduation Rate:  67%

5. Illinois Wesleyan University

Estimated First Year Earnings:  $67,300

Illinois Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Bloomington, Illinois with over 80 majors, minors, and concentrations.  With two-thirds of our students conducting research and 71% completing at least one internship, Experiential learning is paramount to the experience.

Undergraduate Enrollment:  1,653

Sticker Price for On Campus:  $65,676

Percent Paying Sticker Price: 0%

Acceptance Rate:  57%

4-year Graduation Rate:  75%

4.  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Estimated First Year Earnings:  $70,900

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the flagship institution of the University of Illinois system.  This  public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana  has 9 undergraduate divisions offering nearly 5,000 courses in more than 150 fields of study.

Undergraduate Enrollment:  31102

Sticker Price for On Campus:  $65,676

Percent Paying Sticker Price:  30%

Acceptance Rate:  63%

4-year Graduation Rate:  70%

3.  Illinois Institute of Technology

Estimated First Year Earnings:  $78,000

Illinois Institute of Technology is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois  with over 40 undergraduate majors and special degree programs in tech-focused disciplines. 

Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,998

Sticker Price for On Campus:  $71,168

Percent Paying Sticker Price:  0%

Acceptance Rate:  61%

4-year Graduation Rate:  37%

2. Northwestern University

Estimated First Year Earnings:  $93,400

Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois with a 6 to 1 student faculty ratio.  This comprehensive research university is also a member of the Big 10 athletic conference.

Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,847

Sticker Price for On Campus:  $81,283

Percent Paying Sticker Price:  34%

Acceptance Rate:  9%

4-year Graduation Rate:  84%

1. University of Chicago

Estimated First Year Earnings:  $103,000

The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.  Students can choose from 53 majors and 47 minors in the undergraduate College.

Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,636

Sticker Price for On Campus:  $81,531

Percent Paying Sticker Price:  43%

Acceptance Rate:  7%

4-year Graduation Rate:  89%

Most people don't have the time to research college information on every college website, but we do.  Since we are committed to helping students and families make informed decisions about paying for college, we use a variety of data sources from the federal government for this post. Data for college type, acceptance rate, college 4-year graduation rate, and paying sticker price rate are derived from the most recent Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) report from US Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. Data for estimated first year earnings by college comes from the most recent US Department of Education’s College Scorecard  report, but is limited to only students who received federal financial aid at the time of enrollment.