The college explorer
Find a college.
See what it returns.
Look beyond the sticker price. Explore real costs, graduate earnings, and how long a degree takes to pay for itself.
How we measure value3,376colleges to explore
434with a Strong ROI verdict
College Scorecard · 2026 release
Federal figures. Our calculations.
116 matching colleges · Showing 1–24
Compare collegesBrowse by state or territory
Payback guideStrong ≤5 yearsSolid ≤10Slow ≤20Weak >20 or no payback
Illinois 116 matching
View state rankingStrong ROI
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Net price / year$14,355Payback1.8 years
Weak ROI
DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL
Net price / year$30,770PaybackNot available
Strong ROI
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$10,974Payback2.2 years
Solid ROI
Illinois State University
Normal, IL
Net price / year$19,398Payback5.6 years
Weak ROI
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, IL
Net price / year$7,401PaybackNot available
Solid ROI
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$30,902Payback6.1 years
Strong ROI
Chamberlain University-Illinois
Addison, IL
Net price / year$31,837Payback2.9 years
Solid ROI
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$36,079Payback6.2 years
Solid ROI
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL
Net price / year$13,391Payback5.7 years
Weak ROI
College of Lake County
Grayslake, IL
Net price / year$7,607PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, IL
Net price / year$11,607PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL
Net price / year$1,672PaybackNot available
Strong ROI
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Net price / year$29,167Payback2.8 years
Solid ROI
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
Net price / year$14,889Payback7.5 years
Slow ROI
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
Net price / year$13,297Payback10.6 years
Strong ROI
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$14,860Payback1.4 years
Weak ROI
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL
Net price / year$2,829PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Triton College
River Grove, IL
Net price / year$4,138PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Elgin Community College
Elgin, IL
Net price / year$6,026PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$7,220PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Oakton College
Des Plaines, IL
Net price / year$5,183PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, IL
Net price / year$11,442PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, IL
Net price / year$10,427PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$26,598PaybackNot available