Best Engineering Programs in Illinois (2026)
Engineering programs in Illinois range from research-focused public flagships to applied-engineering programs at smaller schools. The list below is ranked by engineering program strength, ABET accreditation, graduate earnings, and net price.
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#1
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Net Price
$34,420/yr
Median Earnings
$104,255
Grad Rate
96%
Engineering Share
13.6%
#2
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$22,443/yr
Median Earnings
$90,804
Grad Rate
73%
Engineering Share
35.2%
#3
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Net Price
$13,042/yr
Median Earnings
$87,599
Grad Rate
86%
Engineering Share
20.7%
#4
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$16,776/yr
Median Earnings
$103,872
Grad Rate
95%
Engineering Share
2.2%
#5
Bradley University
Peoria, IL
Net Price
$22,469/yr
Median Earnings
$76,013
Grad Rate
75%
Engineering Share
14.5%
#6
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL
Net Price
$26,059/yr
Median Earnings
$68,390
Grad Rate
83%
Engineering Share
1.9%
#7
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$36,340/yr
Median Earnings
$78,431
Grad Rate
73%
Engineering Share
1.3%
#8
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$9,540/yr
Median Earnings
$73,666
Grad Rate
62%
Engineering Share
9.7%
#9
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$27,108/yr
Median Earnings
$75,602
Grad Rate
68%
Engineering Share
0.1%
#10
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL
Net Price
$21,153/yr
Median Earnings
$67,144
Grad Rate
73%
Engineering Share
2.5%
#11
North Central College
Naperville, IL
Net Price
$22,836/yr
Median Earnings
$65,646
Grad Rate
63%
Engineering Share
4.0%
#12
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL
Net Price
$13,111/yr
Median Earnings
$59,436
Grad Rate
57%
Engineering Share
8.1%
#13
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL
Net Price
$19,978/yr
Median Earnings
$58,865
Grad Rate
60%
Engineering Share
5.8%
#14
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
Net Price
$12,554/yr
Median Earnings
$57,388
Grad Rate
61%
Engineering Share
3.9%
#15
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL
Net Price
$17,318/yr
Median Earnings
$59,389
Grad Rate
61%
Engineering Share
0.2%
#16
Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL
Net Price
$18,763/yr
Median Earnings
$57,546
Grad Rate
62%
Engineering Share
0.5%
#17
North Park University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$15,949/yr
Median Earnings
$61,717
Grad Rate
55%
Engineering Share
2.6%
#18
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL
Net Price
$14,505/yr
Median Earnings
$61,351
Grad Rate
49%
Engineering Share
6.9%
#19
Monmouth College
Monmouth, IL
Net Price
$17,612/yr
Median Earnings
$54,098
Grad Rate
61%
Engineering Share
1.3%
#20
Benedictine University
Lisle, IL
Net Price
$18,910/yr
Median Earnings
$67,314
Grad Rate
47%
Engineering Share
0.9%
#21
Millikin University
Decatur, IL
Net Price
$16,652/yr
Median Earnings
$57,738
Grad Rate
53%
Engineering Share
0.3%
#22
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL
Net Price
$10,018/yr
Median Earnings
$57,175
Grad Rate
47%
Engineering Share
1.5%
#23
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL
Net Price
$12,717/yr
Median Earnings
$55,885
Grad Rate
49%
Engineering Share
0.4%
#24
Greenville University
Greenville, IL
Net Price
$20,905/yr
Median Earnings
$49,304
Grad Rate
46%
Engineering Share
4.1%
#25
DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL
Net Price
$35,665/yr
Median Earnings
$51,716
Grad Rate
38%
Engineering Share
1.2%
Why a Engineering degree?
Engineering bachelor's degrees consistently top the federal earnings data for new graduates. ABET-accredited programs are the standard requirement for licensure and most engineering jobs.
Common career paths: Mechanical Engineer · Civil Engineer · Electrical Engineer · Biomedical Engineer · Environmental Engineer
Typical starting salary range: $72,000–$110,000
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
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