Best Psychology Programs in Illinois (2026)
Psychology is one of the most popular bachelor's majors in Illinois and nationwide. The schools below are ranked by program strength and graduate outcomes — important because Psychology bachelor's degrees pay best when paired with a graduate degree, and a strong undergraduate program matters for graduate school admission.
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#1
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Net Price
$34,420/yr
Median Earnings
$104,255
Grad Rate
96%
Psychology Share
6.3%
#2
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$16,776/yr
Median Earnings
$103,872
Grad Rate
95%
Psychology Share
3.7%
#3
The Chicago School at Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$60,280
Grad Rate
—
Psychology Share
100.0%
#4
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Net Price
$13,042/yr
Median Earnings
$87,599
Grad Rate
86%
Psychology Share
5.9%
#5
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$22,443/yr
Median Earnings
$90,804
Grad Rate
73%
Psychology Share
2.4%
#6
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$36,340/yr
Median Earnings
$78,431
Grad Rate
73%
Psychology Share
9.0%
#7
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL
Net Price
$27,863/yr
Median Earnings
$76,193
Grad Rate
74%
Psychology Share
8.1%
#8
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL
Net Price
$24,987/yr
Median Earnings
$70,470
Grad Rate
75%
Psychology Share
11.1%
#9
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL
Net Price
$26,059/yr
Median Earnings
$68,390
Grad Rate
83%
Psychology Share
5.4%
#10
Bradley University
Peoria, IL
Net Price
$22,469/yr
Median Earnings
$76,013
Grad Rate
75%
Psychology Share
5.6%
#11
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$27,108/yr
Median Earnings
$75,602
Grad Rate
68%
Psychology Share
6.5%
#12
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL
Net Price
$21,153/yr
Median Earnings
$67,144
Grad Rate
73%
Psychology Share
8.0%
#13
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL
Net Price
$23,165/yr
Median Earnings
$67,398
Grad Rate
67%
Psychology Share
10.4%
#14
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$9,540/yr
Median Earnings
$73,666
Grad Rate
62%
Psychology Share
8.8%
#15
North Central College
Naperville, IL
Net Price
$22,836/yr
Median Earnings
$65,646
Grad Rate
63%
Psychology Share
10.0%
#16
Dominican University
River Forest, IL
Net Price
$14,013/yr
Median Earnings
$66,693
Grad Rate
58%
Psychology Share
11.8%
#17
Illinois State University
Normal, IL
Net Price
$17,829/yr
Median Earnings
$67,557
Grad Rate
66%
Psychology Share
5.0%
#18
University of St Francis
Joliet, IL
Net Price
$15,961/yr
Median Earnings
$69,137
Grad Rate
65%
Psychology Share
3.2%
#19
Trinity International University-Illinois
Deerfield, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$51,278
Grad Rate
46%
Psychology Share
30.0%
#20
Knox College
Galesburg, IL
Net Price
$19,292/yr
Median Earnings
$56,244
Grad Rate
70%
Psychology Share
6.7%
#21
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, IL
Net Price
$7,528/yr
Median Earnings
$64,479
Grad Rate
53%
Psychology Share
13.2%
#22
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
Net Price
$19,385/yr
Median Earnings
$64,180
Grad Rate
60%
Psychology Share
8.0%
#23
Adler University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
—
Grad Rate
—
Psychology Share
100.0%
#24
Benedictine University
Lisle, IL
Net Price
$18,910/yr
Median Earnings
$67,314
Grad Rate
47%
Psychology Share
13.0%
#25
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$10,171/yr
Median Earnings
$64,661
Grad Rate
56%
Psychology Share
8.5%
Why a Psychology degree?
Psychology pairs well with healthcare, HR, education, and law. Strong undergraduate programs feed competitive graduate school placements that drive long-term earnings.
Common career paths: Clinical Psychologist (with grad school) · School Counselor · HR Specialist · Market Researcher · Social Worker
Typical starting salary range: $45,000–$70,000
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.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in Illinois
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