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 25–48
Compare collegesBrowse by state or territory
Payback guideStrong ≤5 yearsSolid ≤10Slow ≤20Weak >20 or no payback
Illinois 116 matching
View state rankingWeak ROI
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL
Net price / year$12,961PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
McHenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL
Net price / year$7,042PaybackNot available
Solid ROI
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL
Net price / year$12,937Payback8.9 years
Weak ROI
National Louis University
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$12,641PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$6,375PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL
Net price / year$5,242PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$7,397PaybackNot available
Slow ROI
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL
Net price / year$12,786Payback14.1 years
Strong ROI
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL
Net price / year$17,028Payback3.8 years
Slow ROI
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$14,109Payback14.6 years
Weak ROI
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, IL
Net price / year$4,299PaybackNot available
Solid ROI
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
Net price / year$18,838Payback7.3 years
Strong ROI
Bradley University
Peoria, IL
Net price / year$22,719Payback4.9 years
Weak ROI
Parkland College
Champaign, IL
Net price / year$8,048PaybackNot available
Strong ROI
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$10,970Payback4.3 years
Solid ROI
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL
Net price / year$24,185Payback7.4 years
Weak ROI
Heartland Community College
Normal, IL
Net price / year$12,013PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$20,194Payback229.5 years
Strong ROI
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$18,425Payback2.2 years
Weak ROI
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$49,790PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College
Chicago, IL
Net price / year$7,886PaybackNot available
Weak ROI
Morton College
Cicero, IL
Net price / year$5,191PaybackNot available
Slow ROI
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL
Net price / year$20,729Payback17.1 years
Strong ROI
Dominican University
River Forest, IL
Net price / year$11,745Payback3.9 years