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.
3,376 matching colleges · Showing 913–936
Compare collegesBrowse by state or territory
Payback guideStrong ≤5 yearsSolid ≤10Slow ≤20Weak >20 or no payback
Illinois 116 matching
View state rankingWeak 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
Weak 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