Best Business colleges in Illinois
Graduates in Illinois with a degree in business have many career paths to consider when applying to their first jobs out of college, and while some students may prefer to be their boss and take the entrepreneurial route, others may seek out locally owned and operated entities like AllState and Caterpillar.
Students typically enroll in courses that teach them about subjects such as asset investment, capital fundraising, and trading. Most programs include opportunities for students to connect with faculty in research positions, which can help provide added exposure to real-life scenarios before they leave school for the professional world.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports over 345,000 business and financial operations professionals in Illinois earning a mean salary of over $80,000. The highest rates of employment in the state are in the Chicago and Springfield metro areas, which can help those that would like to increase their chances of landing a job.
Best Business colleges in Illinois for 2026
Northwestern University offers 49 Business degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 3,099 Business students graduated with students earning 2,603 Master's degrees, 317 Bachelor's degrees, 135 Certificates, and 44 Doctoral degrees.
University of Chicago offers 16 Business degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 2,290 Business students graduated with students earning 1,374 Master's degrees, 678 Bachelor's degrees, 191 Certificates, and 47 Doctoral degrees.
DeVry University-Illinois offers 42 Business degree programs. It's a very large, private for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 4,244 Business students graduated with students earning 1,489 Certificates, 1,182 Master's degrees, 1,077 Bachelor's degrees, and 496 Associate's degrees.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 44 Business degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2024, 3,438 Business students graduated with students earning 1,682 Master's degrees, 1,389 Bachelor's degrees, 335 Certificates, and 32 Doctoral degrees.
Real-world opportunities meet solid academic preparation at DePaul’s Driehaus College of Business. The school is based in Chicago’s Loop near the heart of the city’s financial district. The university maintains plenty of corporate ties, leading DePaul to rank among the nation’s top 10 for providing students with internship opportunities. Students also are encouraged to expand their horizons in the global marketplace through short-term study abroad trips. Twenty-eight percent of DePaul’s graduating class in 2013 earned a degree in business, making it the school’s most popular major. Academic divisions include accountancy and management information systems, hospitality leadership, economics, finance, marketing, management, and real estate. DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business offers a variety of master’s degree programs (including flexible evening and weekend options) and an executive doctorate in business administration. Of special note are DePaul’s undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship programs. The annual “Launch DePaul” event gives DePaul students and recent alumni the chance to pitch their business proposals to professional investors, receive expert advice, and compete for cash prizes.
Loyola University Chicago offers 44 Business degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 848 Business students graduated with students earning 514 Bachelor's degrees, 246 Master's degrees, 69 Certificates, and 19 Associate's degrees.
Illinois State University offers 17 Business degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2024, 1,129 Business students graduated with students earning 955 Bachelor's degrees, 136 Master's degrees, and 38 Certificates.
University of Illinois Chicago offers 21 Business degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2024, 1,449 Business students graduated with students earning 993 Bachelor's degrees, 443 Master's degrees, and 13 Doctoral degrees.
Northern Illinois University offers 22 Business degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2024, 715 Business students graduated with students earning 454 Bachelor's degrees, 259 Master's degrees, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
Benedictine University offers 28 Business degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2024, 261 Business students graduated with students earning 129 Bachelor's degrees, 125 Master's degrees, and 7 Doctoral degrees.
Find local colleges with Business majors in Illinois
Top schools offering Business degrees in Illinois
List of all Business colleges in Illinois
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northwestern University Evanston, IL | 15 : 1 | 23,856 | |
|
University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 11 : 1 | 18,566 | |
|
DeVry University-Illinois Lisle, IL | 337 : 1 | 31,296 | |
|
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | 23 : 1 | 59,238 | |
|
DePaul University Chicago, IL | 25 : 1 | 21,210 | |