8 Best Online Colleges In Illinois

Get started with your search for top-ranked schools in Illinois. Discover which colleges offer programs that fit your needs.

Updated on January 9, 2023

College Degrees From the State of Illinois

Considering an Online Degree in Illinois, then you probably know that online school has become the future of education.

With online education you can study and work at your own pace, you don't have to worry about lecture halls filling up, and you can save a tremendous amount of money. In recent years, Illinois has emerged as a leader in distance education.

What kind of Online College in Illinois should you attend?

Let's settle something right off the bat: does it matter where an online college is located? Well, for one, at a public school that offers online degrees, in-state students often save money on tuition. So if you're an Illinois resident, it would make sense to start your search for online colleges in your home state.

Secondly, even if you're studying remotely, one of the biggest benefits to college besides the education itself is developing networks of people you can work and collaborate with. So it's worth considering where your networks will be located.

Accredited Online College Programs

Explore our featured online programs and find the right match for you today.

How much money can you make with a degree from an Online College in Illinois?

For starters, Illinois has a GDP of $775 million, which means that if the state were its own country, it would have the 17th biggest economy of any country in the world. And as a home to many of the biggest corporations in America, headquarters to numerous key financial institutions, and the location of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Illinois is a great choice for people looking for opportunities to grow in their career.

According to Payscale.com, Illinois residents who have their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees earn on average between $58k and $66k per year. Folks who have gone on to earn a Master of Science degree jump to an average annual salary of $73k.

What can you do with a degree from an Online College in Illinois?

These days, you're bound to find the degree of your dreams in an online format. As you'll witness below, Illinois programs have some of the best online selections in the country. Is your dream to become a teacher? An criminal forensics specialist? An accountant? You'll find all of these—and more—through distance education in Illinois.

Another possible approach to your career is to read the market. What jobs are in the highest demand in Illinois? Over at Zippia.com, they've narrowed in on the top 10 fastest growing professions in the state. Maybe the time is right for you to jump in on one of these careers. Here's a quick look at a few of them:

  • Computer Systems Analyst

  • Veterinary Technician

  • Occupational Therapist

  • Nurse Practitioner

What are the Best Online Colleges in Illinois?

With that settled, take a look at our list below of Illinois' Best Online Colleges. Some of these schools have different emphases, but what they all share is a commitment to quality. Academic quality is a key component of our rankings, and as such, is the most important part of each college's score. But we've also considered return on investment, or in other words, how much you'll get out for what you put in. To do this, we compared the net cost of completing a degree at each institution to how much money a graduate can expect to make early on in their career. That way, you'll be able to consider whether it's worth it to actually get the degree.

So without further ado, here are the Best Online Colleges in Illinois!

Rankings

See our rankings methodology page.

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