Online college options in Illinois abound. Illinois is the fifth most populous state in the U.S. and, for two centuries, it has been at the forefront of America’s evolution. Whether a leader in the age of agriculture, a hub for industrialization, or a thriving cluster of major metropolitan areas, the Land of Lincoln is often seen as an epicenter of American life. Certainly, its university system bears out this impression.
Four reasons to find an online college in your state:
- Guaranteed in-state tuition saves you money
- Be a part of a university or college you know and love
- Get a degree from a school employers know and trust
- Be close enough to easily visit when desired
Ranking guidelines for the best online colleges in Illinois:
We selected the online colleges and universities here based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.
Note: In ranking the best online colleges in Illinois, giving attention to the variety of degree programs available at the institutions is of utmost importance. For this reason, a more prestigious school in Illinois may offer one, or a few online degrees, but that may not be enough for that school rank highly among the best online colleges in the state. In this ranking, we are dedicated to showing who’s leading the way in delivering quality online degree programs in Illinois.
- See who ranks as the best college and university in Illinois today.
- The University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and The University of Illinois all rank among The 100 Best Universities in the World.
The Best Online Colleges in Illinois
1University of Illinois at Chicago
(Chicago, IL)
The University of Illinois at Chicago, a public university, established in 1982, operates one of the largest medical schools in the nation. The university offers over 200 degrees programs and accommodates over 25,000 students.
Much of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s online baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs involve medicine. Bachelor’s degrees available online include business and nursing. Master’s degree options include patient safety leadership and public health informatics. Doctoral degree offerings include public health in leadership. Certificate programs include assistive technology and bioinformatics.
Resources online students have access to include an online job board and an online library with librarian live chat and a scholarly article database.
The University of Illinois at Chicago is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
2University of Illinois Springfield
(Springfield, IL)
Originally established in 1969 as Sangamon State University, the university became the University of Illinois Springfield in 1995. It was originally an upper-division university, but began accepting undergraduates in 2001. Its first permanent building was the Brookens Library, which now contains over 800,000 titles.
The university teaches over 5,000 students and offers more than 40 degree programs.
The University of Illinois Springfield offers a healthy variety of online baccalaureate, master’s and certificate programs online. Bachelor’s degree options include history and management information systems. Master’s degree offerings include law and teacher leadership. Certificate programs include business intelligence and multiple topics in education.
Resources for online students include online tutoring workshops in writing, reading, math and science, live technical support and an online library with access to ebook, media and academic journal databases.
The University of Illinois Springfield is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
3Southern Illinois University Carbondale
(Carbondale, IL)
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a public research university, founded in 1869, provides roughly 300 degree programs.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale provides online bachelor’s degrees, online master’s degrees and online certificates. Bachelor’s degrees include radiology and industrial technology. Master’s degree offerings include architecture and medical dosimetry. Certificate programs include journalism and information system security.
Online student resources include online training for veterans, an online writing lab, career services, an online law library and online standard library with access to scholarly articles, ebooks and more.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
4Lewis University
(Romeoville, IL)
Lewis University is a Catholic University with a Lasallian heritage, established in 1932. The university originally offered instruction in aviation and the government relied on its expertise to train navy pilots during World War II. Lewis University offers over 100 degree programs, enrolls over 6,500 students and has 5 academic colleges on campus.
Lewis University offers a variety of online baccalaureate, master and doctoral degree programs. Online bachelor’s degrees available include business and computer science. Online master’s degrees include aviation and criminal justice. Online doctoral degree offerings include nursing.
Resources online students have access to include an extensive online library with access to several databases, including academic journals, government documents, streaming video, ebooks, photographs and much more.
Lewis University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
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5University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
(Urbana, IL)
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign originally opened its doors in 1867 as the Illinois Industrial University, a name it kept until 1885. The university is one of a select few land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant universities in the country. The school is also one of the founding members of the Big Ten Conference and it is the second-oldest public university in all of Illinois. The university has over 40,000 students in attendance, 17 academic colleges and 150 programs of study.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers online baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Online bachelor’s degree options include environmental sustainability and online master’s degree offerings include agriculture, tourism, engineering and translation.
Resources for online students include online test proctoring in select online courses, online disability services and an online library with librarian live chat and scholarly article database.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
6Loyola University Chicago
(Chicago, IL)
The Roman Catholic Society of Jesus founded Loyola University Chicago in 1870 and the university has become one of the largest Jesuit universities in America. The university instructs over 15,000 students and offers more than 185 degree programs. There is also a sister campus in Rome, Italy.
Loyola University Chicago offers a variety of baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs through Loyola Online. Bachelor’s degrees include psychology and criminal justice. Master’s degree options include infection control and business law. Doctoral degree offerings include bioethics and school psychology. Certifications include computer science and oncology nursing.
Online students have access to a wide variety of resources, including technical support, academic advising, tutoring, job search assistance, veteran’s services, disability services and an online library with librarian live chat and a scholarly article database.
Loyola University Chicago is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
7National Louis University
(Chicago, IL)
National Louis University, established in 1886, is renowned for its top-notch education programs. The university helped establish many educational organizations we take for granted today, including the National Parent Teacher Association. One of the university’s biggest causes was the establishment of kindergarten and early childhood education. The university teaches more than 4,700 students and has additional campuses in Florida and Poland.
Despite its emphasis on education, National Louis University offers degrees in other fields. Bachelor’s degree options include communications and criminal justice, while master’s degree offerings include health services alongside its signature early childhood administration.
Student resources available online include an online job board, tutoring in writing, math, science, research and test preparation, 24/7 technical support and an online library with librarian live chat and a variety of book and article databases.
National Louis University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
8Greenville College
(Greenville, IL)
Greenville College, a Methodist college, has a long history stemming from Almira College, a Baptist women’s college established in 1855. It later changed from Baptist to Methodist when leadership changed hands in 1892. Like other Christian universities, Greenville College requires its students to adhere to a code of conduct which includes, among other things, abstaining from drug and alcohol abuse, dishonesty, gambling and general immorality. Students are also required to fulfill 36 “chapel credits” every semester, which include Bible studies and attending church.
Greenville College offers a variety of online baccalaureate and master’s degrees online. Online bachelor’s degrees include criminal justice and organizational leadership, while online master’s degree offerings include management and special education.
Online students have access to several resources, including online tutoring, academic coaching, an online job board and an online library with librarian live chat and scholarly article database.
Greenville College is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
9Benedictine University
(Lisle, IL)
A group of Benedictine monks established Benedictine University in 1887 as St. Procopius College. It previously had a high school on the campus, but it separated from the university in 1957 as Benet Academy. The university offers over 70 degree programs. A third of its roughly 4,000 students are minorities.
Benedictine University offers several baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs online. Online bachelor’s degrees include management and organizational leadership. Online master’s degree options include business and public health. Online doctoral degree offerings include education, while available online certificates include disaster management and internet marketing.
Resources open to online students include 24/7 technical support, career services, academic advising and an online library with librarian live chat and article, ebook, video and academic journal databases.
Benedictine University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
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Online Master’s degree from Benedictine University
10North Park University
(Chicago, IL)
North Park University shares its campus with the only Evangelical Covenant seminary in the United States. Swedish immigrants seeking their own brand of higher education founded the university in 1891, hoping it would help their community grow. What made the campus’s location especially attractive was the close proximity to local Swedish-American communities and the Swedish Covenant Hospital. Today, the university has more than 3,000 students in attendance and offers a variety of majors.
North Park University offers a handful of baccalaureate degrees in various aspects of management.
Resources for online students include an online library with access to a variety of reference, ebook, article, video, audio and image databases.
North Park University is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).