Best Online Colleges in Illinois
Are you ready to discover your college program?
Recent changes have transformed education for the better in Illinois.
As part of the state’s 2010 Illinois Public Agenda for College and Career Success, colleges and universities began significantly increasing their efforts to create quality online programs. As a result, there are several excellent online colleges in Illinois. In particular, Illinois colleges and universities offer dozens of online programs in business and business–related concentrations, including McKendree University’s master’s degree in sports management and DePaul University’s master’s in business information technology. Chicago also offers many opportunities for internships and other career–related field work.
While tuition can be relatively high, many of the state’s higher education institutions offer generous financial aid in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships. Enrolling in one of the many online schools in Illinois is a good choice for students who seek a more flexible education, as most online programs allow students to complete coursework at their own pace. If you’re living in the state and are looking to head back to school, now is the right time to pursue an online degree in Illinois.
The Best Online Colleges in Illinois
University of Illinois at Chicago
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,924
- Out-of-state$26,224
- In-State$13,276
- Out-of-state$23,850
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled32,324
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment24%
- AccreditationYes
Loyola University Chicago
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$44,105
- Out-of-state$44,105
- In-State$18,594
- Out-of-state$18,594
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate67%
- Students Enrolled17,159
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment15%
- AccreditationYes
University of Illinois at Springfield
- Springfield, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,520
- Out-of-state$15,948
- In-State$8,270
- Out-of-state$15,240
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled4,275
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment70%
- AccreditationYes
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Carbondale, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,456
- Out-of-state$23,640
- In-State$11,268
- Out-of-state$28,170
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate66%
- Students Enrolled11,695
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment38%
- AccreditationYes
Lewis University
- Romeoville, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$33,270
- Out-of-state$33,270
- In-State$14,400
- Out-of-state$14,400
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled6,359
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Champaign, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$14,188
- Out-of-state$33,127
- In-State$14,997
- Out-of-state$28,404
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate59%
- Students Enrolled51,605
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Lincoln Christian University
- Lincoln, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,590
- Out-of-state$13,590
- In-State$8,154
- Out-of-state$8,154
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled672
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
McKendree University
- Lebanon, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,540
- Out-of-state$30,540
- In-State$9,522
- Out-of-state$9,522
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate63%
- Students Enrolled2,292
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment47%
- AccreditationYes
University of St. Francis
- Joliet, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$34,000
- Out-of-state$34,000
- In-State$13,464
- Out-of-state$13,464
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate46%
- Students Enrolled3,776
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment63%
- AccreditationYes
Eastern Illinois University
- Charleston, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,875
- Out-of-state$11,045
- In-State$7,356
- Out-of-state$17,654
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate53%
- Students Enrolled7,806
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment34%
- AccreditationYes
Illinois Institute of Technology
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$47,299
- Out-of-state$47,299
- In-State$29,487
- Out-of-state$29,487
- Retention Rate88%
- Acceptance Rate60%
- Students Enrolled6,515
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment16%
- AccreditationYes
DePaul University
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$40,551
- Out-of-state$40,551
- In-State$19,584
- Out-of-state$19,584
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled22,064
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment30%
- AccreditationYes
Aurora University
- Aurora, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$24,800
- Out-of-state$24,800
- In-State$12,600
- Out-of-state$12,600
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled6,246
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment20%
- AccreditationYes
National Louis University
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,200
- Out-of-state$13,200
- In-State$11,646
- Out-of-state$11,646
- Retention Rate58%
- Acceptance Rate98%
- Students Enrolled7,005
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment47%
- AccreditationYes
Roosevelt University
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,876
- Out-of-state$30,876
- In-State$20,858
- Out-of-state$20,858
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate67%
- Students Enrolled4,071
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Benedictine University
- Lisle, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$31,084
- Out-of-state$31,084
- In-State$18,273
- Out-of-state$18,273
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance Rate42%
- Students Enrolled4,401
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment42%
- AccreditationYes
Olivet Nazarene University
- Bourbonnais, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$36,080
- Out-of-state$36,080
- In-State$13,420
- Out-of-state$13,420
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate58%
- Students Enrolled4,317
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment58%
- AccreditationYes
North Park University
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,360
- Out-of-state$30,360
- In-State$13,896
- Out-of-state$13,896
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate48%
- Students Enrolled2,892
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment20%
- AccreditationYes
Greenville University
- Greenville, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$27,580
- Out-of-state$27,580
- In-State$8,082
- Out-of-state$8,082
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate56%
- Students Enrolled1,092
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment50%
- AccreditationYes
Quincy University
- Quincy, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,450
- Out-of-state$30,450
- In-State$10,800
- Out-of-state$10,800
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance Rate62%
- Students Enrolled1,148
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment40%
- AccreditationYes
Best Online Colleges
Illinois
2023
Online Colleges in Illinois Ranking Guidelines
We selected the online schools in Illinois based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, and faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.