Best colleges for Business/Managerial Economics in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Loyola University Chicago, Wheaton College and DePaul University are the top bachelor's Business/Managerial Economics programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Loyola University Chicago leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $61,333, College Scorecard. Wheaton College, Loyola University Chicago and Northwestern University award the most Business/Managerial Economics degrees in Illinois: 61, 31 and 29 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Illinois colleges offer Business/Managerial Economics and award 156 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Business/Managerial Economics program focuses on applying economic methods to enhance organizational decision-making processes. It equips students with the tools to analyze the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,333 | 31 | 73% | $33,454 | $21,574 |
| 2 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,300 | 61 | 85% | $23,461 | $24,000 |
| 3 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,682 | 24 | 68% | $28,141 | $21,666 |
Colleges awarding the most Business/Managerial Economics degrees in Illinois
Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit | 61 | $55,300 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 31 | $61,333 |
| 3 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 29 | Not reported |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 24 | $53,682 |
| 5 | Benedictine University Lisle Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 7 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Business/Managerial Economics programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Business/Managerial Economics degrees?+
Wheaton College (61 graduates a year), Loyola University Chicago (31 graduates a year) and Northwestern University (29 graduates a year) award the most Business/Managerial Economics degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Illinois colleges offer Business/Managerial Economics.
What is the best college for Business/Managerial Economics in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Loyola University Chicago leads among bachelor's Business/Managerial Economics programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $61,333, College Scorecard. Wheaton College and DePaul University follow. By degrees awarded, Wheaton College is the largest, with 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Business/Managerial Economics program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Loyola University Chicago tops the list at $61,333. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Business/Managerial Economics program?+
The Business/Managerial Economics program focuses on applying economic methods to enhance organizational decision-making processes. It equips students with the tools to analyze the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Economists?+
The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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