Best colleges for Computer and Information Sciences in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Loyola University Chicago and Illinois State University are the top bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $113,503, College Scorecard. Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Northern Illinois University award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Illinois: 443, 278 and 144 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Illinois colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences and award 5,775 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Computer and Information Sciences program focuses on the intersection of computing and informatics, treating computers as essential tools for problem-solving and innovation. This program is designed for students interested in…
Top 10 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 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $113,503 | 278 | 85% | — | $19,399 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,950 | 70 | 73% | $33,454 | $22,701 |
| 3 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,127 | 31 | 65% | — | $22,250 |
| 4 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,578 | 105 | 45% | — | $25,250 |
| 5 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,313 | 443 | 75% | $19,899 | $24,750 |
| 6 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,220 | 58 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,321 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,844 | 20 | 57% | — | $23,966 |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,254 | 31 | 62% | — | $29,553 |
| 9 | Governors State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,567 | 26 | 22% | — | $19,400 |
| 10 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,284 | 9 | 47% | — | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Illinois
Top 10 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 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | 443 | $61,313 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 278 | $113,503 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 144 | Not reported |
| 4 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 132 | Not reported |
| 5 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 105 | $62,578 |
| 6 | Judson University Elgin Private not-for-profit | 92 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 73 | Not reported |
| 8 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 70 | $68,950 |
| 9 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 63 | Not reported |
| 10 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 58 | $58,220 |
ShowHide the other 36 Illinois colleges offering Computer and Information Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221).
Top skills
What Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Computer and Information Sciences programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees?+
Illinois Institute of Technology (443 graduates a year), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (278 graduates a year) and Northern Illinois University (144 graduates a year) award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Illinois colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences.
What is the best college for Computer and Information Sciences in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads among bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $113,503, College Scorecard. Loyola University Chicago and Illinois State University follow. By degrees awarded, Illinois Institute of Technology is the largest, with 443 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer and Information Sciences program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $113,503. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Illinois is $142,950 (median $136,540), across about 630 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Computer and Information Sciences program?+
The Computer and Information Sciences program focuses on the intersection of computing and informatics, treating computers as essential tools for problem-solving and innovation. This program is designed for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Computer and Information Research Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +19.7% growth with around 3,200 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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