Best colleges for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Concordia University - Chicago, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges and DePaul University award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees and certificates in Illinois: 41, 39 and 22 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 Illinois colleges offer Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations and award 353 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary to create and manage small businesses effectively. It is ideal for individuals looking to pursue careers in entrepreneurship,…
Top institution, 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 | $45,869 | 20 | 73% | $33,454 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Concordia University - Chicago River Forest Private not-for-profit | 41 | Not reported |
| 2 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 3 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 22 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 5 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 20 | $45,869 |
| 6 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 8 | Kaskaskia College Centralia Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | Parkland College Champaign Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 10 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 27 Illinois colleges offering Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | 23 |
| Generations College (Online) | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Heartland Community College | Normal | Public | 7 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon | Public | 6 |
| Black Hawk College | Moline | Public | 5 |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville | Public | 5 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 5 |
| Highland Community College | Freeport | Public | 5 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Spoon River College | Canton | Public | 5 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | 5 |
| Richland Community College | Decatur | Public | 4 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg | Public | 2 |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Public | 2 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| McHenry County College | Crystal Lake | Public | 2 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees?+
Concordia University - Chicago (41 graduates a year), Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (39 graduates a year) and DePaul University (22 graduates a year) award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 Illinois colleges offer Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations.
Which Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations 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 $45,869. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Illinois is $135,540 (median $103,570), across about 171,300 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program?+
The Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary to create and manage small businesses effectively. It is ideal for individuals looking to pursue careers in entrepreneurship,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor'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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