Illinois · Ground Transportation

Best colleges for Ground Transportation in Illinois

Ranked by graduate earnings

Elgin Community College, Lincoln Land Community College and Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois are the top Ground Transportation programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Elgin Community College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,945, College Scorecard. Lincoln Land Community College, Illinois Central College and Illinois Valley Community College award the most Ground Transportation degrees and certificates in Illinois: 187, 111 and 106 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Illinois colleges offer Ground Transportation and award 1,169 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Ground Transportation program focuses on the essential skills and knowledge required for the effective movement of people and goods using land-based routes. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing careers in…

Institutions
15
offering CIP 49.02
States offered
44
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,169
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$36,234
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$28,377
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
$67,480
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Elgin Community College
Elgin Public · Certificate
$51,9457941%—$4,008
2Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield Public · Certificate
$49,14218748%—$5,500
3Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois
Springfield Private for-profit · Certificate
$36,2345669%$28,377$6,333
4Shawnee Community College
Ullin Public · Certificate
$24,0363760%——
5City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College
Chicago Public · Certificate
$24,35630321%—$10,434

Colleges awarding the most Ground Transportation 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield Public
187$49,142
2Illinois Central College
East Peoria Public
111Not reported
3Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby Public
106Not reported
4Elgin Community College
Elgin Public
79$51,945
5Southeastern Illinois College
Harrisburg Public
62Not reported
6Richland Community College
Decatur Public
56Not reported
7Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois
Springfield Private for-profit
56$36,234
8Highland Community College
Freeport Public
51Not reported
9Danville Area Community College
Danville Public
39Not reported
10Shawnee Community College
Ullin Public
37$24,036
Show the other 5 Illinois colleges offering Ground Transportation
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeChicagoPublic303
Sauk Valley Community CollegeDixonPublic29
Rend Lake CollegeInaPublic26
Spoon River CollegeCantonPublic25
John Wood Community CollegeQuincyPublic2

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity (SOC 53-3052).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.3%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~20,900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$57,440
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
8,650
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$67,480
median $65,200
Best-paying metro
$70,760
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Related careers

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
$62,430 avg · 84,200 jobs
Light Truck Drivers
$53,300 avg · 47,190 jobs
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
$49,550 avg · 29,450 jobs
Bus Drivers, School
$51,410 avg · 21,230 jobs
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
$90,500 avg · 12,290 jobs
Highway Maintenance Workers
$66,410 avg · 10,790 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Ground Transportation programs in Illinois.

Which Illinois colleges award the most Ground Transportation degrees?+

Lincoln Land Community College (187 graduates a year), Illinois Central College (111 graduates a year) and Illinois Valley Community College (106 graduates a year) award the most Ground Transportation degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Illinois colleges offer Ground Transportation.

What is the best college for Ground Transportation in Illinois?+

By graduate earnings, Elgin Community College leads among Ground Transportation programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,945, College Scorecard. Lincoln Land Community College and Midwest Technical Institute - Illinois follow. By degrees awarded, Lincoln Land Community College is the largest, with 187 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Ground Transportation program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Elgin Community College tops the list at $51,945. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity in Illinois is $67,480 (median $65,200), across about 8,650 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Ground Transportation program?+

The Ground Transportation program focuses on the essential skills and knowledge required for the effective movement of people and goods using land-based routes. This program is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing careers in…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity?+

The national job outlook is about +4.3% growth with around 20,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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