Best colleges for Information Science/Studies in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northwestern University, DePaul University and University of Illinois Chicago are the top bachelor's Information Science/Studies programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Northwestern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $102,998, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University and Northwestern University award the most Information Science/Studies degrees in Illinois: 594, 196 and 165 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Illinois colleges offer Information Science/Studies and award 1,234 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Information Science/Studies program focuses on the creation, organization, management, and use of recorded information. It encompasses various professional activities, including information management, librarianship, and archiving,…
Top 4 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 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $102,998 | 165 | 95% | $14,799 | $12,000 |
| 2 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,468 | 196 | 68% | $28,141 | $25,916 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,651 | 133 | 62% | — | $14,538 |
| 4 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,014 | 22 | 76% | $21,768 | $24,950 |
Colleges awarding the most Information Science/Studies 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 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 594 | Not reported |
| 2 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 196 | $60,468 |
| 3 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 165 | $102,998 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 133 | $58,651 |
| 5 | Oakton College Des Plaines Public | 37 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | 22 | $58,014 |
| 7 | Saint Xavier University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 8 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 9 | Lake Land College Mattoon Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | Shawnee Community College Ullin Public | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 11 Illinois colleges offering Information Science/Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College | Chicago | Public | 10 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Public | 8 |
| South Suburban College | South Holland | Public | 6 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago | Public | 5 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College | Chicago | Public | 4 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Chicago | Public | 4 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Public | 3 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| John A Logan College | Carterville | Public | 1 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
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 Information Science/Studies programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Information Science/Studies degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (594 graduates a year), DePaul University (196 graduates a year) and Northwestern University (165 graduates a year) award the most Information Science/Studies degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Illinois colleges offer Information Science/Studies.
What is the best college for Information Science/Studies in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Northwestern University leads among bachelor's Information Science/Studies programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $102,998, College Scorecard. DePaul University and University of Illinois Chicago follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 594 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Information Science/Studies program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northwestern University tops the list at $102,998. 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 Information Science/Studies program?+
The Information Science/Studies program focuses on the creation, organization, management, and use of recorded information. It encompasses various professional activities, including information management, librarianship, and archiving,…
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card