Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
DePaul University, Saint Xavier University and Aurora University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. DePaul University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,066, College Scorecard. Sauk Valley Community College, Kankakee Community College and Spoon River College award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Illinois: 262, 219 and 202 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 79 Illinois colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 24,876 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
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 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,066 | 26 | 68% | $28,141 | $42,350 |
| 2 | Saint Xavier University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,054 | 22 | 57% | $12,935 | $31,000 |
| 3 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,614 | 24 | 60% | $18,431 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,273 | 92 | 47% | — | $24,250 |
| 5 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,196 | 115 | 45% | — | $28,750 |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,545 | 67 | 62% | — | $28,544 |
| 7 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,745 | 122 | 65% | — | $23,621 |
| 8 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,426 | 89 | 49% | — | $30,839 |
| 9 | Chicago State University Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,762 | 37 | 15% | — | $54,000 |
| 10 | Northeastern Illinois University Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,976 | 101 | 22% | — | $17,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $59,139 | 60 | 95% | $14,799 | $19,312 |
| 2 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield Public · Associate degree | $34,164 | 390 | 48% | — | $11,022 |
| 3 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public · Associate degree | $33,413 | 1,717 | 37% | — | $6,687 |
| 4 | Morton College Cicero Public · Associate degree | $31,829 | 180 | 31% | — | $5,500 |
| 5 | City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago Public · Associate degree | $31,322 | 849 | 31% | — | $6,550 |
| 6 | Heartland Community College Normal Public · Associate degree | $31,250 | 672 | 54% | — | $11,000 |
| 7 | Kaskaskia College Centralia Public · Associate degree | $30,605 | 388 | 49% | — | $7,500 |
| 8 | Black Hawk College Moline Public · Associate degree | $30,390 | 386 | 40% | — | $8,250 |
| 9 | Highland Community College Freeport Public · Associate degree | $30,269 | 214 | 45% | — | $10,066 |
| 10 | Illinois Central College East Peoria Public · Associate degree | $29,845 | 1,166 | 49% | — | $9,656 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and 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 | Sauk Valley Community College Dixon Public | 262 | Not reported |
| 2 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public | 219 | Not reported |
| 3 | Spoon River College Canton Public | 202 | Not reported |
| 4 | Southeastern Illinois College Harrisburg Public | 192 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 172 | Not reported |
| 6 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 122 | $31,745 |
| 7 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 115 | $38,196 |
| 8 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 92 | $40,273 |
| 9 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 89 | $29,426 |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 67 | $37,545 |
ShowHide the other 69 Illinois colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Sauk Valley Community College (262 graduates a year), Kankakee Community College (219 graduates a year) and Spoon River College (202 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 79 Illinois colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, DePaul University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,066, College Scorecard. Saint Xavier University and Aurora University follow. By degrees awarded, Sauk Valley Community College is the largest, with 262 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, DePaul University tops the list at $84,066. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Illinois is $62,970 (median $59,590), across about 990 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional 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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