Best colleges for Mathematics in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Chicago, Northwestern University and DePaul University are the top bachelor's Mathematics programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Chicago leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $100,421, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago and Illinois State University award the most Mathematics degrees in Illinois: 198, 195 and 89 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Illinois colleges offer Mathematics and award 869 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Mathematics program encompasses a broad range of topics related to abstract concepts such as numbers, geometric shapes, and functions. It is designed for students interested in exploring logical reasoning and proof to understand and…
Top 7 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 Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $100,421 | 195 | 96% | $13,333 | $12,000 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,530 | 49 | 95% | $14,799 | $12,418 |
| 3 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,586 | 22 | 68% | $28,141 | $26,154 |
| 4 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,597 | 89 | 65% | — | $20,309 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,728 | 198 | 85% | — | $20,847 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,857 | 31 | 49% | — | $25,044 |
| 7 | McKendree University Lebanon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,157 | 3 | 53% | $23,994 | $21,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Mathematics 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 | 198 | $48,728 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 195 | $100,421 |
| 3 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 89 | $52,597 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 62 | Not reported |
| 5 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 49 | $79,530 |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 31 | $44,857 |
| 7 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 22 | $55,586 |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 10 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 36 Illinois colleges offering Mathematics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 12 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 9 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 9 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 8 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | Public | 6 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 3 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Trinity International University - Illinois | Deerfield | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Mathematicians (SOC 15-2021).
Top skills
What Mathematicians earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Mathematics programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Mathematics degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (198 graduates a year), University of Chicago (195 graduates a year) and Illinois State University (89 graduates a year) award the most Mathematics degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Illinois colleges offer Mathematics.
What is the best college for Mathematics in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Chicago leads among bachelor's Mathematics programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $100,421, College Scorecard. Northwestern University and DePaul University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 198 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Mathematics program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Chicago tops the list at $100,421. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Mathematicians earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Mathematicians in Illinois is $121,990 (median $130,970), across about 60 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Mathematics program?+
The Mathematics program encompasses a broad range of topics related to abstract concepts such as numbers, geometric shapes, and functions. It is designed for students interested in exploring logical reasoning and proof to understand and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop mathematics, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Mathematicians?+
The national job outlook is about -0.7% growth with around 100 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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