Best colleges for Psychology in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northwestern University, National Louis University and Eastern Illinois University are the top bachelor's Psychology programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Northwestern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,088, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Chicago, Northern Illinois University and Loyola University Chicago award the most Psychology degrees in Illinois: 307, 279 and 242 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Illinois colleges offer Psychology and award 3,194 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
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 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,088 | 142 | 95% | $14,799 | $14,500 |
| 2 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,798 | 85 | 30% | $18,904 | $37,170 |
| 3 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,740 | 97 | 47% | — | $22,500 |
| 4 | Judson University Elgin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,964 | 21 | 60% | $25,200 | $25,000 |
| 5 | Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,650 | 30 | 75% | $26,849 | $27,000 |
| 6 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,820 | 224 | 68% | $28,141 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Roosevelt University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,795 | 61 | 35% | $21,085 | $26,000 |
| 8 | North Park University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,630 | 27 | 58% | $18,494 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,150 | 279 | 49% | — | $24,194 |
| 10 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,553 | 79 | 70% | $20,794 | $23,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Psychology 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 Chicago Chicago Public | 307 | $30,565 |
| 2 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 279 | $33,150 |
| 3 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 242 | $32,463 |
| 4 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 236 | $32,104 |
| 5 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 224 | $33,820 |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 195 | $32,459 |
| 7 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 142 | $44,088 |
| 8 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit | 99 | $31,484 |
| 9 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 97 | $35,740 |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 94 | $32,287 |
ShowHide the other 36 Illinois colleges offering Psychology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 110 |
| National Louis University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 85 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 79 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 77 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 76 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 73 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 64 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 61 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 61 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 59 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 59 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 49 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 46 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 45 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 29 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Judson University | Elgin | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Greenville University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Adler University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Trinity International University - Illinois | Deerfield | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| University of St Francis | Joliet | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| The Chicago School at Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).
Top skills
What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Psychology programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Psychology degrees?+
University of Illinois Chicago (307 graduates a year), Northern Illinois University (279 graduates a year) and Loyola University Chicago (242 graduates a year) award the most Psychology degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Illinois colleges offer Psychology.
What is the best college for Psychology in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Northwestern University leads among bachelor's Psychology programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,088, College Scorecard. National Louis University and Eastern Illinois University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Chicago is the largest, with 307 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Psychology 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 $44,088. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Illinois is $95,590 (median $83,750), across about 5,810 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Psychology program?+
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?+
The national job outlook is about +11.2% growth with around 4,800 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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