Best colleges for Research and Experimental Psychology in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago and Lake Forest College award the most Research and Experimental Psychology degrees and certificates in Illinois: 591, 72 and 48 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Illinois colleges offer Research and Experimental Psychology and award 823 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Research and Experimental Psychology program focuses on applying experimental methods to study various psychological processes. Students engage in in-depth exploration of topics such as sensation, perception, memory, cognition, and…
Top 2 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,384 | 591 | 85% | — | $20,050 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,986 | 72 | 96% | $13,333 | $17,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Research and Experimental Psychology degrees in Illinois
Top 9 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 591 | $33,384 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 72 | $31,986 |
| 3 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest Private not-for-profit | 48 | Not reported |
| 4 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 47 | Not reported |
| 5 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 6 | Knox College Galesburg Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
| 7 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 9 | Eureka College Eureka Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
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 Research and Experimental Psychology programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Research and Experimental Psychology degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (591 graduates a year), University of Chicago (72 graduates a year) and Lake Forest College (48 graduates a year) award the most Research and Experimental Psychology degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Illinois colleges offer Research and Experimental Psychology.
Which Research and Experimental Psychology program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $33,384. 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 Research and Experimental Psychology program?+
The Research and Experimental Psychology program focuses on applying experimental methods to study various psychological processes. Students engage in in-depth exploration of topics such as sensation, perception, memory, cognition, and…
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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