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2023 Best Bachelor's Degree Trade Schools in Illinois
Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Bachelor's Degree Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 32 schools in Illinois to see which ones offered the best bachelor's degree programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Trade Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of St Francis the best school in Illinois for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 437 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,804 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at University of Saint Francis. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Illinois Institute of Technology is a great place for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Illinois Tech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 627 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Illinois Tech does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $50,279. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Illinois Tech accumulate an average of $24,274 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Illinois Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 40% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Concordia University, Chicago helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Illinois. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 329 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Concordia University, Chicago, expect to pay an average of $34,964 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,139 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Concordia University, Chicago does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 69% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend National Louis University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 799 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend NLU, expect to pay an average of $14,244 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,783 in student loans.
NLU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Illinois State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade school schools in Illinois. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4,495 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Illinois State is $13,941. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $23,209. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,765 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Illinois State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 42% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,150 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from Illinois who attend UIUC full time pay an average of $17,782 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $38,362. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,078 in student loans.
UIUC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2020-2021 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #7, Northern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 2,844 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at NIU is $12,472. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,475 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at NIU. In 2020-2021 about 74% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 2,016 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at SIUC is $15,416. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from SIUC accumulate an average of $22,422 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that SIUC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 46% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #9, Rasmussen University - Illinois did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 5 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Rasmussen University - Illinois, expect to pay an average of $14,294 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,981 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Rasmussen University - Illinois does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Roosevelt University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Roosevelt is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 687 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Roosevelt accumulate an average of $23,910 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Roosevelt. In fact, around 58% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,286 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago is $49,498. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,633 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Loyola Chicago does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 32% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheaton, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 648 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Wheaton College Illinois is $42,240. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
With a ranking of #13, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. UIS is located in Springfield, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 608 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $12,190 in tuition and fees if they attend UIS full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $19,282. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,154 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at UIS. In fact, around 94% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large public school handed out 5,250 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $15,472 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend UIC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $30,841. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UIC accumulate an average of $18,464 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UIC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Bradley University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois list. Bradley is a private not-for-profit institution located in Peoria, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,190 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Bradley, expect to pay an average of $37,800 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,974 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Bradley. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 45% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
North Park University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 369 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at North Park is $34,020. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,848 in student loans.
Online courses are available at North Park, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 36% took at least some of their classes online.
Western Illinois University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,237 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,661 to cover tuition and fees at WIU. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from WIU accumulate an average of $26,033 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WIU. During the 2020-2021 year, about 83% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Lewis University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Lewis is located in Romeoville, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,124 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Lewis is $36,530. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,218 in student loans.
Lewis does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
DePaul University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 3,047 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $43,100 to cover tuition and fees at DePaul. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,664 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that DePaul does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.
Elmhurst University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Elmhurst, Illinois that handed out 831 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Elmhurst is $40,232. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Elmhurst accumulate an average of $18,784 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Elmhurst. In fact, around 55% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
DeVry University - Illinois ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois list. This large private for-profit school is located in Naperville, Illinois, and it awarded 1,581 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
DeVry University - Illinois does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,032. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $40,596 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at DeVry University - Illinois, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #22, Millikin University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working on their bachelor’s degree. Millikin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 414 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Millikin is $41,532. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,681 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Millikin. During the 2020-2021 year, about 45% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 694 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $37,940 to cover tuition and fees at Olivet Nazarene. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,440 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Olivet Nazarene. During the 2020-2021 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Quincy University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree trade school programs. Quincy, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 226 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,791 in student loans.
Quincy U does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
McKendree University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Trade Schools in Illinois list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lebanon, Illinois, and it awarded 440 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
McKendree does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $33,430. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,750 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at McKendree. In 2020-2021 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
View Best Trade Bachelor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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