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2023 Best Trade Schools in Illinois

59 Schools Ranked
$45,435 Average Earnings
$33,857 Avg Student Debt

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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Trade Schools in Illinois to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 59 schools in Illinois to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Trade Schools in Illinois

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
980 Total Awards

Our analysis found University of St Francis to be the best school for trade school students in Illinois. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 980 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on University of St Francis

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
9,725 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9,725 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Northwestern University

#3

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
1,817 Total Awards

Out of the 59 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the # 3 spot on the list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 1,817 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Report

#4

DeVry University - Illinois

Naperville, Illinois
9,399 Total Awards

The excellent programs at DeVry University - Illinois helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Illinois. DeVry University - Illinois is a private for-profit institution located in Naperville, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9,399 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on DeVry University - Illinois

#5

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois
1,312 Total Awards

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Rasmussen University - Illinois. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school situated in Rockford, Illinois. It awarded 1,312 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Rasmussen University - Illinois

#6

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois
1,875 Total Awards

Oakton Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Oakton Community College is a public institution located in Des Plaines, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,875 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Oakton Community College

#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
5,654 Total Awards

Illinois State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 5,654 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Illinois State University Report

15,945 Total Awards

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #8 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 15,945 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#9

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
2,214 Total Awards

With a ranking of #9, National Louis University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2,214 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full National Louis University Report

#10

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
4,149 Total Awards

With a ranking of #10, College of Lake County did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. College of Lake County is located in Grayslake, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,149 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on College of Lake County

#11

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
4,352 Total Awards

Northern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,352 degrees to qualified students.

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#12

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
4,419 Total Awards

William Rainey Harper College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. William Rainey Harper College is a fairly large public school located in Palatine, Illinois that handed out 4,419 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full William Rainey Harper College Report

3,109 Total Awards

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,109 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Report

#14

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
1,345 Total Awards

Roosevelt University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Roosevelt is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 1,345 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Roosevelt University

#15

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
8,607 Total Awards

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #15 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 8,607 students in 2021-2022.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Report

#16

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
684 Total Awards

North Park University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. North Park University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 684 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on North Park University

#17

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
1,819 Total Awards

With a ranking of #17, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Macomb, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,819 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Western Illinois University Report

#19

Rock Valley College

Rockford, Illinois
1,630 Total Awards

Rock Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Rockford, Illinois, and it awarded 1,630 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Rock Valley College Report

1,666 Total Awards

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Malcolm X College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,666 degrees to qualified students.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Report

#21

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
1,896 Total Awards

Lewis University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Romeoville, Illinois, and it awarded 1,896 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Lewis University

#22

Kaskaskia College

Centralia, Illinois
842 Total Awards

Kaskaskia College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Kaskaskia College is a small public school situated in Centralia, Illinois. It awarded 842 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#23

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
5,914 Total Awards

DePaul University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. DePaul is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 5,914 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on DePaul University

#24

Morton College

Cicero, Illinois
622 Total Awards

With a ranking of #24, Morton College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Morton College is a small public school located in Cicero, Illinois that handed out 622 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#25

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
2,944 Total Awards

Joliet Junior College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,944 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Joliet Junior College

Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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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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