Find Trade Colleges

Best Trade Schools in Illinois

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. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 980 students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
9,725 Total Awards

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Northwestern University is a great place for trade school students. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 9,725 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Northwestern University

#3

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
1,817 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Concordia University, Chicago helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Illinois. Located in River Forest, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,817 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Concordia University, Chicago

#4

DeVry University - Illinois

Naperville, Illinois
9,399 Total Awards

Out of the 59 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, DeVry University - Illinois landed the # 4 spot on the list. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 9,399 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on DeVry University - Illinois

#5

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois
1,312 Total Awards

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Rasmussen University - Illinois is a great place for trade school students. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit institution located in Rockford, Illinois. The school has a small population, and 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. Des Plaines, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,875 students in 2021-2022.

Full Oakton Community College Report

#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
5,654 Total Awards

Illinois State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 5,654 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Illinois State University

15,945 Total Awards

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15,945 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#9

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
2,214 Total Awards

National Louis University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. National Louis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2,214 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on National Louis University

#10

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois
4,149 Total Awards

College of Lake County ranked #10 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Grayslake, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,149 students in 2021-2022.

Full College of Lake County Report

#11

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
4,352 Total Awards

Northern Illinois University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,352 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Northern Illinois University

#12

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
4,419 Total Awards

William Rainey Harper College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Palatine, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,419 students 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 fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. 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 ranked #14 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and 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 landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8,607 degrees to qualified students.

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 is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 684 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full North Park University Report

#17

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
1,819 Total Awards

Western Illinois University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Macomb, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,819 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#19

Rock Valley College

Rockford, Illinois
1,630 Total Awards

Rock Valley College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Rockford, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,630 students in 2021-2022.

Full Rock Valley College Report

1,666 Total Awards

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,666 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Report

#21

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
1,896 Total Awards

With a ranking of #21, Lewis University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Lewis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Romeoville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,896 degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Lewis University Report

#22

Kaskaskia College

Centralia, Illinois
842 Total Awards

Kaskaskia College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Kaskaskia College is located in Centralia, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 842 degrees to qualified students.

Read More…

#23

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
5,914 Total Awards

DePaul University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 5,914 students in 2021-2022.

Read full report on DePaul University

#24

Morton College

Cicero, Illinois
622 Total Awards

Morton College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Located in Cicero, Illinois, the small public school handed out 622 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

#25

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
2,944 Total Awards

With a ranking of #25, Joliet Junior College did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,944 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read More…

Best Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region

View Best Trade 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.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.