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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 2023 rankings named University of St Francis the best school in Illinois for trade school students working on their degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 980 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of St Francis

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
9,725 Total Awards

The excellent programs at Northwestern University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best trade schools in Illinois. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and 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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Concordia University, Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 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. This large private for-profit school is located in Naperville, Illinois, and it awarded 9,399 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#5

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois
1,312 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rasmussen University - Illinois. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Rockford, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,312 students in 2021-2022.

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#6

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois
1,875 Total Awards

Oakton Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,875 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
5,654 Total Awards

Illinois State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #7 on the list. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,654 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Illinois State University

15,945 Total Awards

With a ranking of #8, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. Located in Champaign, Illinois, the large public school handed out 15,945 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#9

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
2,214 Total Awards

National Louis University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. 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.

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#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. College of Lake County is a fairly large public school situated in Grayslake, Illinois. It awarded 4,149 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#11

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
4,352 Total Awards

Northern Illinois University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, the fairly large public school awarded 4,352 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Northern Illinois University Report

#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.

Read full report on William Rainey Harper College

3,109 Total Awards

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best trade school programs. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, the fairly large public school awarded 3,109 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Report

#14

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
1,345 Total Awards

With a ranking of #14, Roosevelt University did quite well on this year’s best schools for trade school students working. 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.

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#15

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
8,607 Total Awards

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 8,607 degrees 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 is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 684 degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on North Park University

#17

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
1,819 Total Awards

Western Illinois University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,819 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Western Illinois University

#19

Rock Valley College

Rockford, Illinois
1,630 Total Awards

Rock Valley College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Rock Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Rockford, Illinois. It awarded 1,630 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Rock Valley College

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 a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,666 degrees in 2021-2022.

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#21

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
1,896 Total Awards

Lewis University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Trade Schools in Illinois list. 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.

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. This small public school is located in Centralia, Illinois, and it awarded 842 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Kaskaskia College

#23

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
5,914 Total Awards

DePaul University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 5,914 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Full DePaul University Report

#24

Morton College

Cicero, Illinois
622 Total Awards

Morton College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Morton College is a small public school located in Cicero, Illinois that handed out 622 degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on Morton College

#25

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
2,944 Total Awards

Joliet Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for trade school students. It came in at #25 on the list. 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 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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