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Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois

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2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois

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

It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education opportunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 14 schools in Illinois to see which ones had the most popular online programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#1

DeVry University - Illinois

Naperville, Illinois
9,399 Total Awards
$48,020 Average Earnings
$39,266 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found DeVry University - Illinois to be the most popular school for trade school students in Illinois. Located in Naperville, Illinois, the large private for-profit school awarded 9,399 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $39,266 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $138. Once they receive their degree, DeVry University - Illinois graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,020 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.

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3,109 Total Awards
$42,413 Average Earnings
$31,834 Avg Student Debt

Out of the 14 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, the fairly large public school handed out 3,109 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $31,834 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $286. During the early years of their career, SIUC graduates make an average of $42,413 annually. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.

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#3

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois
4,419 Total Awards
$43,420 Average Earnings
$12,072 Avg Student Debt

The programs at William Rainey Harper College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Illinois. 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.

On average, students take out $12,072 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Harper College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,420 during the early years of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.

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#4

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
980 Total Awards
$60,805 Average Earnings
$34,659 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of St Francis. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois list. University of Saint Francis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 980 degrees in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from University of Saint Francis accumulate an average of $34,659 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $410 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, University of Saint Francis graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,805 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.

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435 Total Awards
$26,628 Average Earnings
$15,954 Avg Student Debt

The programs at Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Illinois. This very small private for-profit school is located in Rockford, Illinois, and it awarded 435 degrees in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College accumulate an average of $15,954 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $95 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $26,628 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.

Full Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College Report

#6

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
1,817 Total Awards
$53,770 Average Earnings
$28,968 Avg Student Debt

Concordia University, Chicago ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois list. Located in River Forest, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,817 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,968 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Concordia University, Chicago graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,770 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.

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201 Total Awards
$20,192 Average Earnings
$6,903 Avg Student Debt

Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy is a private for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 201 degrees in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy accumulate an average of $6,903 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $20,192 during the early years of their career. Around 81% of those degree recipients were women.

Full Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy Report

#8

Richland Community College

Decatur, Illinois
806 Total Awards
$42,438 Average Earnings
$8,385 Avg Student Debt

Richland Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #8 on the list. Richland Community College is located in Decatur, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 806 degrees to qualified students.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,385 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Richland Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,438 during the early year of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.

Read full report on Richland Community College

#9

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
2,214 Total Awards
$48,291 Average Earnings
$31,041 Avg Student Debt

National Louis University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois list. NLU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2,214 degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,041 in student loans. During the early years of their career, NLU graduates make an average of $48,291 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.

Full National Louis University Report

#10

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
684 Total Awards
$49,147 Average Earnings
$27,694 Avg Student Debt

North Park University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. North Park is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 684 degrees in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from North Park accumulate an average of $27,694 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $287 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from North Park, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,147 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.

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#11

Northwestern College - Bridgeview

Oak Lawn, Illinois
112 Total Awards
$34,552 Average Earnings
$20,574 Avg Student Debt

Northwestern College - Bridgeview did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in Oak Lawn, Illinois, the very small private for-profit school awarded 112 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,574 in student loans.After graduating from NC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,552 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 89% were women.

Read full report on Northwestern College - Bridgeview

71 Total Awards
$59,379 Average Earnings
$13,933 Avg Student Debt

Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois list. BRCN is located in Quincy, Illinois and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 71 degrees to qualified students.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,933 in student loans. During the early years of their career, BRCN graduates make an average of $59,379 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 97% were women.

Full Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences Report

#13

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois
1,312 Total Awards
$41,940 Average Earnings
$22,566 Avg Student Debt

Rasmussen University - Illinois landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school situated in Rockford, Illinois. It awarded 1,312 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $22,566 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $168 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Rasmussen University - Illinois graduates make an average of $41,940 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 90% were women.

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#13

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois
323 Total Awards
$32,301 Average Earnings
$23,635 Avg Student Debt

Illinois College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Jacksonville, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 323 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $23,635 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $273, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Illinois College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,301 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.

Full Illinois College Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 14 schools only.

References

  • 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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