Find Trade Colleges

Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois

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. This large private for-profit school is located in Naperville, Illinois, and it awarded 9,399 degrees 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.

Read full report on DeVry University - Illinois

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

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a great place for trade school students. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,109 students in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from SIUC accumulate an average of $31,834 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 $286 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, SIUC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,413 during the early year of their career. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#3

William Rainey Harper College

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

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means William Rainey Harper College is a great place for trade school students. William Rainey Harper College is a fairly large public school located in Palatine, Illinois that handed out 4,419 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $12,072 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Harper College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,420 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.

Full William Rainey Harper College Report

#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 attend University of St Francis. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 980 degrees in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,659 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $410, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from University of Saint Francis, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $60,805 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.

Read More…

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

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College is a great place for trade school students. Located in Rockford, Illinois, the very small private for-profit school awarded 435 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,954 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $95. 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. Around 71% of those degree recipients 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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #6 on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 1,817 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $28,968 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Concordia University, Chicago, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,770 during the early years of their career. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

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

With a ranking of #7, Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. This very small private for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, 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. During the early years of their career, Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy graduates make an average of $20,192 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 81% 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 came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Decatur, Illinois, the small public school awarded 806 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from Richland Community College accumulate an average of $8,385 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. 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. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 2,214 degrees in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from NLU accumulate an average of $31,041 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. 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.

Read More…

#10

North Park University

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

North Park University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 684 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.

By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,694 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $287, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, North Park graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,147 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#11

Northwestern College - Bridgeview

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

Northwestern College - Bridgeview came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Oak Lawn, Illinois is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 112 students in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from NC accumulate an average of $20,574 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, NC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,552 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 89% were women.

Full Northwestern College - Bridgeview Report

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

Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences 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 Quincy, Illinois, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 71 degrees in 2021-2022.

Degree recipients from BRCN accumulate an average of $13,933 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from BRCN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $59,379 during the early years of their career. Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.

Read More…

#13

Rasmussen University - Illinois

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

With a ranking of #13, Rasmussen University - Illinois did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. 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.

Degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Illinois accumulate an average of $22,566 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 $168 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Rasmussen University - Illinois, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,940 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 90% were women.

Read full report on Rasmussen University - Illinois

#13

Illinois College

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

Illinois College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #13 on the list. Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jacksonville, Illinois. It awarded 323 degrees in 2021-2022.

On average, students take out $23,635 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $273.After graduating from Illinois College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,301 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 54% were women.

Read full report on Illinois College

Most Popular Online Trade School Schools in the Great Lakes Region

View Most Popular Online Trade School Schools Nationwide >

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.

Find Trade Schools Near You

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