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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois
It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 181 schools in Illinois to see which ones were the most popular programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named DeVry University - Illinois the most popular school in Illinois for trade school students working on their degree. 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. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $138 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, DeVry University - Illinois graduates make an average of $48,020 annually. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular 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.
On average, students take out $10,385 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, College of Lake County graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,083 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Midwest Technical Institute - Springfield, Illinois. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois list. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 1,210 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from MTI - Springfield, Illinois accumulate an average of $8,868 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 $72 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from MTI - Springfield, Illinois, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $24,872 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
Read full report on Midwest Technical Institute - Springfield, Illinois
The programs at William Rainey Harper College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular trade school schools in Illinois. Harper College is located in Palatine, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4,419 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Harper College accumulate an average of $12,072 in student debt by the time they complete 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. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Moraine Valley Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois list. Moraine Valley Community College is a fairly large public school located in Palos Hills, Illinois that handed out 5,228 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,220 in student loans.After graduating from MVCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,287 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 43% were women.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Belleville, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,480 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,100 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, SWIC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,934 during the early year of their career. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
College of DuPage landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Glen Ellyn, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,944 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from COD accumulate an average of $11,759 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, COD graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $24,970 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is a medium-sized public school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1,666 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Malcolm X College accumulate an average of $8,739 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Malcolm X College graduates make an average of $34,354 annually. Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
Joliet Junior College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large public school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 2,944 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,438 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Joliet Junior College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,492 during the early year of their career. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. LLCC is located in Springfield, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,623 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $10,613 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from LLCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,692 during the early years of their career. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
Elgin Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois list. ECC is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,201 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,125 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from ECC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,352 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
With a ranking of #12, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. 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.
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. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
Parkland College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Parkland College is a medium-sized public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 1,451 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,140 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Parkland College graduates make an average of $38,662 annually. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Rock Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #14 on the 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.
On average, students take out $9,801 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Rock Valley College graduates make an average of $41,063 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
Kaskaskia College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. Kaskaskia College is located in Centralia, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 842 degrees to qualified students.
Once they receive their degree, Kaskaskia College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,724 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
Lewis and Clark Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Godfrey, Illinois, the small public school awarded 1,403 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $7,550 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Lewis and Clark Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,230 during the early year of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
Universal Technical Institute - Illinois landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Lisle, Illinois, the small private for-profit school handed out 627 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UTI Illinois accumulate an average of $15,108 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 $221 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UTI Illinois graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,955 during the early year of their career. Around 4% of those degree recipients were women.
Rend Lake College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in Ina, Illinois, the small public school handed out 1,245 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Rend Lake College graduates make an average of $53,704 annually. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Triton College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. Triton College is a public institution located in River Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,399 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Triton College accumulate an average of $11,572 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Triton College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,833 during the early year of their career. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #20, Waubonsee Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Waubonsee is a medium-sized public school situated in Sugar Grove, Illinois. It awarded 1,564 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,891 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Waubonsee graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,527 during the early year of their career. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Illinois Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in Oglesby, Illinois, the small public school awarded 1,057 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from IVCC accumulate an average of $9,543 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from IVCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,833 during the early years of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #22, Illinois Central College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Located in East Peoria, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,931 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $9,912 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, ICC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,732 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
With a ranking of #23, Lincoln College of Technology - Melrose Park did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Melrose Park, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 489 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,756 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $131 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Lincoln Tech - Melrose Park, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $30,570 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 34% were women.
Oakton Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular 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.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,638 in student loans.After graduating from Oakton Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,340 during the early years of their career. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Lake Land College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois ranking. This small public school is located in Mattoon, Illinois, and it awarded 2,244 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $6,667 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Lake Land College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,991 during the early year of their career. Around 42% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Trade Schools in Illinois
Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Most Popular Trade School Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular trade school schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | John A Logan College | Carterville, IL |
| 30 | G Skin & Beauty Institute | Schaumburg, IL |
| 31 | Kankakee Community College | Kankakee, IL |
| 32 | Rasmussen University - Illinois | Rockford, IL |
| 33 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College | Chicago, IL |
| 34 | ETI School of Skilled Trades | Willowbrook, IL |
| 34 | School Removed | |
| 36 | Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL |
| 37 | Stautzenberger College - Rockford Career College | Rockford, IL |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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