Best Business colleges in Illinois

Graduates in Illinois with a degree in business have many career paths to consider when applying to their first jobs out of college, and while some students may prefer to be their boss and take the entrepreneurial route, others may seek out locally owned and operated entities like AllState and Caterpillar. 

Students typically enroll in courses that teach them about subjects such as asset investment, capital fundraising, and trading. Most programs include opportunities for students to connect with faculty in research positions, which can help provide added exposure to real-life scenarios before they leave school for the professional world. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports over 345,000 business and financial operations professionals in Illinois earning a mean salary of over $80,000. The highest rates of employment in the state are in the Chicago and Springfield metro areas, which can help those that would like to increase their chances of landing a job.

Best Business colleges in Illinois for 2024

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Northwestern University offers 49 Business degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 3,202 Business students graduated with students earning 2,702 Master's degrees, 351 Bachelor's degrees, 104 Certificates, and 45 Doctoral degrees.

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
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University of Chicago offers 16 Business degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 2,240 Business students graduated with students earning 1,406 Master's degrees, 634 Bachelor's degrees, 161 Certificates, and 39 Doctoral degrees.

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 37 Business degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 3,201 Business students graduated with students earning 1,618 Master's degrees, 1,541 Bachelor's degrees, and 42 Doctoral degrees.

DePaul University
Chicago, IL

Real-world opportunities meet solid academic preparation at DePaul’s Driehaus College of Business. The school is based in Chicago’s Loop near the heart of the city’s financial district. The university maintains plenty of corporate ties, leading DePaul to rank among the nation’s top 10 for providing students with internship opportunities. Students also are encouraged to expand their horizons in the global marketplace through short-term study abroad trips. Twenty-eight percent of DePaul’s graduating class in 2013 earned a degree in business, making it the school’s most popular major. Academic divisions include accountancy and management information systems, hospitality leadership, economics, finance, marketing, management, and real estate. DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business offers a variety of master’s degree programs (including flexible evening and weekend options) and an executive doctorate in business administration. Of special note are DePaul’s undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship programs. The annual “Launch DePaul” event gives DePaul students and recent alumni the chance to pitch their business proposals to professional investors, receive expert advice, and compete for cash prizes.

Illinois State University offers 16 Business degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 1,178 Business students graduated with students earning 930 Bachelor's degrees, 188 Master's degrees, and 60 Certificates.

University of Illinois Chicago offers 20 Business degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1,195 Business students graduated with students earning 908 Bachelor's degrees, 274 Master's degrees, and 13 Doctoral degrees.

Northern Illinois University offers 18 Business degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 895 Business students graduated with students earning 565 Bachelor's degrees, 327 Master's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.

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Loyola University Chicago offers 37 Business degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1,170 Business students graduated with students earning 682 Bachelor's degrees, 375 Master's degrees, 93 Certificates, and 20 Associate's degrees.

McKendree University
Lebanon, IL

McKendree University offers 24 Business degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 230 Business students graduated with students earning 137 Bachelor's degrees, 89 Master's degrees, and 4 Associate's degrees.

Bradley University
Peoria, IL

Bradley University offers 24 Business degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 262 Business students graduated with students earning 222 Bachelor's degrees, 38 Master's degrees, and 2 Certificates.

Find local colleges with Business majors in Illinois

Top schools offering Business degrees in Illinois

List of all Business colleges in Illinois

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
Northwestern University Logo Northwestern University Evanston, IL
5/5
15 : 1 23,161
University of Chicago Logo University of Chicago Chicago, IL
5/5
11 : 1 18,339
DeVry University-Illinois Logo DeVry University-Illinois Naperville, IL
4/5
433 : 1 26,384
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Logo University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
4/5
24 : 1 56,916
DePaul University Logo DePaul University Chicago, IL
5/5
24 : 1 20,917