Colleges in Chicago, Illinois
66 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 66 colleges and universities in Chicago, Illinois (33 Private nonprofit, 22 Private for-profit, 11 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 66 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $17,185 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 53.6%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 77% of applicants.
The median net price in Chicago runs about $1,737 higher than the Illinois statewide median of $15,448.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Chicago, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$17,185
After aid
Median grad rate
53.6%
6-year
Median admission rate
77%
Median enrollment
468
Undergrad
All colleges in Chicago
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 4-year | $10,974 | 61.6% | 77% | 22,170 | Complete | |
| DePaul University Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $30,902 | 67.8% | 76% | 14,090 | Complete | |
| Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $36,079 | 73.0% | 82% | 11,737 | Complete | |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $14,860 | 95.9% | 4% | 7,569 | Complete | |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 2-year | $7,220 | 17.6% | Not available | 6,409 | Partial | |
| Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $26,598 | 51.5% | 89% | 5,368 | Complete | |
| National Louis University Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $12,641 | 30.1% | 95% | 4,406 | Complete | |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 2-year | $6,375 | 30.9% | Not available | 4,372 | Partial | |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 2-year | $7,397 | 26.1% | Not available | 4,207 | Partial | |
| Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 4-year | $14,109 | 21.6% | 75% | 3,982 | Complete | |
| Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $10,970 | 56.6% | 84% | 3,096 | Complete | |
| Roosevelt University Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $20,194 | 35.1% | 97% | 2,849 | Complete | |
| Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $18,425 | 75.2% | 55% | 2,833 | Complete | |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $49,790 | 67.0% | 77% | 2,805 | Complete | |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 2-year | $7,886 | 27.4% | Not available | 2,789 | Partial | |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 2-year | $7,863 | 31.8% | Not available | 2,505 | Partial | |
| North Park University Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $16,948 | 57.7% | 69% | 1,818 | Complete | |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 2-year | $9,494 | 31.4% | Not available | 1,777 | Partial | |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 2-year | $9,038 | 21.2% | Not available | 1,661 | Partial | |
| Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $22,221 | 62.3% | 83% | 1,510 | Complete | |
| Chicago State University Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 4-year | $12,335 | 15.5% | 43% | 1,384 | Complete | |
| Midwestern Career College Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, 2-year | $20,462 | 53.6% | Not available | 887 | Partial | |
| St. Augustine College Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $15,491 | 17.1% | Not available | 787 | Complete | |
| MDT College of Health Sciences Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $30,833 | 50.0% | 64% | 575 | Complete | |
| East-West University Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $21,697 | 15.6% | Not available | 468 | Complete | |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, 2-year | $27,347 | Not available | Not available | 333 | Partial | |
| Generations College Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 2-year | $18,894 | 10.7% | Not available | 310 | Partial | |
| HVAC Technical Institute Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $20,403 | 86.0% | Not available | 285 | Partial | |
| Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 233 | Partial | |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $21,856 | 0.0% | Not available | 216 | Partial | |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $23,324 | 60.0% | Not available | 160 | Partial | |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NE Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $19,279 | 52.9% | Not available | 160 | Partial | |
| Rush University Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 138 | Partial | |
| Taylor Business Institute Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, 2-year | $12,982 | 59.3% | 91% | 98 | Complete | |
| The Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $33,008 | 77.8% | Not available | 93 | Partial | |
| Stellar Career College Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $25,959 | Not available | Not available | 83 | Partial | |
| Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $7,626 | Not available | 100% | 78 | Partial | |
| VanderCook College of Music Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $19,780 | 66.7% | 89% | 76 | Complete | |
| Larry's Barber College Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $12,165 | 62.5% | Not available | 68 | Partial | |
| Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $26,435 | 60.5% | Not available | 66 | Partial | |
| Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $12,419 | 53.3% | Not available | 64 | Partial | |
| Steven Papageorge Hair Academy Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $10,721 | 50.0% | Not available | 60 | Partial | |
| University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $17,185 | 100.0% | Not available | 53 | Partial | |
| Illinois Media School Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $27,238 | 79.5% | Not available | 32 | Partial | |
| Larry's Barber College Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | $13,471 | 88.5% | Not available | 29 | Partial | |
| The Chicago School at Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 34% | 21 | Partial | |
| American Islamic College Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 100% | 16 | Partial | |
| Adler University Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 9 | Missing | |
| Pacific College of Health and Science Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | 77.8% | Not available | 2 | Partial | |
| Catholic Theological Union at Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Chicago Theological Seminary Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Illinois College of Optometry Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Institute for Clinical Social Work Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| McCormick Theological Seminary Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Meadville Theological School of Lombard College Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Spertus College Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Erikson Institute Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation Inc. Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Triton College - Intl Union of Operating Engr Local 399 Trning Fac. Chicago, IL | IL | Public, 2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| University of Notre Dame - Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 11% | Not available | Partial | |
| Pivot Point Academy - Wahl Barber Academy Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, 2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Relay Graduate School of Education - Chicago Chicago, IL | IL | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| Networks Barber College Chicago, IL | IL | Private for-profit, <2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private nonprofit (33)
Private nonprofit colleges in Chicago are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- DePaul UniversityNet price: $30,902Grad: 67.8%
- Loyola University ChicagoNet price: $36,079Grad: 73.0%
- University of ChicagoNet price: $14,860Grad: 95.9%
- Columbia College ChicagoNet price: $26,598Grad: 51.5%
- National Louis UniversityNet price: $12,641Grad: 30.1%
- Saint Xavier UniversityNet price: $10,970Grad: 56.6%
- Roosevelt UniversityNet price: $20,194Grad: 35.1%
- Illinois Institute of TechnologyNet price: $18,425Grad: 75.2%
- School of the Art Institute of ChicagoNet price: $49,790Grad: 67.0%
- North Park UniversityNet price: $16,948Grad: 57.7%
- Moody Bible InstituteNet price: $22,221Grad: 62.3%
- St. Augustine CollegeNet price: $15,491Grad: 17.1%
- East-West UniversityNet price: $21,697Grad: 15.6%
- Generations CollegeNet price: $18,894Grad: 10.7%
- Rush UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Telshe Yeshiva-ChicagoNet price: $7,626Grad: Not available
- VanderCook College of MusicNet price: $19,780Grad: 66.7%
- The Chicago School at ChicagoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- American Islamic CollegeNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Adler UniversityNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Catholic Theological Union at ChicagoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Chicago Theological SeminaryNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Illinois College of OptometryNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Institute for Clinical Social WorkNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Lutheran School of Theology at ChicagoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- McCormick Theological SeminaryNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Meadville Theological School of Lombard CollegeNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Spertus CollegeNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Erikson InstituteNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation Inc.Net price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Toyota Technological Institute at ChicagoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- University of Notre Dame -Net price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Relay Graduate School of Education - ChicagoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private for-profit (22)
Private for-profit colleges in Chicago operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Midwestern Career CollegeNet price: $20,462Grad: 53.6%
- MDT College of Health SciencesNet price: $30,833Grad: 50.0%
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance-ChicagoNet price: $27,347Grad: Not available
- HVAC Technical InstituteNet price: $20,403Grad: 86.0%
- Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage TherapyNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NWNet price: $21,856Grad: 0.0%
- Paul Mitchell the School-ChicagoNet price: $23,324Grad: 60.0%
- Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NENet price: $19,279Grad: 52.9%
- Taylor Business InstituteNet price: $12,982Grad: 59.3%
- The Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness ChicagoNet price: $33,008Grad: 77.8%
- Stellar Career CollegeNet price: $25,959Grad: Not available
- Larry's Barber CollegeNet price: $12,165Grad: 62.5%
- Illinois Media School-Chicago CampusNet price: $26,435Grad: 60.5%
- Cannella School of Hair Design-ChicagoNet price: $12,419Grad: 53.3%
- Steven Papageorge Hair AcademyNet price: $10,721Grad: 50.0%
- University of Aesthetics & CosmetologyNet price: $17,185Grad: 100.0%
- Illinois Media SchoolNet price: $27,238Grad: 79.5%
- Larry's Barber CollegeNet price: $13,471Grad: 88.5%
- Pacific College of Health and ScienceNet price: Not availableGrad: 77.8%
- Pivot Point Academy - Wahl Barber AcademyNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- SAE Institute of Technology-ChicagoNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Networks Barber CollegeNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (11)
Public colleges in Chicago are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- University of Illinois ChicagoNet price: $10,974Grad: 61.6%
- City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeNet price: $7,220Grad: 17.6%
- City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeNet price: $6,375Grad: 30.9%
- City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeNet price: $7,397Grad: 26.1%
- Northeastern Illinois UniversityNet price: $14,109Grad: 21.6%
- City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeNet price: $7,886Grad: 27.4%
- City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeNet price: $7,863Grad: 31.8%
- City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeNet price: $9,494Grad: 31.4%
- City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeNet price: $9,038Grad: 21.2%
- Chicago State UniversityNet price: $12,335Grad: 15.5%
- Triton College - Intl Union of Operating Engr Local 399 Trning Fac.Net price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Top programs in Chicago
Most-completed programs across Chicago colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business13.0% of degrees
- Health professions12.2% of degrees
- Liberal arts9.3% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts9.2% of degrees
- Computer science6.4% of degrees
- Biological sciences5.7% of degrees
- Social sciences5.6% of degrees
- Psychology5.4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Chicago
Q.How many colleges are in Chicago, Illinois?
There are 66 colleges and universities in Chicago, Illinois that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 33 Private nonprofit, 22 Private for-profit, 11 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Chicago?
By undergraduate enrollment, University of Illinois Chicago is the largest institution in Chicago with roughly 22,170 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Chicago?
Based on average net price after aid, City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College is the most affordable institution in Chicago at $6,375 per year.
Q.Which Chicago college has the highest graduation rate?
University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Chicago institutions at 100.0%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Chicago?
The median net price across all 66 colleges in Chicago is $17,185 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Chicago?
Across Chicago colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Liberal arts.
Q.Are there community colleges in Chicago?
Yes — Chicago includes 11 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Illinois
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Chicago that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.