Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees in Illinois by ROI
Colleges in Illinois ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Illinois
43
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$282,477
Across Illinois programs
Average Annual Cost
$12,947
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
Grad rate: 31.2% |
+$328,667 | $59,815 | $9,395 | $6,550 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Grad rate: 26.4% |
-$7,129 | $43,357 | $10,722 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Lincoln Land Community College
Grad rate: 41.2% |
-$109,679 | $38,420 | $11,600 | $11,022 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
Grad rate: 25.1% |
-$164,947 | $35,299 | $9,996 | $8,100 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Illinois Valley Community College
Grad rate: 43.2% |
-$174,586 | $34,886 | $11,563 | $6,800 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Morton College
Grad rate: 26.5% |
-$191,685 | $34,004 | $12,170 | $5,500 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
William Rainey Harper College
Grad rate: 44.6% |
-$192,851 | $34,147 | $12,833 | $7,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Elgin Community College
Grad rate: 38.9% |
-$192,907 | $33,904 | $9,837 | $8,380 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Kankakee Community College
Grad rate: 34.4% |
-$223,063 | $32,466 | $12,209 | $5,900 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Heartland Community College
Grad rate: 45.8% |
-$227,758 | $32,886 | $15,314 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Illinois Central College
Grad rate: 35.2% |
-$236,697 | $32,542 | $17,251 | $9,656 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
College of DuPage
Grad rate: 23.5% |
-$238,313 | $32,057 | $13,314 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Rock Valley College
Grad rate: 38.0% |
-$241,039 | $31,858 | $14,351 | $7,035 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Joliet Junior College
Grad rate: 19.2% |
-$244,791 | $31,293 | $9,757 | $8,250 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
College of Lake County
Grad rate: 36.0% |
-$245,325 | $31,282 | $10,969 | $6,687 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.