Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in Illinois by ROI

Every Doctoral Degree program in Illinois ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Illinois

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$785,212

Across all Illinois programs

Average Annual Cost

$42,078

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	University of Illinois Chicago Grad rate: 60.9%	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.	+$2,788,788	$186,839	$26,998	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Midwestern University-Downers Grove	Medicine.	+$2,441,840	$164,092	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Midwestern University-Downers Grove	Dentistry.	+$1,737,280	$128,864	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Midwestern University-Downers Grove	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,707,320	$127,366	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,673,540	$125,677	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Chamberlain University-Illinois Grad rate: 44.4%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,625,196	$130,529	$36,346	N/A	Full ROI →
7	Northern Illinois University Grad rate: 51.3%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$1,565,664	$125,726	$27,214	N/A	Full ROI →
8	Midwestern University-Downers Grove	Optometry.	+$1,556,900	$119,845	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
9	Rush University	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,511,220	$117,561	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
10	University of St Francis Grad rate: 64.8%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$1,464,500	$124,300	$45,375	N/A	Full ROI →
11	University of Illinois Chicago Grad rate: 60.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,367,308	$115,765	$26,998	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Concordia University-Chicago Grad rate: 47.7%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$1,283,652	$115,033	$44,252	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Chemistry.	+$1,171,224	$118,122	$87,804	N/A	Full ROI →
14	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grad rate: 84.8%	Veterinary Medicine.	+$1,127,744	$104,814	$32,134	N/A	Full ROI →
15	Olivet Nazarene University Grad rate: 63.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,010,212	$102,622	$50,557	N/A	Full ROI →
16	Adler University	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$925,020	$88,251	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
17	The Chicago School at Chicago	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$920,880	$88,044	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
18	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grad rate: 84.8%	Law.	+$875,244	$92,189	$32,134	N/A	Full ROI →
19	National Louis University Grad rate: 34.5%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$867,920	$90,466	$25,350	N/A	Full ROI →
20	University of Illinois Chicago Grad rate: 60.9%	Psychology, General.	+$767,448	$85,772	$26,998	N/A	Full ROI →
21	The Chicago School at Chicago	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$714,340	$77,717	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Olivet Nazarene University Grad rate: 63.3%	Education, Other.	+$659,272	$85,075	$50,557	N/A	Full ROI →
23	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$627,020	$73,351	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
24	Midwestern University-Downers Grove	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$626,900	$73,345	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
25	Governors State University Grad rate: 20.2%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$615,396	$77,385	$23,076	N/A	Full ROI →
26	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grad rate: 84.8%	Chemistry.	+$583,644	$77,609	$32,134	N/A	Full ROI →
27	DeVry University-Illinois Grad rate: 40.1%	Management Information Systems and Services.	+$579,460	$78,577	$38,020	N/A	Full ROI →
28	Loyola University Chicago Grad rate: 73.9%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$561,592	$82,913	$64,167	N/A	Full ROI →
29	Northern Illinois University Grad rate: 51.3%	Psychology, General.	+$529,944	$73,940	$27,214	N/A	Full ROI →
30	Northern Illinois University Grad rate: 51.3%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$506,984	$72,792	$27,214	N/A	Full ROI →
31	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science	Medicine.	+$502,420	$67,121	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
32	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grad rate: 84.8%	Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education.	+$492,504	$73,052	$32,134	N/A	Full ROI →
33	DeVry University-Illinois Grad rate: 40.1%	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications.	+$446,900	$71,949	$38,020	N/A	Full ROI →
34	Bradley University Grad rate: 74.0%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$443,340	$74,713	$52,730	N/A	Full ROI →
35	Olivet Nazarene University Grad rate: 63.3%	Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language.	+$397,592	$71,991	$50,557	N/A	Full ROI →
36	University of Illinois Chicago Grad rate: 60.9%	Law.	+$352,188	$65,009	$26,998	N/A	Full ROI →
37	The Chicago School at Chicago	Psychology, Other.	+$349,600	$59,480	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
38	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$325,324	$75,827	$87,804	N/A	Full ROI →
39	DeVry University-Illinois Grad rate: 40.1%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$281,140	$63,661	$38,020	N/A	Full ROI →
40	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.	+$242,444	$71,683	$87,804	N/A	Full ROI →
41	DeVry University-Illinois Grad rate: 40.1%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$232,320	$61,220	$38,020	N/A	Full ROI →
42	National University of Health Sciences	Chiropractic.	+$202,400	$52,120	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
43	University of Illinois Chicago Grad rate: 60.9%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	+$133,748	$54,087	$26,998	N/A	Full ROI →
44	Erikson Institute	Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.	+$109,200	$47,460	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
45	DeVry University-Illinois Grad rate: 40.1%	Human Resources Management and Services.	+$67,520	$52,980	$38,020	N/A	Full ROI →
46	University of Illinois Chicago Grad rate: 60.9%	Social Work.	+$4,768	$47,638	$26,998	N/A	Full ROI →
47	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Music.	-$46,216	$57,250	$87,804	N/A	Full ROI →
48	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grad rate: 84.8%	Music.	-$100,156	$43,419	$32,134	N/A	Full ROI →
49	National University of Health Sciences	Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems.	-$355,100	$24,245	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.