Highest ROI College Degrees in Illinois

Top 20 college + major combinations in Illinois ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost
1	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies.	+$3,409,232	$221,242	$87,804	Full ROI →
2	University of Chicago Grad rate: 95.2%	Law.	+$3,371,548	$219,263	$86,856	Full ROI →
3	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Business/Commerce, General.	+$3,307,912	$216,176	$87,804	Full ROI →
4	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Grad rate: 84.8%	Computer Science.	+$3,202,592	$205,343	$32,134	Full ROI →
5	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$3,180,720	$201,036	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Law.	+$3,110,152	$206,288	$87,804	Full ROI →
7	University of Illinois Chicago Grad rate: 60.9%	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.	+$2,983,624	$193,881	$26,998	Full ROI →
8	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$2,883,612	$194,961	$87,804	Full ROI →
9	University of Illinois Chicago Grad rate: 60.9%	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.	+$2,788,788	$186,839	$26,998	Full ROI →
10	Loyola University Chicago Grad rate: 73.9%	Health and Medical Administrative Services.	+$2,630,826	$179,958	$64,167	Full ROI →
11	University of Chicago Grad rate: 95.2%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$2,555,988	$178,485	$86,856	Full ROI →
12	Midwestern University-Downers Grove	Medicine.	+$2,441,840	$164,092	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Engineering-Related Fields.	+$2,170,472	$159,304	$87,804	Full ROI →
14	Northwestern University Grad rate: 96.2%	Engineering, Other.	+$2,075,512	$154,556	$87,804	Full ROI →
15	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Grad rate: 54.2%	Dentistry.	+$1,737,736	$131,417	$25,302	Full ROI →
16	Midwestern University-Downers Grove	Dentistry.	+$1,737,280	$128,864	N/A	Full ROI →
17	Midwestern University-Downers Grove	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,707,320	$127,366	N/A	Full ROI →
18	Lake Forest Graduate School of Management	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$1,677,980	$125,899	N/A	Full ROI →
19	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,673,540	$125,677	N/A	Full ROI →
20	University of Chicago Grad rate: 95.2%	Computer Science.	+$1,656,016	$142,172	$86,856	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.