2026 Best Computer Science Schools in Illinois
Looking for the best Computer Science degree programs in Illinois? We have ranked 240 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Computer Science Degree evaluated 188 schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Computer Science Degree Schools in Illinois
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign to be the best Computer Science school in Illinois. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign Computer Science students take on a median of $20,778 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Request InformationYou'll be in good company at Northwestern University, which ranked #2 this year. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Evanston, IL. About 95% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Typical Computer Science student debt is $16,616. Read the full report on Northwestern University
Request InformationYou'll be in good company at University Of Chicago, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete their Computer Science program here. See the full University Of Chicago profile
Request InformationA rank of #4 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top choices in Illinois. Set in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Loyola University Chicago Computer Science students take on a median of $23,521 in debt. Read more about Loyola University Chicago
Request InformationA rank of #5 makes Depaul University one of the top choices in Illinois. Located in Chicago, IL, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,405. Typical Computer Science student debt is $25,310. Read the full report on Depaul University
Request InformationUniversity Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #6 spot in Illinois this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school based in Chicago, IL. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. More on University Of Illinois At Chicago
Request InformationIllinois State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Computer Science schools. Set in Normal, IL, Illinois State University is a public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans. See the full Illinois State University profile
Request InformationLewis University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Lewis University is a private not-for-profit school based in Romeoville, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. The median Computer Science program debt is $24,838. Get the full Lewis University report
Request InformationIllinois Institute Of Technology landed the #9 spot in Illinois this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $52,202. Typical Computer Science student debt is $26,774. See the full Illinois Institute Of Technology profile
Request InformationWestern Illinois University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This public school is set in Macomb, IL. Western Illinois University posts a six-year graduation rate of 45%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,572. The median Computer Science program debt is $27,639. Read more about Western Illinois University
Request InformationDevry University Illinois landed the #11 spot in Illinois this year. Devry University Illinois is a private for-profit school based in Lisle, IL. Devry University Illinois graduates 18% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,008. Devry University Illinois Computer Science students take on a median of $43,684 in debt. More on Devry University Illinois
Request InformationSouthern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Computer Science schools. This public school is set in Carbondale, IL. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete their Computer Science program here. More on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Request InformationBradley University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Computer Science schools. Based in Peoria, IL, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Typical Computer Science student debt is $26,380. Read the full report on Bradley University
Request InformationDominican University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Computer Science schools. Based in River Forest, IL, Dominican University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete their Computer Science program here. More on Dominican University
Request InformationSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Edwardsville, IL, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Typical Computer Science student debt is $23,917. Get the full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville report
Request InformationEastern Illinois University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Charleston, IL, Eastern Illinois University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. The median Computer Science program debt is $24,293. Read more about Eastern Illinois University
Request InformationSouthwestern Illinois College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Belleville, IL, Southwestern Illinois College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Typical Computer Science student debt is $10,388. Get the full Southwestern Illinois College report
Request InformationUniversity Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #18 in this year's ranking. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a public school based in Springfield, IL. About 52% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. University Of Illinois At Springfield Computer Science students take on a median of $24,925 in debt. See the full University Of Illinois At Springfield profile
Request InformationRasmussen College Illinois landed the #19 spot in Illinois this year. Based in Rockford, IL, Rasmussen College Illinois is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,581. Graduates carry a median of $28,798 in student loans. See the full Rasmussen College Illinois profile
Request InformationNorthern Illinois University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Computer Science schools. Based in Dekalb, IL, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Northern Illinois University Computer Science students take on a median of $25,209 in debt. More on Northern Illinois University
Request InformationSaint Xavier University landed the #21 spot in Illinois this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans. See the full Saint Xavier University profile
Request InformationRoosevelt University placed #22 among Computer Science schools in Illinois. Located in Chicago, IL, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,315. Roosevelt University Computer Science students take on a median of $23,879 in debt. Read the full report on Roosevelt University
Request InformationGovernors State University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in University Park, IL, Governors State University is a public institution. Roughly 21% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. The median Computer Science program debt is $24,990. Get the full Governors State University report
Request InformationBlackburn College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Computer Science schools. See the full Blackburn College profile
Request InformationToyota Technological Institute At Chicago landed the #25 spot in Illinois this year. See the full Toyota Technological Institute At Chicago profile
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best Computer Science Degree Schools in Illinois
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #26 in this year's ranking. More on Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Request InformationStellar Career College did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on Stellar Career College
Request InformationLincoln Christian University came in at #28 in this year's ranking. More on Lincoln Christian University
Request InformationRockford College
Rockford College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. More on Rockford College
Request InformationCapri Beauty College Oak Forest came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full Capri Beauty College Oak Forest profile
Request InformationFirst Institute Inc came in at #31 in this year's ranking. More on First Institute Inc
Request InformationTricoci University Of Beauty Culture Chicago Nw came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Get the full Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Chicago Nw report
Request InformationGarrett Evangelical Theological Seminary placed #33 among Computer Science schools in Illinois. Read more about Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Request InformationIllinois Media School Chicago Campus placed #34 among Computer Science schools in Illinois. More on Illinois Media School Chicago Campus
Request InformationColumbia College Chicago did well this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Columbia College Chicago profile
Request InformationBlessing Rieman College Of Nursing did well this year, earning the #36 position. More on Blessing Rieman College Of Nursing
Request InformationCannella School Of Hair Design Chicago South Archer Ave did well this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full Cannella School Of Hair Design Chicago South Archer Ave report
Request InformationConcordia University Chicago ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Computer Science schools. Read more about Concordia University Chicago
Request InformationElmhurst College
Elmhurst College placed #39 among Computer Science schools in Illinois. Read more about Elmhurst College
Request InformationHair Professionals Career College Sycamore came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Hair Professionals Career College Sycamore
Request InformationIllinois Central College did well this year, earning the #41 position. See the full Illinois Central College profile
Request InformationMchenry County College landed the #42 spot in Illinois this year. See the full Mchenry County College profile
Request InformationMdt College Of Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Mdt College Of Health Sciences report
Request InformationWorsham College Of Mortuary Science did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Worsham College Of Mortuary Science
Request InformationPaul Mitchell The School Bradley did well this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Paul Mitchell The School Bradley report
Request InformationCameo Beauty Academy did well this year, earning the #46 position. More on Cameo Beauty Academy
Request InformationSpoon River College placed #47 among Computer Science schools in Illinois. More on Spoon River College
Request InformationEureka College
Eureka College did well this year, earning the #48 position. More on Eureka College
Request InformationHighland Community College Freeport placed #49 among Computer Science schools in Illinois. Get the full Highland Community College Freeport report
Request InformationIllinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College landed the #50 spot in Illinois this year. More on Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Computer Science Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 188 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 240 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).