2026 Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools in Illinois
[Business Administration & Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value business administration & management schools.
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2026 Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in business administration & management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools
Our analysis ranked Moraine Valley Community College the best value for a degree in business administration & management in Illinois. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the business administration & management program here. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $43,844. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
Lewis And Clark Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $41,313. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in business administration & management will find it at City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $11,533. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $33,960. That is a strong return on a $11,533 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in business administration & management will find it at Lake Land College, which ranked #4. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $30,294. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Joliet Junior College one of the best values for business administration & management. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $11,995. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $39,887. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College earned the #6 position for value in business administration & management this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Triton College landed the #7 spot for business administration & management value this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $12,994. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $43,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage earned the #8 position for value in business administration & management this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete the business administration & management program here. Business Administration & Management graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $46,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kankakee Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Students borrow a median of $13,289 to complete the business administration & management program here. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. That is a strong return on a $13,289 median debt.
Harper College came in at #10 for value in business administration & management this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $59,982. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County came in at #11 for value in business administration & management this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waubonsee Community College earned the #12 position for value in business administration & management this year. Set in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,504, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,939 to complete the business administration & management program here. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $39,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakton Community College placed #13 among the best values for business administration & management. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College placed #14 among the best values for business administration & management. City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $8,478. Business Administration & Management graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earn a median of $25,842 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,478 median debt.
Rock Valley College placed #15 among the best values for business administration & management. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,334, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $9,236. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $41,080. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College landed the #16 spot for business administration & management value this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Springfield landed the #17 spot for business administration & management value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $25,000. Business Administration & Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $59,334 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
Sauk Valley Community College landed the #18 spot for business administration & management value this year. Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dixon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,340, compared with $12,900 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $12,811 in student loans. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $48,855. Set against $12,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Millikin University landed the #19 spot for business administration & management value this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the business administration & management program here. Business Administration & Management graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $55,915 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #20 spot for business administration & management value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $20,832. Business Administration & Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $76,915 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Governors State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Students borrow a median of $20,207 to complete the business administration & management program here. Business Administration & Management graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $58,324 early in their careers. Set against $20,207 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Northern Illinois University landed the #22 spot for business administration & management value this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the business administration & management program here. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $68,932. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University came in at #23 for value in business administration & management this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $25,735. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $90,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #24 for value in business administration & management this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $19,175. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $93,621. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Illinois Central College earned the #25 position for value in business administration & management this year. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete the business administration & management program here. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in business administration & management:
More Business Administration & Management Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 100 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 48 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
