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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Business Administration & Management Schools in Illinois

48 Colleges in the United States
10,069 Business Administration & Management Degrees Awarded
$58,207 Avg Early-Career Salary

Business Administration & Management degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools to find the best for business administration & management students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Business Administration & Management in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall business administration & management education in Illinois.

Top Schools in Business Administration & Management

1

Northwestern University tops our 2026 ranking of the best business administration & management schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 217 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $224,402. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in business administration & management from Northwestern University

2

Students looking for a strong business administration & management program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,757 business administration & management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the business administration & management program make about $93,621 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,175 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in business administration & management from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3

University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in business administration & management, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 business administration & management students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from University Of Chicago earn around $194,606 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. Read more about the business administration & management program at University Of Chicago

4

A rank of #4 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for business administration & management. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 240 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $68,181. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. See the full business administration & management program report for Illinois State University

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for business administration & management. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 381 business administration & management degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Business Administration & Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $76,915 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,832. Read more about the business administration & management program at University Of Illinois At Chicago

6

Northern Illinois University came in at #6 for business administration & management this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Northern Illinois University awarded about 249 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $68,932. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree. Get the full business administration & management details for Northern Illinois University

7

Loyola University Chicago earned the #7 position for business administration & management this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 186 business administration & management degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $83,063. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full business administration & management details for Loyola University Chicago

8
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #8 for business administration & management this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 465 business administration & management degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $75,315. Students borrow a median of $26,333 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in business administration & management from Depaul University

9
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College landed the #9 spot for business administration & management this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 134 business administration & management degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from Elmhurst College earn around $62,290 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree. See the full business administration & management program report for Elmhurst College

10
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage landed the #10 spot for business administration & management this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. College Of Dupage awarded about 79 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from College Of Dupage earn around $46,497 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete this degree. Get the full business administration & management details for College Of Dupage

11

Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #11 position for business administration & management this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 business administration & management students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Business Administration & Management graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $83,599 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,197. Read more about the business administration & management program at Illinois Institute Of Technology

12

Joliet Junior College placed #12 among the best business administration & management schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Joliet. There were roughly 215 business administration & management students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from Joliet Junior College earn around $39,887 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,995. See the full business administration & management program report for Joliet Junior College

13

Elgin Community College placed #13 among the best business administration & management schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 28 business administration & management students who graduated with this degree at Elgin Community College in the most recent data year. Business Administration & Management graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree. Get the full business administration & management details for Elgin Community College

14

Bradley University came in at #14 for business administration & management this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. Bradley University awarded about 52 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from Bradley University earn around $51,347 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,586 to complete this degree. Get the full business administration & management details for Bradley University

15

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #15 among the best business administration & management schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 313 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $58,201 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Read more about the business administration & management program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

16

Adler School Of Professional Psychology ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best business administration & management schools. Adler School Of Professional Psychology is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 13 business administration & management students who graduated with this degree at Adler School Of Professional Psychology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Adler School Of Professional Psychology generally make around $55,542. See the full business administration & management program report for Adler School Of Professional Psychology

17

Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best business administration & management schools. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management is a small private not-for-profit institution. Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management awarded about 99 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Business Administration & Management graduates of Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management earn a median of $113,944 early in their careers. Get the full business administration & management details for Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management

18
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best business administration & management schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 69 business administration & management students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $59,982. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963. More information about a degree in business administration & management from Harper College

19

College Of Lake County ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best business administration & management schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. College Of Lake County awarded about 39 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from College Of Lake County earn around $50,314 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree. See the full business administration & management program report for College Of Lake County

20

Moraine Valley Community College earned the #20 position for business administration & management this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Palos Hills. About 35 business administration & management degrees were awarded at Moraine Valley Community College in the most recent year. Business Administration & Management graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,149. Read more about the business administration & management program at Moraine Valley Community College

21

Saint Xavier University landed the #21 spot for business administration & management this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Xavier University awarded about 22 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from Saint Xavier University earn around $90,420 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,735 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in business administration & management from Saint Xavier University

22

Benedictine University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best business administration & management schools. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Benedictine University awarded about 142 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $65,712. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Get the full business administration & management details for Benedictine University

23

Augustana College Illinois landed the #23 spot for business administration & management this year. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Augustana College Illinois awarded about 28 business administration & management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the business administration & management program make about $50,210 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full business administration & management program report for Augustana College Illinois

24
Lewis University crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Lewis University earned the #24 position for business administration & management this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 219 business administration & management degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $62,488. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in business administration & management from Lewis University

25

University Of Illinois At Springfield ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best business administration & management schools. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 277 business administration & management degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent year. Students who receive their business administration & management degree from University Of Illinois At Springfield earn around $59,334 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full business administration & management program report for University Of Illinois At Springfield

Rest of the Top 50 Business Administration & Management Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong business administration & management education:

26
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
27
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL
28
North Central College crest
North Central College
Naperville, IL
29
30
31
32
33
34
Rockford College crest
Rockford College
Rockford, IL
35
36
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL
37
38
39
Knox College crest
Knox College
Galesburg, IL
40
Mchenry County College crest
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL
41
42
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL
43
44
Illinois Central College crest
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL
45
46
Dominican University crest
Dominican University
River Forest, IL
47
Rock Valley College crest
Rock Valley College
Rockford, IL
48
49
50

Honorable Mentions

A few more business administration & management schools worth a look:

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View All Business Administration & Management Rankings >

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 100 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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