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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Information Science Schools in Illinois

5 Colleges in the United States
987 Information Science Degrees Awarded
$55,399 Avg Early-Career Salary

Information Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for information science students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Information Science in Illinois

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the information science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Information Science

1

Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in information science. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 161 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $117,046 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Get the full information science details for Northwestern University

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for information science. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 500 information science degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Information Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $44,923 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778. Read more about the information science program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

3
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Students looking for a strong information science program will find one at Elmhurst College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 information science students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $51,232 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete this degree. Read more about the information science program at Elmhurst College

4

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 113 information science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the information science program make about $58,651 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,538. See the full information science program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago

5
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Students looking for a strong information science program will find one at Depaul University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 112 information science students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $75,709. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,916 in student loans. More information about a degree in information science from Depaul University

6
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Oakton Community College awarded about 24 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Oakton Community College earn around $48,838 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,750. Read more about the information science program at Oakton Community College

7
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Lake Land College came in at #7 for information science this year. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. There were roughly 14 information science students who graduated with this degree at Lake Land College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Lake Land College earn around $30,294 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete this degree. Read more about the information science program at Lake Land College

8

Bradley University earned the #8 position for information science this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Bradley University graduates 76% of students within six years. Bradley University awarded about 17 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Information Science graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $58,014 early in their careers. Bradley University graduates carry a median of $24,950 in student loans. More information about a degree in information science from Bradley University

9

City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned the #9 position for information science this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public university. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College awarded about 12 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Information Science graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earn a median of $33,326 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500. Read more about the information science program at City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College

10

Shawnee Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best information science schools. Shawnee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ullin. Shawnee Community College awarded about 10 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their information science degree from Shawnee Community College earn around $39,601 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,162 to complete this degree. See the full information science program report for Shawnee Community College

11

Saint Xavier University landed the #11 spot for information science this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Saint Xavier University awarded about 13 information science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, information science degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $51,753. Typical student debt for the program is $25,735. See the full information science program report for Saint Xavier University

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 31 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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