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Best Schools for General Education 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 general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Education
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign the best school in the country for a degree in general education. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 205 general education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $62,620 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
Get the full general education details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Lake Forest College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 18 general education degrees were awarded at Lake Forest College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Lake Forest College earn around $41,168 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,661.
Read more about the general education program at Lake Forest College
Students looking for a strong general education program will find one at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 35 general education degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general education degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $50,338 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for Northern Illinois University
Rockford College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rockford. About 47% of students finish within six years. Rockford College awarded about 22 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Rockford College earn a median of $56,020 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,094 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for Rockford College
Trinity Christian College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general education, landing the #5 spot this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Palos Heights. About 58% of students finish within six years. Trinity Christian College awarded about 21 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Trinity Christian College earn around $48,400 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,722.
Get the full general education details for Trinity Christian College
North Park University landed the #6 spot for general education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 general education students who graduated with this degree at North Park University in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of North Park University earn a median of $57,383 early in their careers. North Park University graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for North Park University
Western Illinois University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. Western Illinois University awarded about 12 general education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general education degree from Western Illinois University earn around $47,926 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete this degree.
Get the full general education details for Western Illinois University
Greenville College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general education schools. Set in the town of Greenville, Greenville College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 general education students who graduated with this degree at Greenville College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general education program make about $36,911 in their early career. Greenville College graduates carry a median of $25,933 in student loans.
Get the full general education details for Greenville College
City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College placed #9 among the best general education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College is a large public university. About 48 general education degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College in the most recent year. General Education graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College earn a median of $27,158 early in their careers. City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College graduates carry a median of $11,458 in student loans.
Read more about the general education program at City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College
Mckendree University came in at #10 for general education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lebanon. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Mckendree University awarded about 14 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Mckendree University earn a median of $50,945 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,362.
Get the full general education details for Mckendree University
Quincy University landed the #11 spot for general education this year. Located in the town of Quincy, Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Quincy University awarded about 16 general education degrees in the most recent data year. General Education graduates of Quincy University earn a median of $52,088 early in their careers. Quincy University graduates carry a median of $26,691 in student loans.
See the full general education program report for Quincy University
