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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Health Schools in Illinois

14 Colleges in the United States
1,178 Public Health Degrees Awarded
$55,650 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Health degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public health programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools to find the best for public health students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Health 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 public health degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Public Health

1

University Of Chicago tops our 2026 ranking of the best public health schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 44 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $81,002 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854. More information about a degree in public health from University Of Chicago

2

Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 66 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $53,408 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $14,684 in student loans. Read more about the public health program at Northwestern University

3

Students looking for a strong public health program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 178 public health students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $48,900. Typical student debt for the program is $20,678. Read more about the public health program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

4

University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #4 spot this year. 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. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 258 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $74,653. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $22,987 in student loans. Get the full public health details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

5

Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public health, ranking #5. This very large private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Addison. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 115 public health degrees were awarded at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent year. Students who receive their public health degree from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn around $68,487 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $39,146. Read more about the public health program at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois

6

Illinois State University earned the #6 position for public health this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 16 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $59,207. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in public health from Illinois State University

7

Loyola University Chicago earned the #7 position for public health this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 public health students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $66,981. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree. Read more about the public health program at Loyola University Chicago

8

Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #8 for public health this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 public health students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Illinois Institute Of Technology earn around $71,315 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public health from Illinois Institute Of Technology

9

Benedictine University placed #9 among the best public health schools. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Benedictine University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 215 public health students who graduated with this degree at Benedictine University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $64,930. Typical student debt for the program is $25,338. Get the full public health details for Benedictine University

10

Northern Illinois University landed the #10 spot for public health this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 public health students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public health program make about $52,308 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,209. More information about a degree in public health from Northern Illinois University

11

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #11 spot for public health this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. About 21 public health degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Public Health graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $49,254 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,600. Read more about the public health program at Northeastern Illinois University

12
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College earned the #12 position for public health this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. Elmhurst College awarded about 22 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Elmhurst College earn around $51,232 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,400. See the full public health program report for Elmhurst College

13
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best public health schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 public health students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $56,814. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public health from Depaul University

14

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #14 among the best public health schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 public health students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $35,023 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,223 to complete this degree. Read more about the public health program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

15

Eastern Illinois University came in at #15 for public health this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 public health students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $43,603. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. See the full public health program report for Eastern Illinois University

16

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #16 spot for public health this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 public health degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Graduates of the public health program make about $46,566 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,730. More information about a degree in public health from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

17
South Suburban College crest
South Suburban College
South Holland, IL

South Suburban College landed the #17 spot for public health this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of South Holland. There were roughly 15 public health students who graduated with this degree at South Suburban College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public health degree from South Suburban College earn around $42,425 in the first couple years of their career. South Suburban College graduates carry a median of $7,904 in student loans. Read more about the public health program at South Suburban College

18

University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #18 position for public health this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 36 public health degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent year. Students who receive their public health degree from University Of Illinois At Springfield earn around $54,701 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Read more about the public health program at University Of Illinois At Springfield

19
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL

Governors State University earned the #19 position for public health this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of University Park. Governors State University graduates 21% of students within six years. Governors State University awarded about 21 public health degrees in the most recent data year. Public Health graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $36,537 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. See the full public health program report for Governors State University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 29 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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