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Best Schools for General Studies in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general studies education in Illinois.
Top Schools in General Studies
No school ranked higher than Harper College this year for general studies. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Harper College awarded about 139 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Harper College earn around $27,619 in the first couple years of their career. Harper College graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general studies from Harper College
Students looking for a strong general studies program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #2. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 22 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $26,094 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Get the full general studies details for University Of Chicago
A rank of #3 makes College Of Dupage one of the top schools for general studies. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. About 103 general studies degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $28,678. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general studies program report for College Of Dupage
Aurora University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Aurora University in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $44,614 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full general studies program report for Aurora University
Joliet Junior College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general studies, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Joliet. There were roughly 112 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $27,296 early in their careers. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $8,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general studies from Joliet Junior College
Kankakee Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Kankakee Community College awarded about 35 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,900.
Get the full general studies details for Kankakee Community College
Waubonsee Community College landed the #7 spot for general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 55 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $27,597 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,250 to complete this degree.
See the full general studies program report for Waubonsee Community College
Lincoln Land Community College earned the #8 position for general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 30 general studies degrees were awarded at Lincoln Land Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Lincoln Land Community College earn around $34,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,022.
Read more about the general studies program at Lincoln Land Community College
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College awarded about 101 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn around $31,322 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,348 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general studies from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College
Oakton Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. Oakton Community College awarded about 14 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Oakton Community College earn around $24,918 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general studies program at Oakton Community College
Northeastern Illinois University landed the #11 spot for general studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 general studies degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Northeastern Illinois University earn around $42,976 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
Get the full general studies details for Northeastern Illinois University
Depaul University landed the #12 spot for general studies this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 general studies degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $73,200 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $42,350 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general studies from Depaul University
Illinois Central College landed the #13 spot for general studies this year. Illinois Central College is a large public school located in the suburb of East Peoria. About 90 general studies degrees were awarded at Illinois Central College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Illinois Central College earn around $29,845 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Central College graduates carry a median of $9,656 in student loans.
See the full general studies program report for Illinois Central College
Triton College landed the #14 spot for general studies this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. There were roughly 65 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Triton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $27,342 in their early career. Triton College graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans.
Read more about the general studies program at Triton College
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College awarded about 93 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn around $29,168 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,925.
More information about a degree in general studies from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College landed the #16 spot for general studies this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College awarded about 182 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $34,644 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,600.
More information about a degree in general studies from City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College
Mchenry County College came in at #17 for general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. About 21 general studies degrees were awarded at Mchenry County College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $19,740 in their early career. Mchenry County College graduates carry a median of $6,581 in student loans.
Get the full general studies details for Mchenry County College
Moraine Valley Community College placed #18 among the best general studies schools. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 320 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Moraine Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $23,372. Moraine Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
Get the full general studies details for Moraine Valley Community College
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College came in at #19 for general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 43 general studies degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $32,568. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College graduates carry a median of $6,750 in student loans.
See the full general studies program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earned the #20 position for general studies this year. This large public university is located in the town of Olney. There were roughly 52 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College generally make around $21,307. Students borrow a median of $6,365 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general studies from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #21 for general studies this year. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Illinois Valley Community College awarded about 13 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $22,700. Illinois Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $6,800 in student loans.
See the full general studies program report for Illinois Valley Community College
Carl Sandburg College placed #22 among the best general studies schools. Set in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public institution. About 59 general studies degrees were awarded at Carl Sandburg College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Carl Sandburg College generally make around $27,529. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full general studies details for Carl Sandburg College
Danville Area Community College earned the #23 position for general studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Danville. There were roughly 35 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Danville Area Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $28,045. Students borrow a median of $7,912 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general studies from Danville Area Community College
Highland Community College Freeport landed the #24 spot for general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 11 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Highland Community College Freeport in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $30,269 in their early career. Highland Community College Freeport graduates carry a median of $10,066 in student loans.
Read more about the general studies program at Highland Community College Freeport
Parkland College earned the #25 position for general studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Champaign. Parkland College awarded about 90 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $26,912 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general studies program at Parkland College
Rest of the Top 34 General Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general studies this year:
