This guide to psychology schools in Illinois will provide you with crucial information about the undergraduate and graduate programs in the state so that you can make an informed decision about which program best meets your needs.

Table of Contents

Illinois Psychology School Facts

Nationally Ranked Top Psychology Programs in Illinois

Our curated list of third-party and proprietary rankings can be useful in measuring the overall value and reputation of a program. Lists include College Factual, Psychology Degree 411, The Princeton Review, and Times Higher Education. Note if one of these lists is not present below, no schools in the state were named on it. Generally, schools and programs ranked on multiple lists tend to be stronger in academic quality.

Schools Ranked on Multiple Lists

  • DePaul University
  • Loyola University Chicago
  • Northwestern University
  • University of Illinois Chicago

College Factual’s Best Psychology Schools 2024

  • Northwestern University (#5)
  • University of Illinois at Chicago (#39)
  • Loyola University Chicago (#45)
  • Illinois Institute of Technology (#109)
  • DePaul University (#131)
  • Illinois State University (#142)
  • Wheaton College Illinois (#148)
  • Northern Illinois University (#171)2

Psychology Degree 411’s Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs

  • University of Illinois-Springfield (#26)3

The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024

  • DePaul University
  • Loyola University of Chicago4

Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019

  • The University of Chicago (#12)
  • Northwestern University (#18)
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (#34)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (#201-250)5

Top 20 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs in Illinois

These are the top 20 bachelor’s in psychology programs from not-for-profit schools in Illinois based on a graduation rate above 55% and an annual net price below $27,000. A high graduation rate is a top indicator of student success, and affordability is a key consideration for prospective undergrad students. Each school’s net price and graduation rate are included below.

  1. Lincoln Christian University ($7,706 / Grad rate: 63%)
  2. University of Illinois Chicago ($10,384 / Grad rate: 62%)
  3. Millikin University ($10,492 / Grad rate: 58%)
  4. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($14,544 / Grad rate: 85%)
  5. Illinois College ($16,296 / Grad rate: 67%)
  6. Dominican University ($18,162 / Grad rate: 59%)
  7. University of St Francis ($18,560 / Grad rate: 65%)
  8. Trinity Christian College ($18,822 / Grad rate: 69%)
  9. Lewis University ($19,184 / Grad rate: 62%)
  10. Aurora University ($19,350 / Grad rate: 60%)
  11. Olivet Nazarene University ($20,059 / Grad rate: 67%)
  12. Monmouth College ($20,237 / Grad rate: 57%)
  13. Illinois State University ($20,551 / Grad rate: 67%)
  14. Greenville University ($20,718 / Grad rate: 58%)
  15. Northwestern University ($22,095 / Grad rate: 97%)
  16. Bradley University ($24,053 / Grad rate: 76%)
  17. Elmhurst University ($24,108 / Grad rate: 64%)
  18. Augustana College ($24,660 / Grad rate: 78%)
  19. North Central College ($25,285 / Grad rate: 63%)
  20. Knox College ($26,882 / Grad rate: 75%)1

Most Affordable Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology

The following Illinois schools with bachelor’s degrees in psychology have the lowest average net prices. We have included each school’s graduation rate, a key quality metric.

  • Chicago State University ($6,446 / Grad rate: 28%)
  • Lincoln Christian University ($7,706 / Grad rate: 63%)
  • Governors State University ($9,833 / Grad rate: 21%)
  • St. Augustine College ($10,288 / Grad rate: 23%)
  • University of Illinois Chicago ($10,384 / Grad rate: 62%)
  • Millikin University ($10,492 / Grad rate: 58%)
  • Western Illinois University ($11,213 / Grad rate: 47%)
  • Saint Xavier University ($11,302 / Grad rate: 53%)
  • University of Illinois Springfield ($11,733 / Grad rate 53%)
  • Quincy University ($11,985 / Grad rate: 50%)1

Comparison of All Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs in Illinois

This table compares all of the bachelor’s in psychology programs from not-for-profit schools in Illinois. The schools can be compared on factors like acceptance rate, graduation rate, median debt, and price. Programs in bold text offer hybrid or online options.

SchoolGrad Rate*1Accept Rate1Median Debt*6Median Earnings*6Full Price In State1Full Price Out of State1Net Price*1
Augustana College78%61%$27,000$61,991$76,438$76,438$24,660
Aurora University60%82%$20,318$53,159$39,780$39,780$19,350
Benedictine University53%93%$22,500$61,453$44,556$44,556$25,658
Blackburn College36%64%$24,242$41,589$35,075$35,075$21,575
Bradley University76%75%$27,000$66,315$49,996$49,996$24,053
Chicago State University28%49%$30,625$43,759$25,818$25,818$6,446
Concordia University-Chicago48%93%$23,000$51,219$45,726$45,726$18,832
DePaul University69%70%$23,168$67,245$58,908$58,908$32,151
Dominican University59%90%$24,411$56,955$47,550$47,550$18,162
Eastern Illinois University55%68%$21,500$50,741$23,913$23,913$13,380
Elmhurst University64%76%$20,489$58,657$51,482$51,482$24,108
Eureka College54%87%$23,250$44,812$38,733$38,733$19,443
Governors State University21%57%$18,618$52,665$21,468$21,468$9,833
Greenville University58%94%$23,875$44,195$40,162$40,162$20,718
Hebrew Theological College20%71%$14,000$28,130$27,858$27,858$13,451
Illinois College67%77%$25,565$51,953$46,310$46,310$16,296
Illinois Institute of Technology75%61%$25,000$82,793$66,210$66,210$28,702
Illinois State University67%86%$20,482$58,781$25,772$25,772$20,551
Illinois Wesleyan University79%42%$27,000$66,591$66,232$66,232$30,096
Judson University53%58%$25,000$51,562$42,230$42,230$19,268
Knox College75%73%$27,000$51,471$63,585$63,585$26,882
Lake Forest College78%60%$26,158$66,559$64,800$64,800$27,839
Lewis University62%74%$21,500$61,393$48,486$48,486$19,184
Loyola University Chicago71%79%$24,157$66,791$65,018$65,018$37,511
McKendree University55%68%$23,250$51,819$45,020$45,020$22,431
Millikin University58%75%$27,000$46,513$39,728*$54,468$10,492
Monmouth College57%91%$27,000$49,661$52,904$52,904$20,237
National Louis University31%92%$19,750$44,968$25,080$25,080$14,769
North Central College63%61%$24,500$57,787$55,044$55,044$25,285
North Park University55%68%$25,500$55,242$44,145$44,145$19,029
Northeastern Illinois University19%63%$14,600$50,312$22,843$22,843$14,262
Northern Illinois University53%71%$22,162$55,380$24,082$24,082$13,884
Northwestern University97%7%$15,000$85,796$82,908$82,908$22,095
Olivet Nazarene University67%58%$25,000$50,851$47,730$47,730$20,059
Quincy University50%62%$24,000$47,879$43,380$43,380$11,985
Rockford University40%55%$22,274$52,541$45,460$45,460$25,047
Roosevelt University43%88%$22,000$45,701$48,093$48,093$22,117
Saint Xavier University53%84%$22,223$55,564$47,550$47,550$11,302
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale49%91%$21,543$50,562$26,038$26,038$16,990
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville54%98%$20,500$54,293$22,830$22,830$13,586
St. Augustine College23%100%$4,423$32,284$21,788$21,788$10,288
The Chicago School of Professional PsychologyN.Av.7%$20,000$58,068$31,760$31,760N.Av.
Trinity Christian College69%71%$25,009$52,079$44,825$44,825$18,822
Trinity International University-Illinois50%91%$26,082$44,008$44,738$44,738$16,703
University of Chicago96%5%$15,000$78,439$82,656$82,656$36,991
University of Illinois Chicago62%79%$16,704$64,108$28,446$28,446$10,384
University of Illinois Springfield53%82%$19,128$52,925$22,487$22,487$11,733
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign85%45%$19,500$77,368$28,434$28,434$14,544
University of St. Francis65%58%$21,079$60,919$47,430$47,430$18,560
Western Illinois University47%75%$25,251$52,612$24,906$24,906$11,213
Wheaton College88%88%$23,250$60,007$53,930$53,930$29,961

*See Table Notes at bottom of page.

Comparison of All Graduate Psychology Programs in Illinois

This table compares all of Illinois’ graduate-level psychology programs from not-for-profit schools on multiple factors.

We’ve included accreditation status by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). We also highlight the levels offered, 2020-2022 pass rates for the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), and tuition information. Note EPPP scores are reported by degree type (clinical, counseling, or school psychology) and level (PhD or PsyD), so some schools may be listed more than once to include all pass rates. Schools in bold text offer hybrid or online options. Tuition per credit hour is more relevant for master’s and PsyD programs due to the fact that PhD students typically receive more program-awarded funding.

SchoolAccreditation7-10Levels OfferedEPPP Pass Rate 2020-2212EPPP # Taking 2020-2212Grad Tuition Per Credit Hour
Adler UniversityAPAPsyD55%183$1,704
Benedictine University—MS——$800
DePaul UniversityAPAMS, PhD94%17$780
Eastern Illinois UniversityNASPMA, EdS——$336
Elmhurst University—MA——$825
Governors State University—MA, EdS——$437
Illinois Institute of TechnologyAPAMS, PhD92%25$1,712
Illinois State UniversityAPA, NASPMA, MS93%15$423
Loyola University Chicago (Clinical PhD)APA, NASPMA, PhD100%17$1,096
Loyola University Chicago (Counseling PhD)APA, NASPMA, PhD57%7$1,096
Loyola University Chicago (School PhD)APA, NASPMA, PhD50%6$1,096
McKendree University—MA——$525
Midwestern UniversityAPAPsyD60%55$2,075
National Louis UniversityAPA, NASPMA, PhD, PsyD22%9$790
Northern Illinois University (Clinical PhD)APA, NASPSSP, PhD100%11$369
Northern Illinois University (School PhD)APA, NASPSSP, PhD100%8$369
Northwestern UniversityAPAPhD95%19$519
Roosevelt UniversityAPAMA, PsyD84%51$1,265
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceAPAMS, PhD88%26$2,148
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (Clinical PhD)APAMA, MS, PhD86%14$470
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (Counseling PhD)APAMA, MS, PhD100%12$470
Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleNASPMA, MS, EdS——$460
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at ChicagoAPA, MPCACMA, MS, EdS, EdD, PhD, PsyD58%211$1,368
University of Chicago—MAPSS, PhD——$804
University of Illinois ChicagoAPAPhD100%12$918
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignAPAMSPS, PhD100%14$1,148
Western Illinois University—MS, EdS——$375
Wheaton CollegeAPAMA, PhD, PsyD78%40$810

*Table Notes:
-Millikin University’s in-state price is for in-district students. Students outside of the district pay the price in the out-of-state column.
-N.Av. indicates data is not available.
-Metrics are institution-wide unless otherwise noted.
-Graduation rate is completion percentage within six years of start.
-Median (average) debt is cumulative federal loan debt for undergraduate completers in 2020-2021.
-Median earnings are from the 2020-2021 cohort 10 years post school entry.
-Net price is the average yearly price paid by full-time, first-year undergraduate students receiving financial aid. See NCES for more in-depth information.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
3. Psychology Degree 411 Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
4. The Princeton Review. The Best 388 Colleges, 2023 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2022.
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/subject-ranking/psychology
6. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
7. American Psychological Association Accredited Programs: https://accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs
8. Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, Directory: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
9. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
10. National Association for School Psychologists, Approved Programs: https://apps.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/graduate-program-approval-and-accreditation/approved-accredited.aspx
11. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, 2023 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/2023_dr_rpt_012024.pdf