The average graduation rate of Illinois colleges is 55.22%. It means that 55.22% of students have completed their studies within 150% of program length.

For the bachelor's degree (BS) in 4-year Illinois colleges, the average graduation rate is 55.57%, which means 55.57% of students earned BS degree in 6 years after enrolling first year.

In Illinois 2-year institutions (i.e. community colleges), the average graduation rate is 39.74%.

For Illinois colleges, Northwestern University has the highest graduation rate of 96.52% among 4-year colleges. For Illinois community colleges, Morrison Institute of Technology has the highest graduation rate of 78.79%.

Graduation Rate By School Level and Completion Time for Illinois Colleges

The following table compares graduation rates between Illinois colleges. For 4-year colleges, the rates are based on the time it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, which typically requires 4 years of study. Therefore, 100% normal time means 4-year, 125% normal time means 5-years, and the 150% normal time means 6 years.

For community colleges (2-4 year schools) and trade schools, the completion time to measure graduation rates vary depending on the length of the program. For example, 150% normal time for 1-year certificate programs is 18 months and 3 years for 2-years associate degree.

Graduation Rate Comparison between Illinois Colleges
SchoolGraduation Rate
(Completers)
Transfer-out RateRetention Rate
In 100% Normal TimeIn 125% Normal TimeIn 150% Normal Time
Adler University4-Year College, private-----
American Academy of Art College4-Year College, private46.43%55.36%58.93%7%68%
American Islamic College4-Year College, private---50%0%
School of the Art Institute of Chicago4-Year College, private47.10%61.77%66.77%20%79%
Augustana College4-Year College, private74.46%77.62%77.62%--
Aurora University4-Year College, private48.08%57.91%59.75%--
Southwestern Illinois CollegeCommunity College12.92%-28.31%17%63%
Black Hawk CollegeCommunity College26.24%-37.65%16%61%
Blackburn College4-Year College, private25.00%33.93%35.71%--
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences4-Year College, private-----
Bradley University4-Year College, private57.56%74.24%76.17%--
Paul Mitchell the School-Tinley ParkTrade School--62.07%--
Cameo Beauty AcademyTrade School--33.33%--
Cannella School of Hair Design-Villa ParkTrade School16.67%-83.33%--
Cannella School of Hair Design-ChicagoTrade School8.33%-58.33%--
Cannella School of Hair Design-ChicagoTrade School16.67%-66.67%--
Capri Beauty CollegeTrade School-----
Carl Sandburg CollegeCommunity College22.90%-42.52%9%66%
Catholic Theological Union at Chicago4-Year College, private-----
Midwestern University-Downers Grove4-Year College, private-----
The Chicago School at Chicago4-Year College, private-----
Chicago State University4-Year College, public10.81%18.92%28.38%30%55%
Chicago Theological Seminary4-Year College, private-----
University of Chicago4-Year College, private89.53%94.01%95.58%--
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeCommunity College18.07%-23.95%11%46%
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeCommunity College8.59%-18.83%12%56%
City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeCommunity College6.36%-19.65%17%49%
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeCommunity College7.88%-23.33%13%63%
City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley CollegeCommunity College19.72%-30.28%8%56%
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington CollegeCommunity College8.33%-22.85%11%62%
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeCommunity College13.97%-30.16%10%67%
Columbia College Chicago4-Year College, private39.92%41.23%47.23%--
Concordia University-Chicago4-Year College, private32.68%40.78%41.34%37%58%
Danville Area Community CollegeCommunity College32.65%-45.02%9%65%
Tricoci University of Beauty CultureTrade School--100.00%--
DePaul University4-Year College, private57.88%67.92%69.35%18%84%
Cosmetology & Spa AcademyTrade School1.40%-48.37%--
College of DuPageCommunity College10.21%-22.93%27%67%
East-West University4-Year College, private4.42%7.73%9.39%--
Eastern Illinois University4-Year College, public34.70%50.82%54.64%28%71%
Elgin Community CollegeCommunity College20.82%-37.32%19%73%
Elmhurst University4-Year College, private52.20%61.64%63.52%--
Eureka College4-Year College, private38.56%48.37%50.98%26%57%
First Institute of Travel, Inc.Trade School30.00%-74.00%--
Fox CollegeCommunity College71.43%-76.19%--
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary4-Year College, private-----
Gem City CollegeTrade School62.50%-75.00%--
Governors State University4-Year College, public14.55%19.72%20.66%39%56%
Graham Hospital School of NursingCommunity College---50%0%
Greenville University4-Year College, private50.50%57.50%57.50%--
G Skin & Beauty InstituteTrade School12.90%-83.87%--
Hair Professionals Career CollegeTrade School--60.00%--
Hair Professionals School of CosmetologyTrade School5.26%-47.37%--
Hebrew Theological College4-Year College, private15.91%18.18%20.45%53%92%
Highland Community CollegeCommunity College31.51%-49.32%10%66%
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science4-Year College, private-----
University of Illinois Chicago4-Year College, public39.64%57.79%61.62%--
Benedictine University4-Year College, private39.49%50.72%53.44%--
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign4-Year College, public72.07%83.15%84.69%--
Illinois Wesleyan University4-Year College, private75.24%79.01%79.48%--
Illinois Central CollegeCommunity College14.52%-31.60%22%70%
Illinois College4-Year College, private63.57%67.01%67.35%--
Olney Central CollegeCommunity College45.74%-59.19%15%66%
Illinois Institute of Technology4-Year College, private37.60%72.00%75.00%13%85%
Illinois State University4-Year College, public50.54%64.76%66.98%--
Illinois Valley Community CollegeCommunity College22.68%-41.95%15%66%
Institute for Clinical Social Work4-Year College, private-----
John A Logan CollegeCommunity College19.25%-30.95%18%63%
John Wood Community CollegeCommunity College32.99%-46.55%15%67%
Joliet Junior CollegeCommunity College5.12%-17.97%20%57%
Judson University4-Year College, private43.50%49.72%53.11%21%61%
Kankakee Community CollegeCommunity College13.38%-30.86%14%59%
Kaskaskia CollegeCommunity College21.34%-37.24%14%64%
Kishwaukee CollegeCommunity College19.38%-36.18%14%66%
Knox College4-Year College, private66.47%72.25%74.57%18%82%
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-PeruTrade School18.18%-59.09%--
College of Lake CountyCommunity College13.54%-33.96%17%71%
Lake Forest College4-Year College, private73.61%76.11%77.78%16%85%
Lake Land CollegeCommunity College29.21%-46.94%13%73%
Lakeview College of Nursing4-Year College, private-----
Lewis and Clark Community CollegeCommunity College28.27%-42.83%11%64%
Lewis University4-Year College, private44.76%59.31%61.82%23%81%
Lincoln Christian University4-Year College, private63.01%65.75%65.75%6%8%
Lincoln Land Community CollegeCommunity College25.42%-40.08%12%68%
Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkCommunity College28.02%-54.64%--
Loyola University Chicago4-Year College, private67.19%71.80%72.57%22%81%
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago4-Year College, private-----
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences4-Year College, private-----
Steven Papageorge Hair AcademyTrade School81.82%-81.82%--
Generations CollegeCommunity College8.33%-13.89%--
McCormick Theological Seminary4-Year College, private-----
McHenry County CollegeCommunity College17.13%-34.25%20%70%
McKendree University4-Year College, private44.98%53.65%55.48%--
Meadville Theological School of Lombard College4-Year College, private-----
Methodist College4-Year College, private63.16%73.68%73.68%10%100%
Millikin University4-Year College, private46.73%56.21%57.79%--
Monmouth College4-Year College, private50.88%54.04%56.84%--
Moody Bible Institute4-Year College, private40.59%56.09%60.15%11%75%
Moraine Valley Community CollegeCommunity College15.76%-34.20%17%72%
Morrison Institute of TechnologyCommunity College78.79%-78.79%--
Morton CollegeCommunity College8.61%-24.33%13%68%
National Louis University4-Year College, private22.68%28.12%30.67%15%61%
National University of Health Sciences4-Year College, private-----
Cosmetology Concepts NilesTrade School53.33%-73.33%--
North Central College4-Year College, private57.72%62.82%63.33%--
North Park University4-Year College, private40.56%53.33%55.00%--
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary4-Year College, private-----
Northern Illinois University4-Year College, public33.07%48.99%53.08%--
Northwestern University4-Year College, private86.98%95.41%96.52%--
Northeastern Illinois University4-Year College, public3.39%12.92%18.67%--
Oakton CollegeCommunity College14.98%-27.85%28%76%
Oehrlein School of CosmetologyTrade School30.23%-88.37%--
Olivet Nazarene University4-Year College, private57.24%65.77%66.62%--
Parkland CollegeCommunity College17.79%-33.60%20%63%
Prairie State CollegeCommunity College4.81%-15.71%20%52%
Principia College4-Year College, private59.82%72.32%76.79%--
Professional's Choice Hair Design AcademyTrade School6.82%-77.27%5%80%
Quincy University4-Year College, private39.51%47.20%50.00%--
Rend Lake CollegeCommunity College43.50%-55.61%12%65%
Richland Community CollegeCommunity College32.27%-40.00%14%71%
Rock Valley CollegeCommunity College13.43%-36.50%11%64%
Rockford University4-Year College, private31.69%38.03%40.14%--
Roosevelt University4-Year College, private37.44%41.55%42.75%24%60%
Dominican University4-Year College, private46.86%57.00%58.62%29%75%
Rush University4-Year College, private-----
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing4-Year College, private-----
University of St Francis4-Year College, private46.73%63.55%64.95%--
St. John's College-Department of Nursing4-Year College, private-----
Saint Xavier University4-Year College, private39.29%50.65%52.76%27%71%
Sauk Valley Community CollegeCommunity College26.28%-45.62%16%68%
Shawnee Community CollegeCommunity College38.24%-50.42%13%61%
St. Augustine College4-Year College, private-----
University of Saint Mary of the Lake4-Year College, private-----
Southeastern Illinois CollegeCommunity College26.64%-41.80%21%74%
National Latino Education InstituteTrade School--100.00%--
Spertus College4-Year College, private-----
Spoon River CollegeCommunity College19.40%-41.04%11%54%
Saint Anthony College of Nursing4-Year College, private-----
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-SterlingTrade School2.70%-70.27%--
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale4-Year College, public35.02%45.85%48.58%--
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville4-Year College, public34.48%47.42%51.64%29%71%
Taylor Business InstituteCommunity College55.56%-55.56%--
Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago4-Year College, private-10.00%10.00%90%79%
South Suburban CollegeCommunity College9.95%-18.41%21%68%
Trinity Christian College4-Year College, private57.50%67.50%68.75%--
Trinity International University-Illinois4-Year College, private37.76%47.55%49.65%38%71%
Triton CollegeCommunity College19.11%-34.58%11%60%
University of Spa & Cosmetology ArtsTrade School2.00%-76.00%--
VanderCook College of Music4-Year College, private57.14%-57.14%--
Waubonsee Community CollegeCommunity College15.91%-33.37%18%69%
Oak Point University4-Year College, private-----
Western Illinois University4-Year College, public28.34%43.87%47.30%30%67%
Wheaton College4-Year College, private79.25%86.56%88.27%9%90%
William Rainey Harper CollegeCommunity College26.12%-43.74%17%73%
ETI School of Skilled TradesTrade School77.66%-77.66%--
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-RockfordTrade School13.51%-64.86%--
Northwestern College4-Year College, private-----
Bell Mar Beauty CollegeTrade School52.94%-52.94%--
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois IncCommunity College12.73%-49.75%--
Hairmasters Institute of CosmetologyTrade School74.51%-86.27%--
Capital Area Career CenterTrade School-----
Hair Professionals Career CollegeTrade School--90.00%--
Rosel School of CosmetologyTrade School80.00%-100.00%--
Worsham College of Mortuary ScienceCommunity College78.26%-78.26%8%88%
Pivot Point AcademyTrade School94.12%-95.59%--
Heartland Community CollegeCommunity College26.94%-40.33%11%76%
John Amico School of Hair DesignTrade School33.33%-77.78%--
Frontier Community CollegeCommunity College50.83%-55.83%34%67%
Lincoln Trail CollegeCommunity College44.08%-52.63%32%67%
Wabash Valley CollegeCommunity College46.67%-57.22%28%72%
G Skin & Beauty InstituteTrade School--72.73%--
Erikson Institute4-Year College, private-----
Career Center of Southern IllinoisTrade School60.87%-69.57%26%91%
Illinois Media SchoolTrade School57.14%-64.29%--
Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisTrade School66.63%-66.63%--
Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Skokie4-Year College, private-----
MDT College of Health SciencesTrade School33.33%-33.33%--
Pacific College of Health and Science4-Year College, private-----
NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia4-Year College, private-----
Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation, Inc.4-Year College, private-----
Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago4-Year College, private-----
Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage TherapyTrade School-----
CALC Institute of TechnologyTrade School100.00%-100.00%--
Estelle Medical AcademyTrade School97.87%-97.87%--
Rasmussen University-IllinoisCommunity College-----
Chamberlain University-Illinois4-Year College, private31.25%37.50%37.50%50%69%
University of Aesthetics & CosmetologyTrade School54.55%-63.64%--
The University of Aesthetics & CosmetologyTrade School72.73%-86.36%--
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NWTrade School--60.00%--
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Glendale HeightsTrade School25.00%-100.00%--
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-PeoriaTrade School--50.00%--
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-RockfordTrade School9.09%-63.64%--
Aveda Institute-ChicagoTrade School--58.06%--
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-LibertyvilleTrade School100.00%-100.00%--
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-BridgeviewTrade School16.67%-50.00%--
Capri Beauty CollegeTrade School--81.25%6%100%
Ambria College of Nursing4-Year College, private-----
Midwestern Career CollegeCommunity College50.00%-60.71%--
Paul Mitchell the School-NormalTrade School--78.05%--
Paul Mitchell the School-ChicagoTrade School--44.44%--
Universal Spa Training AcademyTrade School78.13%-93.75%--
Illinois Media School-Chicago CampusTrade School54.79%-63.01%--
Estelle Skin Care and Spa InstituteTrade School33.96%-90.57%--
State Career CollegeTrade School44.90%-57.14%--
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NETrade School11.11%-44.44%--
Reflections Academy of BeautyTrade School40.00%-40.00%--
Larry's Barber CollegeTrade School63.86%-63.86%--
Verve CollegeTrade School-----
Empire Beauty School-Vernon HillsTrade School5.56%-44.44%--
Empire Beauty School-Stone ParkTrade School2.04%-34.69%--
Trenz Beauty AcademyTrade School33.33%-57.14%--
DeVry University-Illinois4-Year College, private22.62%27.38%29.76%17%65%
Networks Barber CollegeTrade School7.55%-7.55%--
Paul Mitchell the School-LombardTrade School--60.00%--
Creative Touch Cosmetology SchoolTrade School--62.50%--
Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail TechnologyTrade School21.43%-64.29%--
HVAC Technical InstituteTrade School78.57%-78.57%--
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-ElginTrade School52.94%-88.24%--
CAAN Academy of NursingCommunity College-----
Phipps Academy of BarberingTrade School43.75%-56.25%--
Chicago Professional CenterTrade School-----
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career CollegeCommunity College31.67%-68.33%--
Ms Roberts Academy of Beauty CultureTrade School100.00%-100.00%--
Larry's Barber CollegeTrade School-----
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-NormalTrade School-----
Rasmussen University-Mokena/Tinley ParkCommunity College-----
Triton College - Intl Union of Operating Engr Local 399 Trning Fac.Community College-----
University of Notre Dame -4-Year College, private-----
Columbia College - Crystal Lake Campus4-Year College, private-----
Columbia College - Lake County4-Year College, private-----
Columbia College - Freeport4-Year College, private-----
Columbia College - Elgin4-Year College, private-----
SAE Institute of Technology-ChicagoCommunity College-----
Rasmussen University-AuroraCommunity College-----
Rasmussen University-Romeoville/JolietCommunity College-----
Zen Shiatsu ChicagoTrade School-----
Larry's Barber College-JolietTrade School-----
Americare Technical SchoolTrade School10.99%-12.45%--
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-ChicagoCommunity College-----
Stellar Career CollegeTrade School-----
Relay Graduate School of Education - Chicago4-Year College, private-----
Networks Barber College - ChicagoTrade School-----
Phipps Academy of Barbering - BradleyTrade School-----