2025 Illinois Colleges Graduation Rate Comparison
For the academic year 2023-2024, the average graduation rate at Illinois colleges is 58.1%. The graduation rate is calculated by number of completers by dividing number of candidates. The completers have completed their degree/certificate within 150% of normal time, for example within 6 years for 4-years BS degree program. The average transfer-out rate is 22.1% and the average retention rate is 72.1% (full-time students).
Illinois College Graduation, Transfer-out, Retention Rate Statistics
The next list shows the colleges with the highest and lowest graduation rate and more relative statistics. For that, we include only 4-year colleges and having more than 500 enrolled students.
- University of Chicago has the highest graduation rate of 96% and Chicago State University has the lowest graduation rate of 15% and .
- Chamberlain University-Illinois has the highest transfer-out rate of 50% and Judson University has the lowest transfer-out rate of 1% and .
- University of Chicago has the highest retention rate of 99% and Trinity International University-Illinois has the lowest retention rate of 13% and .
Graduation Rate Comparison Between Illinois Colleges
The following table lists Illinois colleges with graduation, transfer-out, and retention rate. The graduation rate is based on the number of completers who completed their program within 150% normal time (i.e. within 6 years for 4 years B.S. degrees).
You can sort the table by column by clicking/touching column titles and narrow down the college list by using the buttons below.
| College Name | Graduation Rate | Transfer-out Rate | Retention Rate (full-time) | Retention Rate (part-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Academy of Art College Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 45% | 15% | 50% | 17 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 67% | 23% | 84% | 100 |
| Augustana College Rock Island, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 73% | - | 82% | - |
| Aurora University Aurora, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 60% | - | 77% | - |
| Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Public, 2-4 years | 36% | 17% | 68% | 55 |
| Black Hawk College Moline, IL Public, 2-4 years | 40% | 19% | 71% | 56 |
| Blackburn College Carlinville, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 57% | - | 67% | - |
| Bradley University Peoria, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 76% | - | 83% | 33 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Tinley Park Tinley Park, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 60% | - | 80% | - |
| Cameo Beauty Academy Oak Lawn, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 59% | - | 50% | 100 |
| Cannella School of Hair Design-Villa Park Villa Park, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 71% | - | 100% | 50 |
| Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 58% | - | 75% | 75 |
| Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 53% | - | 71% | 77 |
| Capri Beauty College Oak Forest, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 50% | - | 100% | 100 |
| Carl Sandburg College Galesburg, IL Public, 2-4 years | 50% | 15% | 63% | 41 |
| Chicago State University Chicago, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 15% | 37% | 57% | 31 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 96% | - | 99% | - |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Chicago, IL Public, 2-4 years | 31% | 10% | 50% | 25 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago, IL Public, 2-4 years | 18% | 13% | 56% | 43 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College Chicago, IL Public, 2-4 years | 21% | 20% | 44% | 40 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Chicago, IL Public, 2-4 years | 32% | 17% | 59% | 43 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College Chicago, IL Public, 2-4 years | 27% | 11% | 63% | 39 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Chicago, IL Public, 2-4 years | 26% | 13% | 59% | 44 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL Public, 2-4 years | 31% | 15% | 72% | 51 |
| Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 52% | 28% | 66% | 23 |
| Concordia University-Chicago River Forest, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 36% | 30% | 61% | 38 |
| Danville Area Community College Danville, IL Public, 2-4 years | 45% | 19% | 65% | 49 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture Urbana, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 53% | - | 80% | 73 |
| DePaul University Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 68% | 18% | 86% | 75 |
| Cosmetology & Spa Academy Crystal Lake, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 70% | - | 85% | 75 |
| College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Public, 2-4 years | 25% | 27% | 66% | 52 |
| East-West University Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 16% | - | 37% | - |
| Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 47% | 29% | 72% | 67 |
| Elgin Community College Elgin, IL Public, 2-4 years | 41% | 18% | 77% | 57 |
| Elmhurst University Elmhurst, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 70% | 30% | 80% | - |
| Eureka College Eureka, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 42% | 34% | 50% | - |
| First Institute of Travel, Inc. Crystal Lake, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 72% | - | - | - |
| Fox College Tinley Park, IL Private, 2-4 years | 71% | - | 69% | - |
| Gem City College Quincy, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 87% | - | 83% | - |
| Governors State University University Park, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 22% | 39% | 56% | 38 |
| Greenville University Greenville, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 40% | - | 71% | 100 |
| G Skin & Beauty Institute Schaumburg, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 64% | 2% | 83% | 71 |
| Hair Professionals Career College Sycamore, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 67% | - | 67% | 80 |
| Hair Professionals School of Cosmetology Oswego, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 63% | - | 80% | 88 |
| Hebrew Theological College Skokie, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 50% | 26% | 86% | 50 |
| Highland Community College Freeport, IL Public, 2-4 years | 45% | 19% | 70% | 49 |
| University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 62% | - | 80% | 48 |
| Benedictine University Lisle, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 50% | - | 66% | - |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 85% | - | 95% | 44 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 75% | 19% | 80% | - |
| Illinois Central College East Peoria, IL Public, 2-4 years | 49% | 15% | 70% | 53 |
| Illinois College Jacksonville, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 64% | - | 71% | - |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney, IL Public, 2-4 years | 63% | 16% | 66% | 49 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 75% | - | 86% | 33 |
| Illinois State University Normal, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 65% | - | 81% | 50 |
| Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, IL Public, 2-4 years | 42% | 18% | 71% | 62 |
| John A Logan College Carterville, IL Public, 2-4 years | 46% | 14% | 66% | 45 |
| John Wood Community College Quincy, IL Public, 2-4 years | 49% | 17% | 64% | 55 |
| Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL Public, 2-4 years | 21% | 26% | 67% | 40 |
| Judson University Elgin, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 60% | 1% | 59% | - |
| Kankakee Community College Kankakee, IL Public, 2-4 years | 32% | 21% | 57% | 50 |
| Kaskaskia College Centralia, IL Public, 2-4 years | 49% | 16% | 64% | 58 |
| Kishwaukee College Malta, IL Public, 2-4 years | 45% | 16% | 74% | 43 |
| Knox College Galesburg, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 68% | 16% | 83% | - |
| Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Peru PERU, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 83% | - | 91% | - |
| College of Lake County Grayslake, IL Public, 2-4 years | 37% | 16% | 72% | 59 |
| Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 78% | 16% | 90% | - |
| Lake Land College Mattoon, IL Public, 2-4 years | 58% | 12% | 72% | 44 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, IL Public, 2-4 years | 44% | 15% | 70% | 50 |
| Lewis University Romeoville, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 67% | - | 79% | 40 |
| Lincoln Christian University Lincoln, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 58% | - | - | - |
| Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL Public, 2-4 years | 48% | 11% | 72% | 54 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park Melrose Park, IL Private, 2-4 years | 68% | - | 62% | - |
| Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 73% | 1% | 82% | 60 |
| Steven Papageorge Hair Academy Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 50% | - | 100% | 100 |
| Generations College Chicago, IL Private, 2-4 years | 11% | 13% | 26% | - |
| McHenry County College Crystal Lake, IL Public, 2-4 years | 37% | 20% | 71% | 47 |
| McKendree University Lebanon, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 53% | - | 67% | 100 |
| Methodist College Peoria, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 20% | 40% | - | - |
| Millikin University Decatur, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 55% | - | 75% | - |
| Monmouth College Monmouth, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 65% | 29% | 74% | - |
| Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 62% | - | 84% | 57 |
| Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL Public, 2-4 years | 40% | 19% | 75% | 56 |
| Morrison Institute of Technology Morrison, IL Private, 2-4 years | 90% | - | 89% | - |
| Morton College Cicero, IL Public, 2-4 years | 31% | 17% | 66% | 43 |
| National Louis University Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 30% | 1% | 50% | 26 |
| Cosmetology Concepts Niles Niles, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 100% | - | - | 80 |
| North Central College Naperville, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 64% | 35% | 77% | - |
| North Park University Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 58% | - | 62% | - |
| Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 49% | - | 70% | 30 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 95% | - | 98% | - |
| Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 22% | - | 52% | 46 |
| Oakton College Des Plaines, IL Public, 2-4 years | 37% | 25% | 69% | 53 |
| Oehrlein School of Cosmetology East Peoria, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 81% | - | 100% | - |
| Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 61% | - | 71% | - |
| Parkland College Champaign, IL Public, 2-4 years | 32% | 26% | 70% | 55 |
| Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL Public, 2-4 years | 21% | 28% | 51% | 49 |
| Principia College Elsah, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 74% | - | 83% | - |
| Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy Joliet, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 82% | 9% | 86% | - |
| Quincy University Quincy, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 45% | - | 70% | - |
| Rend Lake College Ina, IL Public, 2-4 years | 63% | 13% | 64% | 44 |
| Richland Community College Decatur, IL Public, 2-4 years | 60% | 13% | 60% | 40 |
| Rock Valley College Rockford, IL Public, 2-4 years | 37% | 16% | 70% | 52 |
| Rockford University Rockford, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 47% | 19% | 65% | - |
| Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 35% | 13% | 62% | 20 |
| Dominican University River Forest, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 55% | 31% | 78% | 67 |
| University of St Francis Joliet, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 67% | - | 79% | - |
| Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 57% | 25% | 76% | - |
| University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 53% | - | 75% | 40 |
| Sauk Valley Community College Dixon, IL Public, 2-4 years | 49% | 17% | 74% | 56 |
| Shawnee Community College Ullin, IL Public, 2-4 years | 60% | 19% | 67% | 36 |
| Southeastern Illinois College Harrisburg, IL Public, 2-4 years | 55% | 22% | 66% | 35 |
| National Latino Education Institute Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 100% | - | - | - |
| Spoon River College Canton, IL Public, 2-4 years | 42% | 22% | 66% | 83 |
| Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling Sterling, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 59% | - | 82% | - |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 62% | - | 67% | 28 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 57% | 23% | 76% | 55 |
| Taylor Business Institute Chicago, IL Private, 2-4 years | 59% | 11% | 64% | - |
| South Suburban College South Holland, IL Public, 2-4 years | 28% | 26% | 63% | 41 |
| Trinity Christian College Palos Heights, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 58% | - | 81% | - |
| Trinity International University-Illinois Deerfield, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 46% | 40% | 13% | 17 |
| Triton College River Grove, IL Public, 2-4 years | 29% | 15% | 68% | 44 |
| University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts Springfield, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 64% | - | 74% | 75 |
| VanderCook College of Music Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 67% | - | 88% | - |
| Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL Public, 2-4 years | 39% | 20% | 70% | 56 |
| Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Public, 4 years four-years | 45% | 31% | 61% | 18 |
| Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 85% | - | 93% | - |
| William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL Public, 2-4 years | 48% | 17% | 77% | 58 |
| ETI School of Skilled Trades Willowbrook, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 80% | - | 64% | 75 |
| Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Rockford Rockford, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 65% | - | 70% | - |
| Northwestern College Oak Lawn, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 34% | - | - | - |
| Bell Mar Beauty College Cicero, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 67% | - | 100% | 80 |
| Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc Lisle, IL Private, 2-4 years | 63% | 1% | 77% | - |
| Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology Bloomington, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 83% | - | 86% | 89 |
| Capital Area Career Center Springfield, IL Public, Less than 2 years | 100% | - | 90% | - |
| Hair Professionals Career College Palos Hills, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 71% | - | 100% | 87 |
| Rosel School of Cosmetology Niles, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 88% | - | 100% | 100 |
| Worsham College of Mortuary Science Wheeling, IL Private, 2-4 years | 74% | 26% | 88% | - |
| Pivot Point Academy Bloomingdale, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 91% | - | 95% | - |
| Heartland Community College Normal, IL Public, 2-4 years | 54% | 13% | 74% | 57 |
| John Amico School of Hair Design Oak Forest, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 84% | - | 100% | 72 |
| Frontier Community College Fairfield, IL Public, 2-4 years | 53% | 37% | 68% | 47 |
| Lincoln Trail College Robinson, IL Public, 2-4 years | 47% | 46% | 70% | 61 |
| Wabash Valley College Mount Carmel, IL Public, 2-4 years | 59% | 36% | 66% | 42 |
| G Skin & Beauty Institute Oakbrook, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 56% | - | 86% | 78 |
| Career Center of Southern Illinois Red Bud, IL Public, Less than 2 years | 57% | - | 100% | - |
| Illinois Media School Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 80% | - | 67% | - |
| Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois Springfield, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 69% | - | 78% | - |
| MDT College of Health Sciences Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 50% | - | 53% | 73 |
| Pacific College of Health and Science Chicago, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 78% | - | - | - |
| CALC Institute of Technology Alton, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 50% | 25% | 100% | 63 |
| Estelle Medical Academy Skokie, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 86% | - | - | - |
| Rasmussen University-Illinois Rockford, IL Private, 2-4 years | 43% | - | 53% | 35 |
| Chamberlain University-Illinois Addison, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 42% | 50% | 73% | 20 |
| University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 100% | - | 79% | 29 |
| The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Downers Grove, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 72% | - | 100% | 70 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Glendale Heights Glendale Heights, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 50% | - | 89% | 89 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Peoria Peoria, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 100% | - | 55% | 50 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford Rockford, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 78% | - | 89% | 48 |
| The Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness Chicago Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 78% | - | 80% | - |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville Libertyville, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 84% | - | 79% | 80 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview Bridgeview, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 67% | - | 77% | 67 |
| Capri Beauty College New Lenox, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 96% | - | 100% | - |
| Midwestern Career College Chicago, IL Private, 2-4 years | 54% | - | 69% | - |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Normal Normal, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 60% | - | 100% | 100 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 60% | - | 91% | - |
| Universal Spa Training Academy Downers Grove, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 97% | - | 100% | 100 |
| Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 61% | - | 53% | - |
| Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute Skokie, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 86% | - | - | - |
| State Career College Gurnee, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 74% | - | 78% | - |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NE Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 53% | - | 63% | 85 |
| Reflections Academy of Beauty Decatur, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 50% | - | 5% | - |
| Larry's Barber College Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 63% | - | 38% | - |
| Empire Beauty School-Vernon Hills Vernon Hills, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 70% | - | 73% | 50 |
| Empire Beauty School-Stone Park Stone Park, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 38% | - | 52% | 56 |
| Trenz Beauty Academy Calumet City, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 61% | - | 62% | 55 |
| DeVry University-Illinois Lisle, IL Private, 4 years four-years | 37% | 9% | 65% | 37 |
| Networks Barber College Calumet City, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 73% | 5% | 100% | - |
| Creative Touch Cosmetology School Waterloo, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 75% | - | 86% | - |
| Debutantes School of Cosmetology and Nail Technology Dekalb, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 63% | - | 83% | 87 |
| SAE Institute of Technology-Chicago Chicago, IL Private, 2-4 years | 31% | - | 30% | - |
| HVAC Technical Institute Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 86% | - | - | - |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin Elgin, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 89% | - | 85% | 69 |
| CAAN Academy of Nursing Matteson, IL Private, 2-4 years | 100% | - | - | - |
| Phipps Academy of Barbering Richton Park, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 76% | - | 50% | 89 |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Rockford, IL Private, 2-4 years | 66% | 1% | 74% | - |
| Ms Roberts Academy of Beauty Culture Hillside, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 44% | - | 63% | 20 |
| Larry's Barber College Chicago, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 88% | - | 23% | - |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Normal Normal, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 79% | - | 80% | 86 |
| Larry's Barber College-Joliet Joliet, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 91% | - | 13% | - |
| Americare Technical School Park Ridge, IL Private, Less than 2 years | 12% | - | - | 100 |
| Average | 58% | 22% | 72% | 57 |
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