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Key Takeaways
Best information technology degree programs: Northwestern, U of Illinois Urbana-Cham..., DeVry University-Illinois
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $5,640 to $64,887/year
Southwestern Illinois Col... offers the most affordable option at $6,120/yr
Information Technology degree programs available: 21 associate's, 15 master's, 2 doctoral in Illinois
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
27 online information technology degree programs in Illinois
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
Illinois community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
21 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Salesforce, Google, Groupon, Grubhub
Tech hubs in Chicago and Naperville
Hakia Research 2026
Information Technology degree programs near 113+ cities across Illinois
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked Illinois Information Technology programs
We rank 68 accredited information technology programs in Illinois using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Are Information Technology Degree Programs in Illinois Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Information Technology Degree Rankings in Illinois
Compare the top-ranked Information Technology programs in Illinois by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Information Technology Programs in Illinois
Program Landscape
Illinois offers 21 accredited associate's degree programs in information technology, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include DeVry University-Illinois, Southwestern Illinois Col..., Lake Land College, which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in Illinois offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $9,544/yr, significantly less than four-year university tuition. Students completing associate's degrees can pursue entry-level technical positions and transfer opportunities, with entry-level salaries averaging $62,260 in Illinois.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with Illinois's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Chicago, Naperville, Champaign areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like Salesforce, Google, Groupon hiring for technical support, junior development, and IT specialist positions.
Curriculum & Specializations
Programs typically include coursework in programming fundamentals, database management, networking basics, and software development. Among information technology schools in Illinois, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their information technology degrees in Illinois.
Show all 13 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Rock Valley College | Rockford, IL | Public | $6,795 | 37% | 74.7 |
| #7 | Spoon River College | Canton, IL | Public | $11,295 | 42% | 73.7 |
| #8 | Black Hawk College | Moline, IL | Public | $7,950 | 40% | 73.5 |
| #9 | McHenry County College | Crystal Lake, IL | Public | $9,875 | 37% | 72.1 |
| #10 | Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville, IL | Public | $7,470 | 36% | 71.0 |
| #11 | DeVry University-Illinois | Lisle, IL | Private for-profit | $16,448 | 37% | 68.9 |
| #12 | Morton College | Cicero, IL | Public | $8,256 | 31% | 62.1 |
| #13 | Prairie State College | Chicago Heights, IL | Public | $8,610 | 21% | 61.1 |
Best Bachelor's Information Technology Programs in Illinois
Program Landscape
Illinois ranks among the nation's top destinations for information technology education, with 30 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 8 public and 21 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are Northwestern, U of Illinois Urbana-Cham..., DeVry University-Illinois, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Illinois information technology programs earn a median salary of $96,220, 2% below the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Chicago, Naperville, Champaign metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Salesforce, Google, Groupon.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $7,872 to $64,887 annually, with an average of $26,732/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 81%, with the highest reaching 99%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to Illinois's leading technology employers. For students seeking information technology degrees in Illinois, these top-ranked information technology schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Show all 11 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Lewis University | Romeoville, IL | Private nonprofit | $38,800 | 67% | 76.6 |
| #7 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL | Public | $11,215 | 65% | 76.1 |
| #8 | Western Illinois University | Macomb, IL | Public | $9,662 | 45% | 74.4 |
| #9 | Governors State University | University Park, IL | Public | $8,232 | 22% | 74.3 |
| #10 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale, IL | Public | $9,638 | 62% | 74.0 |
| #11 | DeVry University-Illinois | Lisle, IL | Private for-profit | $16,448 | 37% | 62.5 |
Best Master's Information Technology Programs in Illinois
Program Landscape
Illinois offers 15 master's degree programs in information technology, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, U of Illinois Urbana-Cham..., Northwestern, Illinois Institute of Tec..., combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Illinois earn a median salary of $113,200, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Chicago, Naperville, Champaign creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Salesforce, Google, Groupon actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $30,557/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among Illinois's information technology schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Information Technology Degree Costs & Tuition in Illinois
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $20,563/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $51,408/year |
| Community college tuition | $5,141/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $123,380 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $30,844 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid for Illinois Information Technology Students
Verdict: Illinois IT students benefit from substantial state aid (Illinois MAP Grant, Illinois Commitment at UIUC) combined with one of the largest US Chicago enterprise IT operations markets: Chicago-area Wall Street IT operations (JPMorgan Chase Chicago IT, Bank of America Chicago IT, Citi Chicago IT, Northern Trust Chicago IT, Chicago is substantially the largest US bank IT operations market outside NYC), plus substantial Chicago HFT IT operations (DRW IT, Jump Trading IT, Citadel Securities Chicago IT, Optiver Chicago IT, Belvedere Trading IT, HRT Chicago IT), plus Boeing Defense IT (Chicago HQ), Caterpillar IT, Walgreens IT, plus substantial State of Illinois IT operations.
Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant provides need-based aid for Illinois residents at participating Illinois institutions (up to ~$8,400/year for highest-need students). The Illinois Commitment at UIUC covers full tuition for Illinois resident families earning under $75,000. Northern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Edwardsville, Eastern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University all offer affordable in-state tuition for substantial IT programs.
Illinois's IT-specific institutional aid is concentrated at: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Information Sciences (iSchool) with substantial IT programs. DePaul University Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media has substantial IT programs with strong Chicago industry placement. Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) has IT programs with substantial Chicago tech industry placement. Loyola University Chicago has IT programs. The Chicago-area community college IT certification + AAS-IT degree programs at City Colleges of Chicago (Wright College specifically), College of DuPage, Harper College, Joliet Junior College, and College of Lake County provide substantial IT credentialing pathways.
Industry-track scholarships and tuition reimbursement from Illinois-based IT employers, Chicago-area Wall Street IT operations (JPMorgan Chase Chicago IT, Bank of America Chicago IT, Citi Chicago IT, Northern Trust Chicago IT, BMO Harris Chicago IT, Chicago is substantially the largest US bank IT operations market outside NYC), Chicago HFT IT operations (DRW IT, Jump Trading IT, Citadel Securities Chicago IT, Optiver Chicago IT), Boeing Defense IT (Chicago HQ), Caterpillar IT (Peoria + Deerfield HQ), Walgreens IT (Deerfield HQ), Allstate IT (Northbrook HQ), Discover Financial IT (Riverwoods HQ), United Airlines IT (Chicago HQ, substantial airline operations IT), Abbott IT (Abbott Park HQ), AbbVie IT (North Chicago HQ), plus the substantial Chicago MSP and IT consulting industry (Accenture Chicago, Deloitte Chicago, EY Chicago, IBM Chicago, McKinsey Digital Chicago), provide additional funding most students don't pursue.
Information Technology Degree ROI Calculator, Illinois
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a information technology degree in Illinois. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Information Technology Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a information technology degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+639%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,183,033
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
6 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$109,524
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Information Technology Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in Illinois metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Chicago | $125K |
| Naperville | $119K |
| Champaign | $113K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Information Technology Graduates in Illinois
Find information technology jobs in Illinois. These major employers across Illinois metro areas are actively hiring information technology degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Information Technology Jobs in Chicago
ILChicago is a fintech and trading technology hub. CME Group and numerous trading firms drive demand for tech talent.
Nearby cities: Evanston, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, Naperville, Aurora, Downers Grove, Skokie
Illinois Tech Industry & Infrastructure
Illinois — and specifically the Chicago metro — is the largest US Midwest tech hub and uniquely combines financial-services tech (CBOE, CME Group, Citadel before its move, Morningstar) with a deep enterprise/IT employer base (Caterpillar, Boeing, Walgreens, McDonald's IT). The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign CS program is one of the largest CS-graduate producers in the country.
Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Trading and financial-services tech hub (CBOE, CME Group, Citadel Securities, Jump Trading), plus major Chicago offices for Google, Meta, Salesforce. Northwestern, UChicago, and UIUC alumni concentrate here.
Urbana-Champaign
Champaign metro
UIUC research and startup spinout hub. UIUC's CS program produces one of the largest US bachelor's CS graduate cohorts; Research Park hosts engineering offices for John Deere, Yahoo, ADM, and others.
Illinois has a flat-rate state income tax. The state offers EDGE tax credits for qualifying tech-employer investments.
Illinois Regulation Affecting Information Technology Graduates
Illinois has the most stringent biometric-privacy law in the United States. For ML, AI, and identity-verification engineers, Illinois BIPA is a foundational compliance constraint that has reshaped product design at major US tech employers.
Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)
Strictest US biometric privacy law. Requires written consent before collecting, storing, or using biometric identifiers (fingerprints, facial geometry, voiceprints). Provides a private right of action — including statutory damages of $1,000-$5,000 per violation.
Critical for any engineer building face-recognition, fingerprint, voice-print, or similar biometric features. BIPA litigation has produced settlements in the hundreds of millions (Facebook: $650M, TikTok: $92M). Most major US tech companies have modified product behavior specifically to avoid BIPA exposure.
Read moreIllinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
Requires reasonable security measures for personal information and sets data-breach notification requirements.
Standard data-protection compliance for any IL-resident-serving business.
Read moreIllinois Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act
Employers using AI to analyze video interviews must notify candidates, obtain consent, explain how the AI works, and limit data sharing.
AI/ML engineers building hiring-tech serving Illinois employers must implement consent flows and AI-explanation interfaces.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in Illinois
Illinois does not currently administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. Standard engineering PE disciplines (mechanical, electrical) require ABET-EAC accreditation; software engineering specifically is not a Illinois-recognized PE discipline.
Illinois licensing boardIllinois Financial Aid Programs
Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant
State grantUp to ~$8,400/yr
Illinois residents with financial need at IL institutions
AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program
Merit-need hybridUp to in-state tuition coverage
Illinois residents with academic merit and financial need at IL public universities
Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship
State scholarshipUp to $7,500/yr
Minority IL residents pursuing teaching credentials; CS/tech education tracks eligible
Transfer Pathways for Illinois Information Technology Students
Verdict: Illinois's Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) provides robust IT-track transfer pathways at the foundational level. The IT-specific consideration is that IT-track transfer admission is substantially more accessible than CS-track admission at most Illinois 4-year institutions, often 40-70% for qualified transfer applicants.
Best Illinois community college IT-track-feeder schools: City Colleges of Chicago (Wright College specifically, strong UIC and DePaul IT transfer record), College of DuPage (suburban Chicago, strong UIUC iSchool and IIT pathways, refined IT certification + AAS-IT programs), Harper College (NW suburbs, strong UIUC and IIT IT pathways), Joliet Junior College (SW suburbs, strong UIC and Lewis University IT pathways), College of Lake County (N suburbs, strong North Central College and Lake Forest College IT pathways), Parkland College (Champaign, geographically adjacent to UIUC). Each has refined IT certification + intro-CS sequences via IAI articulation.
The College of DuPage → UIUC iSchool or IIT IT pathway is one of the most reliable Illinois community college IT progressions, refined IT certification + AAS-IT programs aligned to UIUC iSchool and IIT IT admissions. The Wright College → UIC IT pathway is the most accessible Chicago-area public IT optimization with substantial Chicago enterprise IT industry placement. The Harper College → DePaul Jarvis College IT pathway is the substantially-accessible private alternative with strong Chicago industry placement.
Beyond UIUC iSchool: DePaul University Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media has substantial IT programs with strong Chicago industry placement. Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) has IT programs with substantial Chicago tech industry placement. University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has substantially accessible IT-track admission with substantial Chicago industry placement. Northern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale offer affordable IT programs. For Illinois IT-track students, the UIUC iSchool pathway is the strong public flagship optimization; UIC is the accessible Chicago-area public optimization; DePaul is the accessible private Chicago optimization; IIT is the private Chicago tech optimization; Northern Illinois and Illinois State are the affordable comprehensive alternatives.
Illinois's Tech Ecosystem
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024, CompTIA State of Tech Workforce 2025, Glassdoor
Illinois Information Technology Job Market & Salary
Verdict: Illinois has one of the largest US Information Technology job markets, with industry composition substantially driven by Chicago-area Wall Street IT operations (Chicago is substantially the largest US bank IT operations market outside NYC, JPMorgan Chase Chicago IT, Bank of America Chicago IT, Citi Chicago IT, Northern Trust Chicago IT, BMO Harris Chicago IT, plus the substantial Wintrust, BMO, and broader Chicago banking IT operations), plus Chicago HFT IT operations, plus Boeing Defense IT (Chicago HQ), Caterpillar IT, Walgreens IT, Allstate IT, Discover Financial IT, United Airlines IT, Abbott IT, AbbVie IT, plus substantial State of Illinois IT operations. Chicago IT compensation is meaningfully lower than NYC or Bay Area nominally but Chicago cost-of-living is substantially lower.
By metro: Chicago metro averages ~$85,000-$140,000 for IT support and systems administration roles with senior IT roles regularly $125,000-$190,000+ and IT leadership roles substantially higher. Chicago-area Wall Street IT operations are the dominant employer, JPMorgan Chase Chicago IT (one of JPMorgan's larger non-NYC IT operations supporting trading, capital markets, and wealth management), Bank of America Chicago IT, Citi Chicago IT, Northern Trust Chicago IT (one of the larger US trust company IT operations), BMO Harris Chicago IT, plus the substantial Chicago bank IT operations industry collectively employing tens of thousands of IT professionals. Chicago HFT IT operations at DRW IT, Jump Trading IT, Citadel Securities Chicago IT, Optiver Chicago IT, substantial low-latency trading IT operations with substantial compensation premium for HFT IT specialists.
Boeing Defense IT (Chicago HQ) is the substantial Illinois defense IT employer, Boeing Defense is headquartered in Arlington VA but maintains substantial Chicago HQ IT operations + the substantial Boeing Commercial Airplanes IT operations supporting commercial aerospace IT. Caterpillar IT (Peoria + Deerfield HQ, substantial industrial-IT operations supporting Caterpillar's substantial global heavy-equipment operations). Walgreens IT (Deerfield HQ, one of the larger US pharmacy/retail IT operations supporting Walgreens' substantial 9,000+ store retail operations). Allstate IT (Northbrook HQ, substantial insurance IT). Discover Financial IT (Riverwoods HQ, substantial credit-card-issuer IT). United Airlines IT (Chicago HQ, substantial airline operations IT). Abbott IT (Abbott Park HQ, substantial healthcare/diagnostics IT). AbbVie IT (North Chicago HQ, substantial pharma IT). State of Illinois IT at Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT).
Three Illinois IT-specific dynamics: (1) Chicago is substantially the largest US bank IT operations market outside NYC, providing substantial enterprise IT employment scale comparable to NYC Wall Street IT with substantially lower Chicago cost-of-living. (2) Chicago HFT IT operations provide substantial compensation premium for low-latency trading IT specialists, DRW IT, Jump Trading IT, Citadel Securities Chicago IT often pay $30,000-$80,000+ HFT IT salary premium for senior IT operations supporting trading infrastructure. (3) Illinois enterprise IT hiring stability through 2022-2024 broader tech downturns, Illinois enterprise IT (Wall Street IT operations Chicago + Boeing Defense IT + Caterpillar IT + Walgreens IT + Allstate IT + Discover IT) provided substantial IT employment stability during periods when commercial-tech IT hiring contracted. See IT Support Specialist Career Guide and Systems Administrator Career Guide.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Information Technology Programs in Illinois
Online Programs
27 available in Illinois
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Information Technology Programs in Other States
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- Median Tuition
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- Median Tuition
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- Median Tuition
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- Median Tuition
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- Total Programs
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- Median Tuition
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- Total Programs
- 27
- Median Tuition
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- Total Programs
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Information Technology Degree Programs in Illinois: FAQ
What are the best information technology degree programs in Illinois?
How much do information technology degree programs cost in Illinois?
What salary can information technology degree graduates earn in Illinois?
Are there online information technology degree programs in Illinois?
What companies hire information technology degree graduates in Illinois?
Is an information technology degree program worth it in Illinois?
How long do information technology degree programs take in Illinois?
What financial aid is available for information technology degree students in Illinois?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Illinois salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.