Best Business Administration, Management and Operations Schools in Illinois

Illinois has 37 colleges offering Business Administration, Management and Operations programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 7,092 recent graduates. Graduates earn $43,778 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $42,386.

School choice matters significantly: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn $63,402 while East-West University graduates earn $26,353 — a $37,049 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in IL

$43,778

IL Avg. Earnings

$42,386

National Avg.

1179

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Business Administration, Management and Operations in Illinois

Public Schools (11)

$46,331

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (25)

$42,545

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools in Illinois produce comparable or higher early earnings for Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates, often at lower cost — making them strong value options.

Business Administration, Management and Operations Schools in Illinois, Ranked by Earnings

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$63,402

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $64,736

Graduates: 133

Acceptance: 43.7%

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public

$57,318

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 78.5%

Roosevelt University

Chicago, IL · Private

$54,531

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,900

Graduates: 361

Acceptance: 94.3%

Judson University

Elgin, IL · Private

$52,733

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $47,188

Graduates: 84

Acceptance: 63.1%

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public

$51,511

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $48,290

Graduates: 187

Acceptance: 70.5%

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$51,169

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $52,064

Graduates: 107

Acceptance: 81.4%

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, IL · Private

$50,356

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $45,302

Graduates: 76

Acceptance: 45.2%

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

$47,846

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,679

Graduates: 33

Acceptance: 90.4%

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public

$47,260

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,519

Graduates: 90

Acceptance: 70.4%

#10

Augustana College

Rock Island, IL · Private

$47,148

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $47,529

Graduates: 143

Acceptance: 67.7%

#11

DeVry University-Illinois

Lisle, IL · For-Profit

$46,521

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $47,138

Graduates: 3,457

Acceptance: 43.3%

#12

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL · Private

$46,478

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,195

Graduates: 37

Acceptance: 72.7%

#13

Benedictine University

Lisle, IL · Private

$45,852

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,279

Graduates: 85

Acceptance: 77.2%

#14

North Park University

Chicago, IL · Private

$45,584

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,981

Graduates: 104

Acceptance: 72.8%

#15

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, IL · Private

$45,383

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $49,672

Graduates: 101

Acceptance: 75.7%

#16

Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public

$44,711

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,050

Graduates: 124

Acceptance: 89.0%

#17

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

$44,468

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,729

Graduates: 96

Acceptance: 73.5%

#18

Rockford University

Rockford, IL · Private

$43,798

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,730

Graduates: 37

Acceptance: 57.2%

#19

North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private

$43,240

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,923

Graduates: 77

Acceptance: 58.3%

#20

Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago, IL · Private

$42,774

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $46,407

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 55.4%

#21

Aurora University

Aurora, IL · Private

$42,185

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,547

Graduates: 126

Acceptance: 85.1%

#22

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public

$41,984

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $46,347

Graduates: 153

Acceptance: 75.0%

#23

McKendree University

Lebanon, IL · Private

$41,844

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,436

Graduates: 60

Acceptance: 63.9%

#24

Millikin University

Decatur, IL · Private

$41,193

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,249

Graduates: 70

Acceptance: 54.0%

#25

Dominican University

River Forest, IL · Private

$41,007

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,788

Graduates: 100

Acceptance: 79.8%

#26

Governors State University

University Park, IL · Public

$40,855

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,071

Graduates: 105

Acceptance: N/A

#27

University of Illinois Springfield

Springfield, IL · Public

$40,209

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,513

Graduates: 138

Acceptance: 84.4%

#28

Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private

$39,801

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $47,182

Graduates: 70

Acceptance: 76.7%

#29

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL · Private

$39,784

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,707

Graduates: 106

Acceptance: 66.9%

#30

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public

$38,103

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $39,899

Graduates: 327

Acceptance: 97.2%

#31

Concordia University-Chicago

River Forest, IL · Private

$36,848

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,339

Graduates: 24

Acceptance: 93.4%

#32

Monmouth College

Monmouth, IL · Private

$36,560

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,471

Graduates: 95

Acceptance: 86.6%

#33

Chicago State University

Chicago, IL · Public

$36,437

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,049

Graduates: 107

Acceptance: 40.5%

#34

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$36,124

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,500

Graduates: 177

Acceptance: 91.2%

#35

Eureka College

Eureka, IL · Private

$35,274

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,688

Graduates: 44

Acceptance: 88.5%

#36

Blackburn College

Carlinville, IL · Private

$33,138

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,105

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 80.1%

#37

East-West University

Chicago, IL · Private

$26,353

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,046

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Business Administration, Management and Operations in Illinois?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks #1 for Business Administration, Management and Operations in Illinois with median graduate earnings of $63,402 within two years of graduation. There are 37 schools offering Business Administration, Management and Operations programs in the state.

How much do Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates earn in Illinois?

Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates in Illinois earn an average of $43,778 within two years of graduation. This is 3% above the national average of $42,386 for this major.

What is the hardest Business Administration, Management and Operations school to get into in Illinois?

Chicago State University is the most selective Business Administration, Management and Operations program in Illinois with an acceptance rate of 40.5%. The average acceptance rate across Business Administration, Management and Operations programs in the state is 72.7%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Business Administration, Management and Operations in Illinois?

In Illinois, private Business Administration, Management and Operations programs produce average earnings of $42,545 vs $46,331 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 11 public and 25 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Illinois

Mathematics and Computer Science $76,967 Chemical Engineering $69,173 Industrial Engineering $69,102 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $68,897 Engineering, General $67,238 Computer Science $66,656 Computer Engineering $65,978 Materials Engineering $64,773

All colleges in Illinois →

Business Administration, Management and Operations in Other States

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.