Best MBA Programs in Illinois
Illinois houses two of the world's most elite MBA programs — Chicago Booth (#1 in finance and analytics) and Northwestern Kellogg (#3 in marketing and general management). Combined with the University of Illinois Gies' innovative iMBA and strong regionals like Loyola and DePaul, Illinois offers MBA pathways at every tier and price point.
Illinois MBA Graduate Outcomes
Median base salary within 3 months of graduation. Employment rates from school-reported data.
| School | Median Salary | Employment Rate | Specialties |
|---|---|---|---|
UChicago (Booth) | $185,000 | 97% | Finance Consulting Analytics |
Northwestern (Kellogg) | $180,000 | 96% | Marketing Consulting Tech |
U of Illinois (Gies) | $125,000 | 91% | Tech Analytics Consulting |
Loyola Chicago (Quinlan) | $100,000 | 88% | Finance Supply Chain Ethics |
DePaul (Kellstadt) | $95,000 | 86% | Marketing Real Estate Finance |
Illinois Tech (Stuart) | $90,000 | 85% | Analytics Finance Operations |
NIU College of Business | $80,000 | 83% | Accounting Operations |
SIU (Carbondale) | $75,000 | 80% | Agribusiness Healthcare Admin |
UChicago (Booth)
Median Salary
$185,000
Employment
97%
Northwestern (Kellogg)
Median Salary
$180,000
Employment
96%
U of Illinois (Gies)
Median Salary
$125,000
Employment
91%
Loyola Chicago (Quinlan)
Median Salary
$100,000
Employment
88%
DePaul (Kellstadt)
Median Salary
$95,000
Employment
86%
Illinois Tech (Stuart)
Median Salary
$90,000
Employment
85%
NIU College of Business
Median Salary
$80,000
Employment
83%
SIU (Carbondale)
Median Salary
$75,000
Employment
80%
Illinois MBA Job Markets
Chicago Loop
Consulting & Finance
Chicago Loop
Consulting & Finance
McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and Goldman Sachs all have major Chicago offices. The Loop is the Midwest's financial and consulting epicenter.
Chicago (North Shore)
Corporate HQ & CPG
Chicago (North Shore)
Corporate HQ & CPG
Abbott, AbbVie, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and Mondelez drive CPG and pharma MBA roles along the North Shore.
Evanston–Skokie
Marketing & Innovation
Evanston–Skokie
Marketing & Innovation
Northwestern/Kellogg's backyard. Marketing-focused MBAs benefit from proximity to major brand HQs.
Champaign–Urbana
Tech & Online MBA
Champaign–Urbana
Tech & Online MBA
U of Illinois Gies runs the world's most successful online MBA (iMBA) alongside growing tech companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best MBA program in Illinois?
Chicago Booth is #1 in Illinois and consistently ranked #1–#3 globally, especially for finance and analytics. Northwestern Kellogg (#3–#6) is the top choice for marketing, consulting, and general management. Both are among the most elite MBA programs in the world.
How much does an MBA cost in Illinois?
Chicago Booth: $80,000/year. Northwestern Kellogg: $82,000/year. U of Illinois Gies: $25,000/year (in-state). The Gies iMBA (online) costs under $25,000 total — one of the best values in graduate business education.
Is Chicago good for MBA careers?
Excellent. Chicago is the #3 US market for MBA hiring behind NYC and SF. Lower cost of living than coastal cities, strong consulting presence (all MBB firms have offices), and corporate HQ concentration make it one of the highest-ROI MBA markets.
What is the Illinois Gies iMBA?
The Gies iMBA is a fully online MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, offered through Coursera. At under $25,000 total, it's one of the most affordable accredited MBAs in the country and has graduated over 5,000 students since launching in 2016.
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