Best Marketing Schools in Illinois

Illinois has 25 colleges offering Marketing programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 1,992 recent graduates. Graduates earn $43,541 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $42,098.

School choice matters significantly: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn $59,029 while Concordia University-Chicago graduates earn $37,748 — a $21,281 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in IL

$43,541

IL Avg. Earnings

$42,098

National Avg.

572

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Marketing in Illinois

Public Schools (8)

$42,953

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (17)

$43,855

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $902 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Marketing Schools in Illinois, Ranked by Earnings

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$59,029

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $55,615

Graduates: 138

Acceptance: 43.7%

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$47,729

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $46,476

Graduates: 162

Acceptance: 81.4%

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

$48,494

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $48,012

Graduates: 261

Acceptance: 73.5%

Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public

$46,589

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $45,387

Graduates: 311

Acceptance: 89.0%

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public

$45,127

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,627

Graduates: 192

Acceptance: 70.5%

Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private

$44,170

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,008

Graduates: 39

Acceptance: 76.7%

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, IL · Private

$51,690

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,014

Graduates: 41

Acceptance: 75.7%

Millikin University

Decatur, IL · Private

$50,439

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,685

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 54.0%

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public

$42,086

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,997

Graduates: 182

Acceptance: 78.5%

#10

North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private

$43,000

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,795

Graduates: 92

Acceptance: 58.3%

#11

Benedictine University

Lisle, IL · Private

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,631

Graduates: 33

Acceptance: 77.2%

#12

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public

$34,704

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,642

Graduates: 58

Acceptance: 70.4%

#13

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public

$39,729

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,243

Graduates: 62

Acceptance: 75.0%

#14

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL · Private

McKendree University

Lebanon, IL · Private

$40,281

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $39,694

Graduates: 21

Acceptance: 63.9%

#16

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$40,355

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,175

Graduates: 75

Acceptance: 91.2%

#17

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, IL · Private

$39,369

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,827

Graduates: 36

Acceptance: 85.8%

#18

Aurora University

Aurora, IL · Private

$46,087

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,164

Graduates: 49

Acceptance: 85.1%

#19

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL · Public

$40,768

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,850

Graduates: 67

Acceptance: 67.8%

#20

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, IL · Private

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $45,322

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 63.9%

#22

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

$35,594

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,993

Graduates: 69

Acceptance: 90.4%

#23

Roosevelt University

Chicago, IL · Private

$45,794

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,506

Graduates: 33

Acceptance: 94.3%

#24

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL · Private

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,474

Graduates: 32

Acceptance: 66.9%

#25

Concordia University-Chicago

River Forest, IL · Private

$37,748

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 93.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Marketing in Illinois?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks #1 for Marketing in Illinois with median graduate earnings of $59,029 within two years of graduation. There are 25 schools offering Marketing programs in the state.

How much do Marketing graduates earn in Illinois?

Marketing graduates in Illinois earn an average of $43,541 within two years of graduation. This is 3% above the national average of $42,098 for this major.

What is the hardest Marketing school to get into in Illinois?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the most selective Marketing program in Illinois with an acceptance rate of 43.7%. The average acceptance rate across Marketing programs in the state is 75.5%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Marketing in Illinois?

In Illinois, private Marketing programs produce average earnings of $43,855 vs $42,953 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 8 public and 17 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Illinois

Chemical Engineering $69,173 Computer Science $66,656 Computer Engineering $65,978 Biomedical/Medical Engineering $64,764 Civil Engineering $61,502 Construction Management $60,021 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering $58,932 Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other $57,318

All colleges in Illinois →

Marketing in Other States

Texas Pennsylvania Ohio New York Michigan California Florida Indiana Minnesota Georgia Massachusetts Missouri View All →

Get Marketing Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI analysis by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.