Psychology Degree in Illinois - Best Programs for 2025

What is Psychology?

Illinois is a midwestern state that is more than cornfields and flat prairie. In fact, the state is home to the nation's third largest city, Chicago, a town that is also home to a powerhouse financial sector. Indeed, the state's top industry is professional and business services, with real estate coming in at a close second. Other top industries in Illinois include manufacturing, finance, and social services such as education, healthcare, and even mental healthcare.

We often think of a psychology professional as a counselor or another caregiver in the mental health field. However, psychology professionals are found in many other roles, as well. They work in the criminal justice system, for corporations, and in other less-obvious roles. Psychology professionals have a few things in common, however.

Essentially, a psychology professional is a person who specializes in the study of human behavior. This can include consumer behaviors as well as interpersonal interactions. Psychology professionals interact with the whole spectrum of behavior, so one might work with recovering addicts and the other could be involved with aggregating data from social media websites.

A psychology professional could spend their days working with people one-on-one in a clinical setting or they might have a career that is concerned with working on a computer for a corporate concern, and a large number of psychology professionals work for colleges and universities where they either teach or conduct research, though some do both.

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Best Illinois Online Colleges

Top Ranked Campus & Online Psychology Programs in Illinois

1

Northwestern University

Score: 91.36

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,997
- Out-of-State:$65,997
Net Price: $22,095
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Retention Rate: 98%

Graduation Rate: 97%
Total Enrollment: 23,161
Undergrad Students: 8,993
Graduate Students: 14,168
Grads Salary: $89,000
Student-to-faculty: 6:1

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2

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Score: 84.82

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,004
- Out-of-State:$34,501
Net Price: $14,544
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Retention Rate: 93%

Graduation Rate: 85%
Total Enrollment: 56,916
Undergrad Students: 35,120
Graduate Students: 21,796
Grads Salary: $84,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

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3

University of Chicago

Score: 81.12

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,939
- Out-of-State:$66,939
Net Price: $36,991
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Retention Rate: 99%

Graduation Rate: 96%
Total Enrollment: 18,339
Undergrad Students: 7,595
Graduate Students: 10,744
Grads Salary: $82,000
Student-to-faculty: 5:1

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4

University of St. Francis

Score: 77.89

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,000
- Out-of-State:$37,000
Net Price: $18,560
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 65%
Total Enrollment: 3,297
Undergrad Students: 1,414
Graduate Students: 1,883
Grads Salary: $88,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

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5

University of Illinois Chicago

Score: 76.28

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,338
- Out-of-State:$29,360
Net Price: $10,384
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 33,747
Undergrad Students: 21,807
Graduate Students: 11,940
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

6

Millikin University

Score: 74.96

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,670
- Out-of-State:$43,670
Net Price: $10,492
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 58%
Total Enrollment: 1,807
Undergrad Students: 1,708
Graduate Students: 99
Grads Salary: $78,000
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

7

Bradley University

Score: 74.04

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,680
- Out-of-State:$39,680
Net Price: $24,053
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Retention Rate: 83%

Graduation Rate: 76%
Total Enrollment: 5,552
Undergrad Students: 4,143
Graduate Students: 1,409
Grads Salary: $78,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

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8

Illinois Wesleyan University

Score: 73.24

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $55,704
- Out-of-State:$55,704
Net Price: $30,096
Acceptance Rate: 42%
Retention Rate: 82%

Graduation Rate: 79%
Total Enrollment: 1,527
Undergrad Students: 1,527
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

9

Augustana College

Score: 73.16

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $49,834
- Out-of-State:$49,834
Net Price: $24,660
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 81%

Graduation Rate: 78%
Total Enrollment: 2,349
Undergrad Students: 2,318
Graduate Students: 31
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

10

Lewis University

Score: 72.77

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,882
- Out-of-State:$37,882
Net Price: $19,184
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 81%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 6,513
Undergrad Students: 3,933
Graduate Students: 2,580
Grads Salary: $79,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

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11

Saint Xavier University

Score: 72.58

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,840
- Out-of-State:$36,840
Net Price: $11,302
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 53%
Total Enrollment: 3,523
Undergrad Students: 2,981
Graduate Students: 542
Grads Salary: $79,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

12

University of Illinois Springfield

Score: 71.64

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,252
- Out-of-State:$22,017
Net Price: $11,733
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Retention Rate: 76%

Graduation Rate: 53%
Total Enrollment: 4,198
Undergrad Students: 2,393
Graduate Students: 1,805
Grads Salary: $75,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

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13

Northern Illinois University

Score: 71.12

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,700
- Out-of-State:$12,700
Net Price: $13,884
Acceptance Rate: 71%
Retention Rate: 65%

Graduation Rate: 53%
Total Enrollment: 15,649
Undergrad Students: 11,429
Graduate Students: 4,220
Grads Salary: $78,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

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14

Lake Forest College

Score: 71.02

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $54,202
- Out-of-State:$54,202
Net Price: $27,839
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 78%
Total Enrollment: 1,753
Undergrad Students: 1,727
Graduate Students: 26
Grads Salary: $72,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

15

Methodist College

Score: 70.85

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,008
- Out-of-State:$18,008
Net Price: $35,578
Acceptance Rate: 33%
Retention Rate: 100%

Graduation Rate: 74%
Total Enrollment: 456
Undergrad Students: 433
Graduate Students: 23
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 7:1

16

Trinity Christian College

Score: 70.64

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,325
- Out-of-State:$20,325
Net Price: $18,822
Acceptance Rate: 71%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 69%
Total Enrollment: 908
Undergrad Students: 854
Graduate Students: 54
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

17

Olivet Nazarene University

Score: 70.48

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,940
- Out-of-State:$37,940
Net Price: $20,059
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 3,255
Undergrad Students: 2,519
Graduate Students: 736
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

18

North Park University

Score: 70.08

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,325
- Out-of-State:$35,325
Net Price: $19,029
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 55%
Total Enrollment: 2,660
Undergrad Students: 1,868
Graduate Students: 792
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

19

Wheaton College

Score: 69.35

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,930
- Out-of-State:$43,930
Net Price: $29,961
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Retention Rate: 90%

Graduation Rate: 88%
Total Enrollment: 2,885
Undergrad Students: 2,163
Graduate Students: 722
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

20

Western Illinois University

Score: 69.21

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,952
- Out-of-State:$14,952
Net Price: $11,213
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 47%
Total Enrollment: 7,643
Undergrad Students: 5,309
Graduate Students: 2,334
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

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21

North Central College

Score: 68.88

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,394
- Out-of-State:$44,394
Net Price: $25,285
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 63%
Total Enrollment: 2,695
Undergrad Students: 2,368
Graduate Students: 327
Grads Salary: $75,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

22

Knox College

Score: 68.84

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $55,587
- Out-of-State:$55,587
Net Price: $26,882
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 82%

Graduation Rate: 75%
Total Enrollment: 1,058
Undergrad Students: 1,058
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

23

DePaul University

Score: 68.81

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $44,460
- Out-of-State:$44,460
Net Price: $32,151
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Retention Rate: 84%

Graduation Rate: 69%
Total Enrollment: 20,917
Undergrad Students: 14,134
Graduate Students: 6,783
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

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24

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Score: 68.5

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,244
- Out-of-State:$13,244
Net Price: $16,990
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 49%
Total Enrollment: 11,107
Undergrad Students: 8,000
Graduate Students: 3,107
Grads Salary: $78,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

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25

Eastern Illinois University

Score: 68.44

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,403
- Out-of-State:$15,879
Net Price: $13,380
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Retention Rate: 71%

Graduation Rate: 55%
Total Enrollment: 8,857
Undergrad Students: 6,916
Graduate Students: 1,941
Grads Salary: $69,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

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Online Psychology Education in Illinois

Illinois' economy thus leans hard on mental health professionals including rehabilitation staffers, counselors, and psychologists. Not only does this sector of Illinois' economy produce a lot of revenue that is counted towards the state GDP, but it positively impacts every other industrial sector in the state. After all, when professionals in any field have personal troubles, they can turn to a psychological professional to help them overcome the difficulty and become a more effective person and worker.

To that end, Illinois' state legislature is interested in making sure that Illinois residents have ample access to psychological services. When Illinois' workers are happier, they are able to produce more for the state, and they even help maintain a more civil and functional society. To achieve these goals, Illinois supports its public colleges and universities with funds that, in part, fund psychology departments.

Illinois' psychology departments then are tasked with finding the best faculty members for their departments. They seek out top academic professionals from across the nation and offer them the best possible compensation in return for top instruction and research.

Find Your Online Psychology Program

Illinois' psychology departments also seek out instructors from their local area. Licensed counselors from Illinois may be best able to teach students in master’s clinical psychology programs. They can help students understand and work within the state's licensing requirements. They may also have special insights into issues that may face local clients. For instance, a Chicago counselor may see patterns related to Chicago's notoriously harsh winters and the general stress of urban living.

Online Associate (AS)

There are many ways to launch a career in psychology, and an associate psychology degree is a great one. A two-year degree from an Illinois community college or a city college in Chicago can provide a strong foundation for later learning that psychology professionals will rely on for a lifetime. Though many will aspire to a master’s psychology degree, an entry-level position with an associate psychology degree will have long-term value for any psychology professional.

An associate psychology degree can kick-start a career in addiction counseling, for instance. Illinois community colleges also require that students complete the core college curriculum for their degree. Those courses provide students with much needed soft skills, such as communications and research skills. Those skills have immediate value in the workplace and will later help professionals complete a bachelor’s psychology degree.

Online Bachelors (BS)

A bachelor’s degree is the level at which a psychology career can begin to truly lift off. While it's not yet enough to work as an independent counselor or in academia, a bachelor’s psychology degree may be enough to land work as a research assistant for a professor or in the corporate sector. Many states also license those with a bachelor’s psychology degree to be addiction counselors.

A bachelor’s psychology degree is often a good foundation for a career in marketing, and other fields. Since research psychology relies heavily on statistics and analytical skills, students are often able to take their degrees into the business world as analytical marketing executives. Since psychology also involves learning more about human behavior, graduates may also find careers in human resources or in non-psychological counseling fields. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of humanity is a valuable thing for anyone seeking to get ahead in business.

Read More about a Bachelors in Psychology

Online Masters (MS)

A master’s degree is the level most psychology students are aiming for when they first declare an undergraduate psychology major. This is because a master’s degree is the minimum credential for those who wish to work in the clinical field. While it is true that many states license a bachelor’s or even associate psychology degree for addiction counseling, those professionals cannot conduct individual therapy.

A master’s psychology degree also enables students to start teaching at the college level. While a master’s psychology degree is likely to only open the door to adjunct or part-time professorships, those jobs provide great experience for later teaching, should they decide to move on to complete a doctorate. The master’s level is also where students decide to pursue clinical or research psychology. A master’s in research psychology may enable a career in marketing or as an organizational psychologist.

Online Doctorate (PhD)

A doctorate is the ultimate psychology degree. Those in the clinical space are able to convert this into the title of psychologist, which enables them to charge more per hour while they also enjoy enhanced status in the professional community. The degree is also required for some professions, such as forensic psychology, and it's virtually required for a career in academia. A PhD will open up the possibility of a tenure track position with a university. PhDs in universities can also choose to be research faculty or professors who lecture graduate and undergraduate students alike.

PhDs are also in demand by corporate America. Companies are always interested to work with organizational psychologists who can help them navigate the changing realities in human resources. A PhD might create a research report that discusses, for instance, employee performance relative to compensation and companies may pay large sums to learn more about this issue. PhDs can also consult with various entities including law firms and police departments.

Become a Psychology Professional in Illinois

Psychology is a very popular topic. Everyone is interested to know why they and their fellow humans behave as they do. Even very young children are known to assess their peers' behaviors, attitudes, and preferences. However, not everyone is certain about how to turn their curiosity into a profession in the field of psychology.

Illinois students who are interested in becoming a psychology professional can get started early. These days, many high schools offer introductory psychology courses. Those that don't offer psychology courses may have programs whereby upper-level students can take a course or two through their local community college. This way, high school students who are interested in psychology can begin to study the field.

Yet another option for Illinois students interested in psychology is to find online courses. These may even be free courses that let students get their feet wet without incurring any financial debt.

Find Online Psychology Schools

Naturally it's vital for budding psychology professionals to earn a bachelor’s psychology degree. The full four-year psychology degree will instill deep knowledge of psychological theories. Undergraduate psychology degrees also require a course in research methods, which allows students to get their feet wet with designing and carrying out a psychological experiment.

After graduating with an undergraduate psychology degree, students can then move on to a master’s psychology degree. A master’s degree is vital for those who wish to work as independent counselors and it is a prerequisite for a doctorate in psychology. While counseling professionals can always stop their academic work with a master’s degree, those who desire a position in research or academia should earn their doctorate.

There are other options for those with an undergraduate psychology degree. Students who are adept at statistics and analytical work can consider working in marketing. Those who are more interested in psychological theories might be better suited to a position in human resources or management. Their insights into human behavior will be very helpful when working with current employees and candidates. Psychology can also be applied in any number of professions that require working with people: customer service, healthcare, and sales are just three options.

Potential Careers for Psychology Graduates

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists:
These positions require a minimum of a master’s psychology degree and a state license. The job involves working one-on-one with clients who need counseling support to overcome their difficulties. Licensure opens up the possibility of working as an independent business or through a mental health facility.
School Psychologists:
These psychological professionals must have a a Master of Education with a concentration in school counseling to work in schools. School psychologists must also earn an Illinois teaching credential in order to work in schools. Some school psychologists choose to work in private practice, however. To make this transition, it's vital to consult with the Illinois licensing board to ensure that one has the proper credentials.
Sociologists:
While this field is often considered to be the exclusive domain of academia, sociologists also work in the corporate environment. Sociologists can be of great use as consultants and counselors to corporations who need greater insight into the market and even into their employees. Most sociologists need a master’s degree to work in their field.
Educational and Guidance Counselors:
Guidance counselors work with students to help them achieve their long-term career goals. Guidance counselors need to earn a degree in education and a teaching credential to work in the schools. Most often, a guidance counselor works in a high school, but there are also career counselors who work in colleges. To work at the college level, it's often required that you hold a master’s degree, for which a psychology background is very useful.
Career Counselors and Advisors:
Career counselors typically work in colleges where they help the student body position themselves for success in the career of their choosing. This position requires a master’s degree, though there is no licensure required. A big part of this position is spent organizing career fairs that cater to student interests. Career counselors can also administer personality tests and help students use the results to pick the field that may suit them the best.
Rehabilitation Counselors:
These counselors may work with a wide range of clients. The title may sound like they focus on addiction but, in reality, they work with people in recovery from diseases and injuries. Their clients may need support learning to live with a disability, for instance, or learning to cope while they return to their old selves.
Substance Abuse Counselors:
Illinois, like many states, offers a variety of licensure levels for this field. Those with less than a master’s degree can become licensed, but they cannot work one-on-one with clients. However, they can work in the field of addictions and gain invaluable experience, especially if they intend to pursue a master’s degree and a full counseling license.
Mental Health Counselors:
This is the most visible psychology career field. Mental health counselors often work in private practice where they conduct hourly counseling sessions with patients who need help overcoming difficulties in their lives.

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How to Become a Psychologist in Illinois

What is Psychology?

Top Ranked Campus & Online Psychology Programs in Illinois

University of Illinois Chicago

Millikin University

Illinois Wesleyan University

Augustana College

Saint Xavier University

Lake Forest College

Methodist College

Trinity Christian College

Olivet Nazarene University

North Park University

Wheaton College

North Central College

Knox College

Online Psychology Education in Illinois

Online Associate (AS)

Online Bachelors (BS)

Online Masters (MS)

Online Doctorate (PhD)

Become a Psychology Professional in Illinois

Potential Careers for Psychology Graduates

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