Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work
Civil engineering Ranked #70 of 181 for value Civil Engineering · 45 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $85,969
Ranked-college median: $85,627 Median debt $20,025
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 54.5 of 100 · #3 of 5 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 52th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 77th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 58th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 19th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $17,058) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 23% of earnings
Ranked just above: University of Kansas (#69) Ranked just below: Manhattan College (#71) Best colleges for civil engineering
Criminal justice Ranked #102 of 379 for value Criminal Justice and Corrections · 71 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $57,915
Ranked-college median: $55,481 Median debt $21,916
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 62.6 of 100 · #7 of 13 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 64th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 69th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 49th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 66th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $16,222) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 38% of earnings
Ranked just above: Roger Williams University (#101) Ranked just below: Marist College (#103) Best colleges for criminal justice
Electrical engineering Ranked #114 of 184 for value Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 33 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $99,325
Ranked-college median: $99,787 Median debt $24,704
Ranked-college median: $20,732 Value score 43 of 100 · #3 of 4 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 45th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 72th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 18th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 24th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $16,125) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 25% of earnings
Best colleges for electrical engineering
Computer science Ranked #132 of 466 for value Computer Science · 75 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $106,082
Ranked-college median: $97,375 Median debt $19,753
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 61.9 of 100 · #7 of 20 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 65th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 74th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 59th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 39th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 19% of earnings
Ranked just above: Baylor University (#131) Ranked just below: St Olaf College (#133) Best colleges for computer science
Biology Ranked #180 of 680 for value Biology, General · 121 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $60,059
Ranked-college median: $58,001 Median debt $19,953
Ranked-college median: $20,717 Value score 62.2 of 100 · #9 of 24 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 61th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 78th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 61th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 41th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 33% of earnings
Best colleges for biology
Communications Ranked #203 of 388 for value Communication and Media Studies · 87 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $52,466
Ranked-college median: $56,130 Median debt $18,754
Ranked-college median: $19,593 Value score 48.4 of 100 · #9 of 16 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 34th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 76th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 48th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 41th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 36% of earnings
Best colleges for communications
Kinesiology and exercise science Ranked #223 of 459 for value Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 57 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $49,837
Ranked-college median: $53,707 Median debt $18,250
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 51.3 of 100 · #9 of 17 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 28th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 62th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 53th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $18,314) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 37% of earnings
Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science
Business Ranked #229 of 986 for value Business Administration, Management and Operations · 313 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $65,403
Ranked-college median: $64,860 Median debt $16,364
Ranked-college median: $21,375 Value score 64.6 of 100 · #13 of 32 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 52th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 78th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 80th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 55th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 25% of earnings
Best colleges for business
Accounting Ranked #234 of 408 for value Accounting and Related Services · 59 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $69,610
Ranked-college median: $76,108 Median debt $18,500
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 45.6 of 100 · #12 of 19 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 28th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 76th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 47th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 40th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 27% of earnings
Ranked just above: Cleveland State University (#233) Ranked just below: Lee University-Tennessee (#235) Best colleges for accounting
Nursing Ranked #241 of 686 for value Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 331 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $83,867
Ranked-college median: $85,171 Median debt $19,201
Ranked-college median: $20,938 Value score 56.9 of 100 · #5 of 21 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 44th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 75th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 61th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 55th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 23% of earnings
Best colleges for nursing
Political science Ranked #242 of 388 for value Political Science and Government · 22 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $52,564
Ranked-college median: $63,181 Median debt $14,007
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 42.1 of 100 · #7 of 14 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 13th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 68th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 24th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $18,238) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 27% of earnings
Best colleges for political science
Mechanical engineering Ranked #243 of 276 for value Mechanical Engineering · 51 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $81,428
Ranked-college median: $91,366 Median debt $21,792
Ranked-college median: $20,713 Value score 28.8 of 100 · #8 of 8 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 2th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 25th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 23th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 27% of earnings
Best colleges for mechanical engineering
Engineering Ranked #281 of 327 for value Mechanical Engineering · 51 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $81,428
Ranked-college median: $91,742 Median debt $21,792
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 30 of 100 · #8 of 9 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 4th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 77th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 26th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 26th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 27% of earnings
Best colleges for engineering
Education Ranked #296 of 521 for value Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 92 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $43,916
Ranked-college median: $48,822 Median debt $18,399
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 46.2 of 100 · #17 of 26 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 19th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 76th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 60th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 50th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 42% of earnings
Best colleges for education
Psychology Ranked #327 of 814 for value Psychology, General · 154 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $48,951
Ranked-college median: $51,007 Median debt $17,750
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 55.5 of 100 · #14 of 29 in Illinois
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 38th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 68th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 46th percentile
Average net price $13,111 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 56.5% · debt is 36% of earnings
Ranked just above: Iowa State University (#326) Ranked just below: University of New Hampshire (#328) Best colleges for psychology 
