Most Popular Online MBA Programs in Illinois

Student Review Summary: Reviews portray UIUC as a strong overall experience with clear academic payoff, especially for motivated people who actively use its resources. Students repeatedly praise knowledgeable, accessible professors, extensive research access, strong libraries, career fairs, internships, and broad extracurricular options. Many say the school builds confidence, independence, and professional readiness, while the large campus creates endless ways to find community. Common drawbacks include very large introductory classes, inconsistent teaching quality, party-heavy culture, limited advising or career guidance in some areas, and a location often described as isolated or unexciting. Cost, uneven facilities, and occasional concerns about inclusion also appear.

Student Review Summary: Reviews portray UIC as a generally strong, practical choice defined by academic value, diversity, and city access, but with uneven campus life. Many students praise knowledgeable, approachable professors, career-relevant coursework, research, internships, and real-world learning, especially where faculty bring industry experience. Affordability, public transit, commuting convenience, and broad campus resources are recurring advantages. Students also value the inclusive environment and exposure to varied perspectives. The main drawbacks are a commuter culture that can feel isolating, inconsistent teaching quality across courses, limited social energy, occasional advising or financial aid frustrations, safety concerns near campus, and in some areas, limited course availability, outdated technology, or weak job placement support.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of Concordia University - Chicago are generally positive, driven by strong ratings for supportive professors, flexible online and hybrid formats, and coursework that feels practical, rigorous, and career-relevant. Many reviewers value responsive faculty, clear communication, smooth admissions, and helpful financial aid or career services, especially while balancing work, family, or living abroad. Smaller cohorts and accessible instructors also stand out. Negative feedback centers on inconsistent quality across areas, weak advising, disorganization after enrollment, limited campus life, and a feeling of becoming "just a number." A few reviewers also cite toxic faculty experiences, insufficient intellectual challenge, and concerns about accreditation or institutional follow-through.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of DeVry University are sharply divided, but they lean negative because low ratings often cite cost, weak instruction, and administrative confusion. Supporters praise the flexible online format, accelerated terms, responsive advisors, and professors with real-world experience, saying the school fit demanding work and family schedules and sometimes led to promotions, salary gains, or graduate school admission. Critics describe self-teaching, outdated materials, inconsistent faculty quality, and poor career support. Financial aid is the most repeated pain point: unexpected balances, changing information, transcript holds, nontransferable credits, and veterans’ benefits issues left some reviewers feeling misled, indebted, and underprepared for employment.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of National Louis University are broadly positive, but they reveal a clear split between strong academic experiences and weak administrative execution. Many reviewers praise knowledgeable, accessible instructors, supportive cohorts, and flexible evening, online, and accelerated formats that fit working adults and often lead to career advancement, job placement, or feeling well prepared. Several also value diversity, urban accessibility, technology, and networking. The most common frustrations involve high tuition, inconsistent scheduling, limited location availability, weak communication about requirements, and especially serious problems with advising, financial aid, registration, and institutional follow-through when complications arise.

Student Review Summary: Reviews portray University of St. Francis as a place where flexibility, small classes, and caring instructors stand out, especially for people balancing full-time work or preferring online learning. Several reviewers praise rigorous coursework, high academic standards, and faculty who are accessible, encouraging, and focused on real-world preparation. Campus culture also earns positive mentions for friendliness and strong school spirit. The main criticism centers on value: multiple reviewers describe weak career support, limited internship or employer connections, poor post-graduation job outcomes, and tuition that can lead to heavy debt. For some, the education felt worthwhile; for others, the return on investment did not.

Student Review Summary: Reviews portray Northern Illinois University as a generally solid, affordable option with caring professors, strong value, and broad opportunities, but with uneven support systems. Many reviewers praise personable faculty, practical coursework, diverse campus culture, and resources that can open career doors when students actively pursue them. Several also highlight small class settings, hands-on learning, and flexible or convenient formats. Criticism centers on inconsistent teaching quality, weak advising and career services, limited financial aid, and programs that feel disorganized or repetitive. Students also note a quiet "suitcase" campus, limited local entertainment, some safety concerns, and commuter-friendly appeal.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are largely favorable, driven by strong ratings and near-universal recommendations. Many describe approachable professors, open-door support, and practical teaching that connects coursework to careers, internships, rotations, research, and networking. You repeatedly see praise for affordability, small or manageable class settings, flexible scheduling for working adults, and a commuter-friendly campus. The wooded setting, safety, and proximity to St. Louis also stand out. Criticism centers on inconsistent advising, financial aid confusion, limited course availability that can delay graduation, uneven rigor, busy work in some classes, and a quieter social scene in an isolated, family-oriented area.

Student Review Summary: Reviews portray Aurora University as a largely positive experience shaped by small classes, accessible professors, and flexible scheduling that helps you balance work and family responsibilities. Many reviewers praise instructors for knowing them personally, offering practical guidance, and remaining available even after graduation. Supportive advisors, a safe and friendly campus, and a close-knit atmosphere also stand out. Criticism centers on administrative inefficiencies, especially slow registrar and registration communication, uneven professor quality, limited commuter support, and costly tuition or extra online platform fees. A few reviewers also report weak internship coordination and financial aid limitations, which can hinder career planning.

Student Review Summary: Reviews portray UIS as a generally well-regarded option, especially for those who need affordability, flexibility, and smaller classes. Many reviewers praise caring instructors, accessible advising, responsive staff, and strong academic support, noting that professors know them by name and offer useful feedback. Online and blended formats are a major strength, helping working adults balance jobs, family, and school while still receiving a solid education. Several reviews also cite career value through internships, employer recognition, networking, and practical preparation. Common drawbacks include too many upper-level courses offered only online, uneven course quality, limited campus energy, occasional communication barriers, expensive materials, and restricted financial aid.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of Western Illinois University are largely favorable, driven by solid ratings and frequent praise for approachable, knowledgeable professors who provide one-on-one help, mentoring, and practical preparation for careers or further study. Many reviewers value small classes, flexible scheduling, online or evening options, affordable tuition, scholarships, assistantships, and supportive advising, especially at the Quad Cities location with newer facilities. Students also highlight networking, research, and campus involvement opportunities. Criticism centers on uneven career services, limited course variety and availability, occasional disorganization, weak advising follow-through, and location drawbacks, with Macomb described as rural and offering fewer jobs, stores, and social options.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of Benedictine University are largely positive, driven by strong ratings and frequent recommendations, though recurring operational complaints create meaningful friction. Many reviewers praise caring, accessible professors, small classes, flexible online or hybrid formats, and schedules that work well for full-time professionals. Several say the coursework is rigorous, practical, and manageable, with quick faculty responses and a supportive, family-like atmosphere. Negative reviews focus less on teaching quality and more on administration: disorganized advising, weak financial aid support, registrar delays, shifting course formats, canceled classes, and poor dissertation guidance. A few also question admissions standards, peer quality, and the value relative to tuition.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of Lewis University are broadly positive, though experiences vary sharply by department. Many reviewers praise approachable professors, small class sizes, flexible online or hybrid formats, responsive advisors, and coursework that translated well to jobs, leadership, or further study. Several also mention a beautiful, safe, and easy-to-navigate campus, plus helpful staff and convenient satellite locations. Criticism centers on inconsistent academic quality: some describe easy or outdated classes, weak teaching, poor organization, limited course availability, and inadequate career or placement support. A few negative reviews raise serious concerns about administrative billing issues, expensive tuition and extra fees, unwelcoming culture, and poor food or campus services.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of Olivet Nazarene University are sharply divided, but the dominant pattern is negative because many low-rated accounts describe severe disorganization, especially in online and accelerated health-related offerings. Students repeatedly cite absent or unresponsive instructors, confusing policies, inconsistent grading, poor academic support, expensive tuition, and pressure to self-teach while still meeting rigid progression rules. Several also mention long clinical commutes, difficulty securing placements, delayed graduation, and feeling the school prioritized revenue over student outcomes. Positive reviews emphasize a supportive Christian atmosphere, caring professors in some departments, flexible online formats for working adults, strong scholarship aid, and meaningful personal growth.

Student Review Summary: Reviews for Eastern Illinois University are broadly positive, driven by strong ratings and frequent praise for small classes, approachable professors, and individualized advising that helped many reviewers clarify goals, build confidence, and feel known personally. Many said faculty were invested in their success, offered open-door support, and created welcoming, safe environments. Affordability, flexible formats, and hands-on opportunities also stood out. Criticism centered on inconsistent academic rigor, limited depth in some coursework, weak career support, outdated technology or facilities, and narrow scheduling options. Some reviewers also described Charleston as quiet or inconvenient, while a few reported serious dissatisfaction with specific online instruction and disability support.

Student Review Summary: Reviews portray Southern Illinois University - Carbondale as a generally positive, accessible campus experience shaped heavily by faculty quality. Many reviewers praise caring, knowledgeable professors, small classes, hands-on learning, research access, practical training, and a welcoming campus with strong green space, housing, transit, recreation, and social opportunities. Several say the university balances academics with clubs, organizations, and an active college-town atmosphere, while helping motivated learners build confidence and independence. Criticisms center on inconsistent advising, disorganization, weak career placement in some areas, limited scholarships, high costs, parking frustrations, commuter support gaps, safety concerns nearby, and occasional disengaged or ineffective instructors.

Student Review Summary: Reviews describe Governors State University as an affordable, accessible option with small classes, flexible scheduling, and professors who are often caring, hands-on, and invested in your success. Many reviewers value practical instruction, diversity, safety, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels more personal than a large campus. Several say the school helped them build confidence, gain real-world experience, or continue to advanced study. Criticism centers on uneven program quality: some report disorganization, unresponsive or unprofessional faculty, weak academic rigor, limited internships, sparse career support, and concerns that the school’s reputation and network may be strongest mainly in the local region.

"Elmhurst college is an excellent place to get an MBA...Cheaper than downtown Chicago schools, and the level of academia is exactly the same..."

Edward McMurray, Graduated 2015

Student Review Summary: Reviews of Dominican University are generally favorable, with repeated praise for small classes, approachable professors, and a supportive atmosphere that helps you build relationships, get mentoring, and balance school with work. Many reviewers say faculty are responsive, bring real-world experience, and connect you to networking or career opportunities. Flexible formats, off-site locations, and practical coursework are also valued. The most consistent drawbacks are high tuition, limited scholarships, and the financial strain of living near Chicago. Some reviewers also mention weak campus social life, commuter-heavy culture, inconsistent administration, and, in a few cases, coursework that felt insufficiently rigorous or overly repetitive.

Student Review Summary: Reviews describe McKendree University as a small, relationship-driven campus where accessible professors, responsive online instructors, tutoring, writing support, and flexible evening or off-site scheduling help many learners succeed. Students often value the personalized environment, collaborative learning, and practical coursework they can apply immediately. The main criticisms center on cost: online technology fees, expensive tuition, book expenses, and repeated fundraising requests leave some feeling nickel-and-dimed. Several reviews also point to uneven advising and administration, especially around internships and housing, limited weekend social life, intimidating athlete-centered facilities, and, for some, coursework that feels insufficiently challenging.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of North Park University - Chicago are broadly positive, driven by strong ratings and near-universal recommendations. Students repeatedly praise small classes, approachable professors, and instructors with real-world expertise who provide personal attention and clear expectations. Many also value the campus as a calm, diverse setting within Chicago, plus flexible hybrid and online formats that fit working schedules. Concerns center on uneven administrative support, limited scheduling options, weak financial aid for adult learners, and a lack of community for distance learners. Some also mention heavy workloads, outdated course structures that complicate transfers, and fewer specialized offerings or career-planning resources than expected.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of North Central College are largely favorable, driven by strong ratings and frequent recommendations. Students consistently praise accessible, invested professors, small classes, and a personable environment where faculty know them well, offer one-on-one support, and connect them to research, internships, volunteering, and career preparation. Many also highlight the attractive campus, quality food, livable dorms, athletics, and the appeal of being near downtown Naperville and Chicago transit. Less obvious concerns center on cost, limited parking, uneven diversity, and experiences that could feel less supportive for those needing disability accommodations. A few felt some departments prioritized revenue over educational value.

Student Review Summary: Reviews of Greenville University are largely favorable, driven by flexible formats that fit demanding schedules, especially for working adults and parents. Many reviewers praise supportive faculty, practical instruction, and coursework that translates well to real-world jobs. Online and hybrid options are seen as convenient and career-relevant, though several note that virtual classes can feel less engaging than in-person learning. Students also highlight affordability benefits, including scholarships and manageable debt outcomes. Criticism centers on technology issues in off-campus learning, limited internship access for nonlocal learners, and weak structured networking or job-placement support beyond basic career services.