Data / Rankings / Graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over / Cities in Illinois

Cities in Illinois by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over

Winnetka, IL had the highest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over of 224 cities in 2021, at 50.5%. Cicero, IL had the lowest, at 2.3%. The median was 12.5% and the figure for Illinois was 14.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest50.5Winnetka, IL
Lowest2.3Cicero, IL
Median12.5224 cities
Illinois14.4History

Top 40 cities, 2021

Winnetka, IL: 50.5 %Winnetka, IL50.5Wilmette, IL: 50.1 %Wilmette, IL50.1River Forest, IL: 43.7 %River Forest, IL43.7Hinsdale, IL: 43.7 %Hinsdale, IL43.7Lake Forest, IL: 42.2 %Lake Forest, IL42.2Deerfield, IL: 40.7 %Deerfield, IL40.7Burr Ridge, IL: 39.5 %Burr Ridge, IL39.5Oak Park, IL: 39.1 %Oak Park, IL39.1Evanston, IL: 38.6 %Evanston, IL38.6Highland Park, IL: 38.2 %Highland Park, IL38.2Northbrook, IL: 37.5 %Northbrook, IL37.5Western Springs, IL: 35.3 %Western Springs, IL35.3Urbana, IL: 35.2 %Urbana, IL35.2Glenview, IL: 34.2 %Glenview, IL34.2Libertyville, IL: 33.1 %Libertyville, IL33.1Champaign, IL: 31.4 %Champaign, IL31.4La Grange, IL: 31.4 %La Grange, IL31.4Naperville, IL: 30.4 %Naperville, IL30.4Buffalo Grove, IL: 29.2 %Buffalo Grove, IL29.2Vernon Hills, IL: 29.1 %Vernon Hills, IL29.1Glen Ellyn, IL: 28.7 %Glen Ellyn, IL28.7Lisle, IL: 28.5 %Lisle, IL28.5Barrington, IL: 28.3 %Barrington, IL28.3Elmhurst, IL: 28 %Elmhurst, IL28Wheaton, IL: 27.5 %Wheaton, IL27.5La Grange Park, IL: 26.6 %La Grange Park, IL26.6Carbondale, IL: 26.4 %Carbondale, IL26.4Geneva, IL: 25.9 %Geneva, IL25.9Park Ridge, IL: 25.6 %Park Ridge, IL25.6Glen Carbon, IL: 24.8 %Glen Carbon, IL24.8Edwardsville, IL: 24.8 %Edwardsville, IL24.8Downers Grove, IL: 24.6 %Downers Grove, IL24.6Campton Hills, IL: 24.6 %Campton Hills, IL24.6Winfield, IL: 24.4 %Winfield, IL24.4Frankfort, IL: 24.4 %Frankfort, IL24.4Arlington Heights, IL: 24.3 %Arlington Heights, IL24.3Grayslake, IL: 23.8 %Grayslake, IL23.8Columbia, IL: 23 %Columbia, IL23Lincolnwood, IL: 22.3 %Lincolnwood, IL22.3Lake Zurich, IL: 22.2 %Lake Zurich, IL22.2Winnetka, IL: 50.5 %Winnetka, IL50.5Wilmette, IL: 50.1 %Wilmette, IL50.1River Forest, IL: 43.7 %River Forest, IL43.7Hinsdale, IL: 43.7 %Hinsdale, IL43.7Lake Forest, IL: 42.2 %Lake Forest, IL42.2Deerfield, IL: 40.7 %Deerfield, IL40.7Burr Ridge, IL: 39.5 %Burr Ridge, IL39.5Oak Park, IL: 39.1 %Oak Park, IL39.1Evanston, IL: 38.6 %Evanston, IL38.6Highland Park, IL: 38.2 %Highland Park, IL38.2Northbrook, IL: 37.5 %Northbrook, IL37.5Western Springs, IL: 35.3 %Western Springs, IL35.3Urbana, IL: 35.2 %Urbana, IL35.2Glenview, IL: 34.2 %Glenview, IL34.2Libertyville, IL: 33.1 %Libertyville, IL33.1Champaign, IL: 31.4 %Champaign, IL31.4La Grange, IL: 31.4 %La Grange, IL31.4Naperville, IL: 30.4 %Naperville, IL30.4Buffalo Grove, IL: 29.2 %Buffalo Grove, IL29.2Vernon Hills, IL: 29.1 %Vernon Hills, IL29.1Glen Ellyn, IL: 28.7 %Glen Ellyn, IL28.7Lisle, IL: 28.5 %Lisle, IL28.5Barrington, IL: 28.3 %Barrington, IL28.3Elmhurst, IL: 28 %Elmhurst, IL28Wheaton, IL: 27.5 %Wheaton, IL27.5La Grange Park, IL: 26.6 %La Grange Park, IL26.6Carbondale, IL: 26.4 %Carbondale, IL26.4Geneva, IL: 25.9 %Geneva, IL25.9Park Ridge, IL: 25.6 %Park Ridge, IL25.6Glen Carbon, IL: 24.8 %Glen Carbon, IL24.8Edwardsville, IL: 24.8 %Edwardsville, IL24.8Downers Grove, IL: 24.6 %Downers Grove, IL24.6Campton Hills, IL: 24.6 %Campton Hills, IL24.6Winfield, IL: 24.4 %Winfield, IL24.4Frankfort, IL: 24.4 %Frankfort, IL24.4Arlington Heights, IL: 24.3 %Arlington Heights, IL24.3Grayslake, IL: 23.8 %Grayslake, IL23.8Columbia, IL: 23 %Columbia, IL23Lincolnwood, IL: 22.3 %Lincolnwood, IL22.3Lake Zurich, IL: 22.2 %Lake Zurich, IL22.2
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2021 (%)
1Winnetka, IL50.5
2Wilmette, IL50.1
3River Forest, IL43.7
4Hinsdale, IL43.7
5Lake Forest, IL42.2
6Deerfield, IL40.7
7Burr Ridge, IL39.5
8Oak Park, IL39.1
9Evanston, IL38.6
10Highland Park, IL38.2
11Northbrook, IL37.5
12Western Springs, IL35.3
13Urbana, IL35.2
14Glenview, IL34.2
15Libertyville, IL33.1
16Champaign, IL31.4
17La Grange, IL31.4
18Naperville, IL30.4
19Buffalo Grove, IL29.2
20Vernon Hills, IL29.1
21Glen Ellyn, IL28.7
22Lisle, IL28.5
23Barrington, IL28.3
24Elmhurst, IL28
25Wheaton, IL27.5
26La Grange Park, IL26.6
27Carbondale, IL26.4
28Geneva, IL25.9
29Park Ridge, IL25.6
30Glen Carbon, IL24.8
31Edwardsville, IL24.8
32Downers Grove, IL24.6
33Campton Hills, IL24.6
34Winfield, IL24.4
35Frankfort, IL24.4
36Arlington Heights, IL24.3
37Grayslake, IL23.8
38Columbia, IL23
39Lincolnwood, IL22.3
40Lake Zurich, IL22.2
41Macomb, IL22
42O'Fallon, IL21.7
43Batavia, IL21.4
44St. Charles, IL21.1
45Forest Park, IL20.8
46Gurnee, IL20.6
47Darien, IL20.3
48Matteson, IL20
49Schaumburg, IL20
50Plainfield, IL19.7
51Palatine, IL19.3
52Palos Heights, IL19.2
53Skokie, IL19.2
54Mahomet, IL19
55Morton Grove, IL18.9
56Swansea, IL18.8
57Westmont, IL18.8
58Woodridge, IL18.6
59Normal, IL18.6
60New Lenox, IL17.9
61Sycamore, IL17.7
62Chicago, IL17.6
63Orland Park, IL17.4
64Hoffman Estates, IL17.3
65Chatham, IL17.2
66Shiloh, IL16.9
67Homewood, IL16.8
68Mokena, IL16.7
69Brookfield, IL16.5
70Lombard, IL16.4
71Lemont, IL16.4
72Cary, IL16.3
73Bloomington, IL16.1
74Mount Prospect, IL16
75Oswego, IL15.9
76Lindenhurst, IL15.9
77Peoria, IL15.6
78Algonquin, IL15.6
79Washington, IL15.3
80Fairview Heights, IL15.1
81Evergreen Park, IL15.1
82DeKalb, IL14.9
83Shorewood, IL14.8
84Morton, IL14.8
85North Aurora, IL14.7
86Mundelein, IL14.6
87Wheeling, IL14.5
88Lockport, IL14.3
89Des Plaines, IL14.3
90Springfield, IL14.2
91Warrenville, IL14.2
92Huntley, IL14.1
93Westchester, IL14.1
94Carol Stream, IL14
95Roselle, IL14
96Bolingbrook, IL13.9
97Antioch, IL13.9
98Tinley Park, IL13.8
99Prospect Heights, IL13.6
100Aurora, IL13.5
101Bartlett, IL13.5
102Woodstock, IL13.4
103Bourbonnais, IL13.2
104Wauconda, IL13
105South Elgin, IL13
106Hazel Crest, IL12.9
107Charleston, IL12.9
108Bloomingdale, IL12.9
109Crystal Lake, IL12.8
110Channahon, IL12.7
111South Holland, IL12.5
112Minooka, IL12.5
113Niles, IL12.4
114Richton Park, IL12.4
115Homer Glen, IL12.3
116Roscoe, IL12.2
117Elk Grove Village, IL12.1
118Godfrey, IL12.1
119Rolling Meadows, IL12
120Troy, IL11.9
121Waterloo, IL11.8
122West Chicago, IL11.7
123Oak Lawn, IL11.2
124Park Forest, IL11.2
125Elmwood Park, IL11
126Collinsville, IL10.9
127Belleville, IL10.8
128Lake in the Hills, IL10.6
129Villa Park, IL10.3
130Country Club Hills, IL10.2
131Moline, IL10
132Palos Hills, IL9.9
133Morris, IL9.7
134Elgin, IL9.6
135Norridge, IL9.6
136Marion, IL9.3
137Lansing, IL9.2
138Oak Forest, IL9.1
139Effingham, IL8.9
140East Peoria, IL8.9
141North Chicago, IL8.8
142Loves Park, IL8.5
143Streamwood, IL8.5
144Montgomery, IL8.5
145Hickory Hills, IL8.4
146Ottawa, IL8.4
147Highland, IL8.4
148Rantoul, IL8.4
149Quincy, IL8.3
150Herrin, IL8.2
151Berwyn, IL8.2
151Chicago Ridge, IL8.2
153Yorkville, IL8.1
154Rockford, IL8.1
155Hanover Park, IL8.1
155Pingree Grove, IL8.1
157Rock Island, IL8.1
158Joliet, IL8
158Round Lake, IL8
160Crestwood, IL7.9
161Alsip, IL7.9
162Decatur, IL7.6
163Carpentersville, IL7.3
164Lyons, IL7.2
165Danville, IL7.2
165Sterling, IL7.2
167Centralia, IL7.2
168Mount Vernon, IL7.2
169Addison, IL7.1
170Canton, IL7.1
171Glendale Heights, IL7
172Alton, IL6.9
173Freeport, IL6.9
174Taylorville, IL6.8
175Galesburg, IL6.7
176Waukegan, IL6.6
177Blue Island, IL6.6
178Mattoon, IL6.5
179Dolton, IL6.5
179Lincoln, IL6.5
179McHenry, IL6.5
182Dixon, IL6.4
183East Moline, IL6.4
184Crest Hill, IL6.4
185Chicago Heights, IL6.3
186Justice, IL6.2
187Round Lake Beach, IL6.2
188Jacksonville, IL6.1
189Midlothian, IL6.1
190Belvidere, IL6
190Wood Dale, IL6
192Bridgeview, IL6
193Riverdale, IL5.9
194Worth, IL5.8
195River Grove, IL5.7
196Bradley, IL5.7
196Maywood, IL5.7
196Pekin, IL5.7
199Calumet City, IL5.6
200Wood River, IL5.5
201Romeoville, IL5.5
201Zion, IL5.5
203Pontiac, IL5.2
204Bensenville, IL5.2
205Fox Lake, IL5.2
206Schiller Park, IL5.1
207Kankakee, IL5.1
208Burbank, IL5
209East St. Louis, IL5
210Manhattan, IL4.7
211Kewanee, IL4.7
212Machesney Park, IL4.6
213Beach Park, IL4.5
214Plano, IL4.5
215Melrose Park, IL4.4
216Bellwood, IL4
216Granite City, IL4
218Markham, IL3.9
219Northlake, IL3.6
220Streator, IL3.5
221Franklin Park, IL3.4
222Harvey, IL3.3
223Summit, IL2.5
224Cicero, IL2.3

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 25 and over whose highest degree is a master's, professional school or doctorate degree, as a percentage of all people aged 25 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

A subset of bachelors_degree_share, which also counts people whose highest degree is a bachelor's.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. 1 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2021 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Illinois by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Illinois by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/illinois-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Illinois by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/illinois-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Illinois by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/illinois-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_illinois_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Illinois by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/illinois-cities?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Illinois by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/illinois-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/illinois-cities?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Illinois by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"graduate_degree_share","level":"municipality","within":"Illinois","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over?

Winnetka, IL, with 50.5% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over?

Cicero, IL, with 2.3% in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12. 1 cities have no value for 2021 and are not ranked.

Graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over: other rankings

Cities in Illinois: more rankings