Best Online Business Administration Programs in Waukegan, IL (2026)
Waukegan, Illinois has a population of about 88,919. The city’s median household income is $70,578 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Waukegan. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Financial Manager at a median $164,470 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Business Administration Schools to Waukegan
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer business administration programs. Distances are calculated from Waukegan city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | 7.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Herzing University-Kenosha | Kenosha, WI | 15.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI | 16.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Carthage College | Kenosha, WI | 17.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | Kenosha, WI | 19.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois business administration page.
Business Administration Wages Near Waukegan
Waukegan is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $105,310 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $101,651 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,610 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $104,836 |
| Financial Manager | $164,470 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $158,755 |
| Human Resources Manager | $137,760 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $132,973 |
| Management Analyst | $120,140 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $115,965 |
| Project Management Specialist | $104,640 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $101,004 |
| Accountant or Auditor | $81,210 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $78,388 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $65,030 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $62,770 |
| Office and Administrative Support Supervisor | $67,940 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $65,579 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Waukegan at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 88,919 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $70,578 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Business Administration-related employment in Lake County | 20,458 workers, 1,356 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Waukegan-Area Cities With Business Administration Programs
- Gurnee, IL – 3.4 mi away (30,957 pop)
- North Chicago, IL – 3.7 mi away (29,951 pop)
- Zion, IL – 6.3 mi away (24,029 pop)
- Libertyville, IL – 7.5 mi away (20,405 pop)
- Grayslake, IL – 8.5 mi away (20,831 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited business administration programs are near Waukegan, IL?
Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Waukegan. The closest is College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL (7.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Wisconsin-Parkside (19.2 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying business administration roles near Waukegan?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying business administration-related roles near Waukegan are: Financial Manager ($164,470), Human Resources Manager ($137,760), Management Analyst ($120,140). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Gurnee instead of Waukegan?
Gurnee, IL is 3.4 miles from Waukegan and has its own set of local business administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Waukegan an affordable place to study business administration?
Waukegan’s median household income of $70,578 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Waukegan while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
- Online Business Administration Programs in Illinois
- Main Business Administration Degree Guide
- Business Administration Programs by State
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