Best Online Technology Programs in DeKalb, IL (2026)

DeKalb, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering technology programs, with tuition ranging from $3,432 to $14,661 per year for indexed programs. DeKalb has a population of about 40,464. Median household income is $46,564 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning technology-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $173,760 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Technology Schools to DeKalb

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer technology programs near DeKalb, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from DeKalb city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from DeKalb. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL 1.7 miles from DeKalb BOC Score 65.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,808
Avg net price $13,391/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois technology page.


Technology Wages Near DeKalb

DeKalb 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.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$134,380Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$129,710
Information Security Analyst$125,310Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$120,956
Computer Network Architect$143,800Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$138,803
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$103,170Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$99,585
Computer Network Support Specialist$73,340Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$70,792
Computer User Support Specialist$60,730Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$58,620
Web Developer$96,870Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$93,504
Computer and Information Systems Manager$173,760Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$167,722

Source: BLS, May 2025 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.


DeKalb at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population40,464Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$46,564Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+35.7%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)103.6 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Technology-related employment in DeKalb County580 workers, 42 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other DeKalb-Area Cities With Technology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited technology schools are near DeKalb, IL?

Accredited schools offering technology programs near DeKalb are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying technology roles near DeKalb?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying technology-related roles near DeKalb are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($173,760), Computer Network Architect ($143,800), Software Developer ($134,380). 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 Geneva instead of DeKalb?

Geneva, IL is 22.1 miles from DeKalb and has its own set of local technology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is DeKalb an affordable place to study technology?

DeKalb’s median household income of $46,564 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in DeKalb 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.


Learn More About Technology Programs

Other Programs Available in DeKalb

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for DeKalb:

Data verified: July 23, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.