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Radar · Higher Education Institutions in Illinois

Best Higher Education Institutions Companies in Illinois, United States

The 40 best Higher Education Institutions companies in Illinois, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: University of Illinois at Chicago.

40companies tracked
$83.4Mdisclosed funding
0unicorns
13have raised

Ranked: Best Higher Education Institutions companies in Illinois

#CompanyLast roundDisclosed fundingEmployeesTech stackWeb popularityPatents & IP focusRecent signals
1Adler University
University offering multiple courses and degrees across diversified streams
——216WordPress Site EditorWordPressApple iCloud Mail+33Top 5M——
2AFIT
Provider of advanced, multi-disciplinary academic education and professional continuing education
——3,405BootstrapAmazon Web ServicesNginx+15Top 5M——
3Aurora University
University offering multiple courses and degrees across diversified streams
——509WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+41Top 1M——
4chamberlain university
Chamberlain College of Nursing offers academic nursing programs with a student-focused learning environment…
——3,022DrupalPHPSalesforce+35Top 100k——
5CLC
College offering multiple courses across diversified streams
——5Progress SitefinityPHPWindows Server+17Top 500k——
6College of DuPage
College offering multiple courses and degrees across diversified streams
——4Omni CMSApple iCloud MailFacebook Login+26Top 100k——
7DePaul
University offering multiple courses and degrees across diversified streams
——4,048SentryApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+34Top 500k——
8Elmhurst University
University offering multiple courses and degrees across diversified streams
——504WordPressMySQLPHP+35Top 1M——

Top 12 Higher Education Institutions companies in Illinois

#1
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1965 · 31 employees
$26.5Mraised
▾

University offering multiple courses and degrees across diversified streams

Fliar Intelligence Index™ 62how this company ranks against its industry peers
Tech
top 9%
Funding
top 29%
Growth
top 35%
Talent
bottom 49%
Product
bottom 41%
Customers
bottom 39%
Tech: 230 technologies across 7/8 capability areas · Cloud: Akamai, Amazon Alb · Devops: Envoy, Nginx
Funding: Raised $26.5M across 12 rounds · 12 rounds over 1 yrs (12.0/yr) · Last round Grant (prize money) (Dec 2025)
Growth: Fresh capital in last 24 mo
Funding rounds
  • Dec 2025Grant (prize money)$2.5M
  • Dec 2025Grant (prize money)$390K
  • Dec 2025Grant (prize money)$64.2K
  • Dec 2025Grant (prize money)$1.5M
Founders & team
Michael AmiridisCEO
Investors
ED, National Science Foundation, HHS, NASA, National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of State
Tech stack
AddtoanyAdobe AnalyticsAdobe Audience ManagerAdobe Experience Platform Identity ServiceAdobe Experience Platform LaunchAkamai
#2
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1993
$16.1Mraised
▾

University provides undergraduate and graduate education, alumni engagement, and related support services. It offers academic programs across various disciplines, fostering student success through resources and support. The university cultivates a community for alumni through events, networking, and opportunities for continued involvement. It facilitates giving programs to support university initiatives, scholarships, and student resources.

Funding rounds
  • Sep 2025Grant (prize money)$4M
  • 2023Grant (prize money)$106.9K
  • 2020Grant (prize money)—
  • 2019Grant (prize money)—
Investors
HRSA, ED, HHS
Tech stack
Adobe Audience ManagerApple Icloud MailAzureAzure Front DoorAzure MonitorBackbone.Js
#3
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1890 · 6725 employees
$2.5Mraised
▾

Provider of STEM-focused undergraduate and graduate educational programs and research. It offers various degree options designed to prepare individuals for careers. The institution provides access to experiential opportunities, including research and internships. It maintains a commitment to diversity and inclusion in its educational environment.

Funding rounds
  • Dec 2025Grant (prize money)$2.5M
Investors
Europa, National Science Foundation, HHS, NASA, Military Health, OSTI
Tech stack
Acquia Cloud PlatformAdobe AnalyticsAdobe Audience ManagerAdobe Experience Platform Identity ServiceAdobe Experience Platform LaunchAmazon Alb
#4
Funding Raised · Greenville, Illinois · founded 1892 · 177 employees
$300Kraised
▾

University offering multiple courses and degrees across diversified streams

Funding rounds
  • Mar 2025Grant (prize money)$300K
Investors
Ojp
Tech stack
Adobe Audience ManagerAmazon S3Amazon Web ServicesApple Icloud MailAppnexusAzure
#5
Funding Raised · Quincy, Illinois · founded 1996 · 800 employees
$14.5Mraised
▾

Community college providing educational programs, workforce training, and student support services. It offers degrees, certificates, and courses for students pursuing higher education and career advancement. The college provides academic resources, student services, and community education programs. It focuses on preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions or direct entry into the workforce.

Funding rounds
  • Mar 2015Grant (prize money)—
  • Oct 2012Grant (prize money)$1.2M
  • May 2012Grant (prize money)$1.2M
  • Jul 2011Grant (prize money)$1.5M
Investors
ED, national service, United States Department of Agriculture, US Department of Labor
Tech stack
Amazon AlbAmazon Web ServicesAngularApache Http ServerApple Icloud MailAxios
#6
Funding Raised · Kankakee, Illinois · founded 2005 · 870 employees
$10.7Mraised
▾

Community college providing academic programs, workforce training, and continuing education. It offers pathways to transfer programs, associate degrees, and certificates. The college provides resources such as advising, tutoring, and career services. It operates multiple campus locations and extension centers. The college also provides community-based programs, arts and culture events, and workforce development initiatives.

Funding rounds
  • May 2012Grant (prize money)$1.7M
  • Jul 2011Grant (prize money)$337.1K
  • Jul 2011Grant (prize money)$1.3M
  • Aug 2010Grant (prize money)$400K
Investors
ED, National Science Foundation
Tech stack
AffirmAkamaiAkamai Bot ManagerAkamai MpulseAmplitudeApple Icloud Mail
#7
Seed · Hinsdale, Illinois · founded 2017 · 28 employees
$4Mraised
▾

College offering multiple courses and degrees across diversified streams

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 3k LinkedIn followers — 2.3% of this cohort's audience
Funding rounds
  • Oct 2021Seed$4M
Investors
Osage Venture Partners, SSC Venture Partners
Tech stack
WebflowGoogle AdsRecaptchaJqueryGoogle AnalyticsGoogle Ads Conversion Tracking
#8
Funding Raised · Harrisburg, Illinois · founded 2002 · 407 employees
$4.4Mraised
▾

College provides academic programs, workforce training, student support, and community engagement. It offers transfer programs, career and technical education, and adult basic education. The college facilitates student success through academic advising, tutoring, and disability services. Additionally, it fosters community connections via alumni relations, community education, and cultural events.

Funding rounds
  • Sep 2010Grant (prize money)$399.6K
  • Aug 2010Grant (prize money)$1.4M
  • Sep 2009Grant (prize money)$190K
  • Aug 2009Grant (prize money)$1.1M
Investors
ED
Tech stack
All In One SeoAmazon SesAmazon Web ServicesAnimate.CssApple Icloud MailBeaver Builder
#9
Funding Raised · Lombard, Illinois · founded 2000 · 73 employees
$2.5Mraised
▾

Provider of educational programs and resources in the health sciences

Funding rounds
  • Sep 2009Grant (prize money)$722K
  • Jul 2008Grant (prize money)$1.1M
  • Mar 2008Grant (prize money)$722K
Investors
HHS
Tech stack
Amazon SesAmazon Web ServicesBootstrapCdnjsCloudflareCloudflare Bot Management
#10
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 1996
$1.4Mraised
▾

Provider of post-secondary education and vocational training programs for adult learners

Funding rounds
  • Sep 2010Grant (prize money)$399.9K
  • Jul 2009Grant (prize money)$199.7K
  • Sep 2008Grant (prize money)$772K
Investors
HHS, ED
Tech stack
AngularAstraBeaver BuilderCloudflareCloudflare Bot ManagementCore-Js
#11
Funding Raised · Carlinville, Illinois · founded 1913
$239.7Kraised
▾

Institute offering multiple courses across diversified streams

Funding rounds
  • Sep 2011Grant (prize money)$14.7K
  • Jul 2010Grant (prize money)$225K
Founders & team
Larry LeePresidentFazal DadPrincipal & Chief Executive Officer
Investors
ED, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
#12
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2003 · 2355 employees
$128.9Kraised
▾

Provider of arts courses

LinkedIn Pulse recent public activity · Jul 2026
Audience: 1k LinkedIn followers · 24 engagements/post (2.0× cohort median)
Funding rounds
  • May 2008Grant (prize money)$128.9K
Investors
ED
Tech stack
AddtoanyAzureAzure MonitorCart FunctionalityCdnjsCloudflare

Funding & investor landscape

$83.4Mtotal disclosed funding
13companies funded
86disclosed rounds
0rounds last 90 days
Most active investors
ED11 rounds
HHS6 rounds
National Science Foundation6 rounds
Military Health4 rounds
United States Department of Agriculture4 rounds
HRSA3 rounds
OSTI3 rounds
Europa2 rounds
NASA2 rounds
National Endowment for the Arts2 rounds

Notable founders

Michael Amiridis
CEO · University of Illinois at Chicago
Larry Lee
President · Blackburn
Fazal Dad
Principal & Chief Executive Officer · Blackburn
Chris Olsen
Senior Director · Adtalem Global Education
Steve Beard
President and Chief Executive Officer · Adtalem Global Education
Constance Jones
CEO · Noble Network of Charter Schools
Prism market signals · United States · country-scoped Prism corpus, 14,756,012 docs

Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage

Share of Higher Education Institutions coverage by sub-theme.

Regulatory-risk over time rising

Funding & growth over time

funding rising · growth rising

Common questions

How many Higher Education Institutions companies are there in Illinois, United States?
Radar tracks 40 indexable Higher Education Institutions companies headquartered in Illinois, United States that meet our profile-completeness bar.
What is the total funding raised by Higher Education Institutions companies in Illinois, United States?
The Higher Education Institutions companies in Illinois, United States on this list have raised a combined $83.4M in disclosed equity funding across 13 funded companies.
Which is the highest-funded Higher Education Institutions company in Illinois, United States?
University of Illinois at Chicago is the highest-funded Higher Education Institutions company in Illinois, United States, with $26.5M in disclosed equity funding.
How many Higher Education Institutions companies in Illinois, United States are funded?
13 of the 40 Higher Education Institutions companies in Illinois, United States on this list have disclosed at least one equity funding round.
How many Higher Education Institutions unicorns are there in Illinois, United States?
None of the Higher Education Institutions companies in Illinois, United States on this list currently has a disclosed valuation of $1B or more.
Who are the top investors in Illinois, United States Higher Education Institutions companies?
The most active investors in Illinois, United States Higher Education Institutions companies on this list include ED, HHS, National Science Foundation, Military Health, United States Department of Agriculture.
Rohit KhannaTrends & Stories

Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.

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