Illinois · Education
High School Graduation Rate in Illinois
Share of 9th-graders who earn a regular diploma within four years, adjusted for students who transfer in or out.
87% in 2022
#20 of 48 · Middle tier (higher is better)
Illinois is better than the 50-state median (87%). That's a gap of 0.8%.
View interactive chart & trend → See full 50-state ranking →
2011 – 2022 · Illinois only · interactive chart with US median overlay →
About high school graduation rate
What this measures: Share of 9th-graders who earn a regular diploma within four years, adjusted for transfers in and out.
Why it matters: On-time graduation is a key checkpoint, predicting earnings, civic engagement, and reduced incarceration risk.
Watch out: Measures on-time diplomas, not learning. A high graduation rate can coexist with weak college readiness.
Recent trend
| Year | Illinois | US median |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 85% | 80% |
| 2012 | 82% | 81% |
| 2013 | 83% | 83% |
| 2014 | 86% | 84% |
| 2015 | 86% | 85% |
| 2016 | 86% | 86% |
| 2017 | 87% | 86% |
| 2018 | 87% | 86% |
| 2019 | 86% | 87% |
| 2022 | 87% | 87% |
Illinois vs. neighboring states
Same metric (high school graduation rate), latest year with full state coverage. Click any name for that state's full report.
| State | High School Graduation Rate | National rank |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 90% | #3 of 48 |
| Iowa | 90% | #6 of 48 |
| Missouri | 90% | #7 of 48 |
| Kentucky | 90% | #4 of 48 |
| Indiana | 88% | #17 of 48 |
How Illinois compares (2022)
Top 5 best
| #1 | West Virginia | 91% |
| #2 | Tennessee | 90% |
| #3 | Wisconsin | 90% |
| #4 | Kentucky | 90% |
| #5 | Massachusetts | 90% |
Source and methodology
Source: NCES · Direction: higher is better · Unit: %
Download raw CSV (all 50 states, all years)