ChoiceFunded What your state pays

School choice in Illinois

No state program pays private school tuition.

940 private schools listed in Illinois

What exists in Illinois

State programNo state program pays private school tuition
What families can use insteadNo Illinois program pays private school tuition. Invest in Kids, the state’s tax-credit scholarship, ended: donations made after December 31, 2023 earn no credit. Families can claim the Education Expense Credit, 25% of tuition, book rental and lab fees above the first $250, up to $750 per family a year. It is not refundable and is not allowed above $500,000 of adjusted gross income on a joint return ($250,000 for other filers).
Help payingThe Education Expense Credit covers tuition, book rental and lab fees at an Illinois public or nonpublic K-12 school, after the first $250.
Coming upThere is no state application. Claim the Education Expense Credit on your Illinois return (Schedule ICR) and keep the school’s written receipt.
Federal tax credit, 2027Illinois was not on the IRS opt-in list for the federal scholarship tax credit as of September 14, 2026.

Worth knowing: Bills to bring back a scholarship tax credit were introduced in 2025 and 2026. None has passed.

We read this on from: Illinois Department of Revenue, Invest in Kids (expired); Illinois Department of Revenue, Bulletin FY 2024-17; Illinois Department of Revenue, Publication 112, Education Expense Credit; Bright Start 529, questions (K-12 withdrawals); IRS, participating states for 2027 (as of September 14, 2026); Illinois State Board of Education, nonpublic schools. Rules change when the legislature meets, so check the official program site before you count on a number.

Private schools in Illinois

We list 940 private schools in Illinois, with grades, size and affiliation, by city and county.

Browse private schools in Illinois

Questions parents ask

Does Illinois have school vouchers or an ESA?

No state program pays private school tuition.

What can families in Illinois use instead?

No Illinois program pays private school tuition. Invest in Kids, the state’s tax-credit scholarship, ended: donations made after December 31, 2023 earn no credit. Families can claim the Education Expense Credit, 25% of tuition, book rental and lab fees above the first $250, up to $750 per family a year. It is not refundable and is not allowed above $500,000 of adjusted gross income on a joint return ($250,000 for other filers).

Will the federal scholarship tax credit help in Illinois?

Illinois was not on the IRS opt-in list for the federal scholarship tax credit as of September 14, 2026.

Other states

Illinois schools Federal credit