Which colleges are most affordable for Illinois residents ? The answer may surprise you.
These rankings of the most affordable colleges for Illinois residents are based on the estimated net price for a "typical" middle class family living in the state of Illinois.
Note: Net price is the actual cost of the school paid by the student and family, after factoring in merit and grant aid from the college federal programs and work study.The net prices displayed in these rankings are College Raptor's estimates.
“Typical” middle class family values used in the Net Price estimates on this page are:
| Rank | Institution | Typical Net Price | Sticker Price | % Savings | Undergraduates | Est. Median SAT | Acceptance Rate | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | 5900 | 95600 | 0.9384 | 6,738 | 1500 | 0.0418 | |
| 2 | Savannah State University | 6800 | 29000 | 0.7651 | 2,966 | 950 | 1 | |
| 3 | Brigham Young University | 8000 | 22000 | 0.6362 | 34,354 | 1374 | 0.6862 | |
| 4 | Utah State University | 9700 | 26700 | 0.6361 | 26,629 | 1168 | 0.9212 | |
| 5 | Duke University | 10800 | 93600 | 0.8848 | 6,525 | 1533 | 0.0524 | |
| 6 | Georgetown University | 11100 | 92700 | 0.8803 | 7,908 | 1470 | 0.1349 | |
| 7 | Eastern Washington University | 11500 | 31200 | 0.6315 | 7,640 | 1045 | 0.8526 | |
| 7 | Northern Arizona University | 11500 | 27900 | 0.5865 | 22,203 | 1129 | 0.8961 | |
| 9 | University of Hawaii at Hilo | 11900 | 33200 | 0.6407 | 2,304 | 990 | 0.8351 | |
| 10 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 12200 | 25000 | 0.5113 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 11 | Boston University | 12300 | 92800 | 0.8676 | 18,289 | 1475 | 0.1283 | |
| 12 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,421 | 1054 | 0.9444 | |
| 13 | University of the Virgin Islands | 12600 | 22800 | 0.4467 | 1,650 | 900 | 0.9936 | |
| 14 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 12800 | 26500 | 0.5164 | 13,039 | 1020 | 0.894 | |
| 15 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 13200 | 43000 | 0.693 | 23,091 | 1354 | 0.382 | |
| 16 | Mayville State University | 13500 | 22000 | 0.3872 | 1,067 | 1034 | 0.7825 | |
| 17 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 18 | University of Georgia | 13700 | 26600 | 0.485 | 32,824 | 1348 | 0.3425 | |
| 19 | Francis Marion University | 14000 | 24100 | 0.4198 | 3,793 | 1015 | 0.9508 | |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 14000 | 19000 | 0.2634 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.8651 | |
| 19 | Wesleyan College | 14000 | 43800 | 0.6802 | 500 | 1065 | 0.591 | |
| 22 | Arkansas Tech University | 14300 | 34400 | 0.5844 | 8,279 | 1055 | 0.9747 | |
| 22 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 24 | Central Michigan University | 14500 | 37800 | 0.6157 | 10,238 | 1099 | 0.9104 | |
| 24 | Virginia Union University | 14500 | 39400 | 0.6315 | 1,205 | 870 | 0.9802 | |
| 26 | Miles College | 14600 | 25400 | 0.4246 | 1,180 | 0 | 1 | |
| 27 | Northeastern University | 15000 | 89900 | 0.8331 | 22,456 | 1481 | 0.0562 | |
| 28 | University of Central Oklahoma | 15500 | 28700 | 0.46 | 10,777 | 1075 | 0.7812 | |
| 29 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 38800 | 0.5992 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8613 | |
| 30 | Ball State University | 15700 | 22400 | 0.2995 | 15,950 | 1185 | 0.8625 | |
| 31 | Weber State University | 16000 | 23600 | 0.3216 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 32 | California State University-Long Beach | 16100 | 25800 | 0.3761 | 36,056 | 1135 | 0.4543 | |
| 32 | Emporia State University | 16100 | 22900 | 0.2971 | 2,396 | 1075 | 0.9771 | |
| 34 | University of California-Los Angeles | 16300 | 36700 | 0.5554 | 33,534 | 1399 | 0.0941 | |
| 34 | University of Florida | 16300 | 22500 | 0.2755 | 37,283 | 1406 | 0.2033 | |
| 36 | Eastern Michigan University | 16400 | 36100 | 0.5458 | 10,034 | 1055 | 0.7772 | |
| 36 | SUNY College at Potsdam | 16400 | 27600 | 0.406 | 1,750 | 1060 | 0.8241 | |
| 38 | Ferris State University | 16500 | 31000 | 0.4685 | 8,980 | 1015 | 0.8237 | |
| 38 | SUNY College at Geneseo | 16500 | 26400 | 0.3744 | 3,943 | 1275 | 0.3333 | |
| 40 | Waynesburg University | 16600 | 45000 | 0.6306 | 1,032 | 1093 | 0.8981 | |
| 41 | West Virginia University | 16800 | 40900 | 0.589 | 18,206 | 1120 | 0.8514 | |
| 42 | Winona State University | 17000 | 23000 | 0.2596 | 5,317 | 1115 | 0.7549 | |
| 43 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 17100 | 17100 | 0 | 14,657 | 1190 | 0.7583 | |
| 44 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 17400 | 29900 | 0.4171 | 60,710 | 1278 | 0.5732 | |
| 45 | Daemen University | 17500 | 55100 | 0.6825 | 1,656 | 1050 | 0.7375 | |
| 46 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,241 | 1408 | 0.1761 | |
| 47 | Bethel University | 18000 | 35300 | 0.4896 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 47 | Bridgewater State University | 18000 | 25400 | 0.291 | 8,849 | 1143 | 0.8798 | |
| 47 | College of Staten Island CUNY | 18000 | 54300 | 0.6684 | 10,368 | 1064 | 0.999 | |
| 47 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 18000 | 39000 | 0.538 | 37,985 | 1390 | 0.5815 | |
| 51 | Lindsey Wilson University | 18300 | 47100 | 0.6117 | 1,738 | 1035 | 0 | |
| 52 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.4281 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 53 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 19200 | 26700 | 0.2813 | 5,130 | 1099 | 0.8645 | |
| 53 | Madonna University | 19200 | 49200 | 0.6101 | 1,919 | 925 | 0.6757 | |
| 53 | University of Nevada-Reno | 19200 | 28200 | 0.3189 | 20,204 | 1109 | 0.8313 | |
| 53 | University of Rhode Island | 19200 | 33900 | 0.4337 | 14,466 | 1197 | 0.7456 | |
| 57 | Saint Xavier University | 19500 | 53300 | 0.6329 | 3,100 | 1050 | 0.843 | |
| 58 | Carlow University | 19600 | 82500 | 0.7625 | 2,303 | 1084 | 0.8768 | |
| 59 | Wichita State University | 19700 | 29800 | 0.3384 | 14,906 | 1065 | 0.7224 | |
| 60 | McMurry University | 19800 | 51900 | 0.618 | 4,133 | 1104 | 0.8984 | |
| 61 | University of Southern California | 20000 | 75900 | 0.7369 | 20,768 | 1499 | 0.1119 | |
| 62 | Coker University | 20100 | 47800 | 0.5798 | 1,220 | 1050 | 0.9396 | |
| 62 | Minot State University | 20100 | 23500 | 0.145 | 2,499 | 1075 | 0.6462 | |
| 62 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 20100 | 32300 | 0.3775 | 15,735 | 1069 | 0.8797 | |
| 65 | Grove City College | 20500 | 39700 | 0.4842 | 2,247 | 1248 | 0.667 | |
| 65 | State University of New York at Cortland | 20500 | 27700 | 0.2597 | 5,890 | 1175 | 0.624 | |
| 67 | La Sierra University | 20600 | 65900 | 0.687 | 1,266 | 1124 | 0.9069 | |
| 68 | Florida College | 20800 | 34200 | 0.3921 | 728 | 1099 | 0.6966 | |
| 68 | North Dakota State University | 20800 | 25700 | 0.19 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 70 | State University of New York at New Paltz | 21400 | 26300 | 0.1865 | 6,113 | 1279 | 0.6267 | |
| 71 | Bradley University | 21700 | 49900 | 0.5642 | 3,258 | 1174 | 0.7459 | |
| 72 | Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | 21800 | 52700 | 0.5867 | 1,040 | 1075 | 0.6271 | |
| 72 | Niagara University | 21800 | 57400 | 0.62 | 2,638 | 1170 | 0.876 | |
| 74 | Grand Valley State University | 22100 | 35900 | 0.3849 | 19,154 | 1074 | 0.9271 | |
| 75 | The University of Alabama | 22600 | 31000 | 0.2708 | 35,621 | 1238 | 0.7117 | |
| 76 | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 22700 | 56900 | 0.6007 | 533 | 1244 | 0.5269 | |
| 76 | Juniata College | 22700 | 73800 | 0.6922 | 1,276 | 1263 | 0.7941 | |
| 78 | Saint Cloud State University | 22900 | 36800 | 0.3773 | 8,209 | 1079 | 0.948 | |
| 78 | San Jose State University | 22900 | 41100 | 0.4429 | 29,890 | 1135 | 0.8039 | |
| 80 | Southwest Minnesota State University | 23400 | 26700 | 0.1231 | 7,290 | 1015 | 0.6409 | |
| 80 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23400 | 45800 | 0.4895 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 82 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 23600 | 90700 | 0.7398 | 8,727 | 1055 | 0.9703 | |
| 82 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 23600 | 24900 | 0.0522 | 31,845 | 1298 | 0.5651 | |
| 84 | Millikin University | 23800 | 43700 | 0.4549 | 1,427 | 1065 | 0.765 | |
| 85 | Keuka College | 24100 | 59400 | 0.5937 | 986 | 1043 | 0.8151 | |
| 86 | Unity Environmental University | 24500 | 29900 | 0.1809 | 6,525 | 0 | 0.818 | |
| 87 | Huntingdon College | 24600 | 44400 | 0.4457 | 943 | 1130 | 0.692 | |
| 88 | Augustana College | 24700 | 72800 | 0.6602 | 2,536 | 1157 | 0.6628 | |
| 88 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24700 | 56700 | 0.5642 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 90 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 24800 | 37900 | 0.3454 | 5,677 | 985 | 0.9301 | |
| 91 | The University of Findlay | 25400 | 50600 | 0.4976 | 4,132 | 1090 | 0.6748 | |
| 92 | Ave Maria University | 25500 | 46600 | 0.453 | 1,320 | 1164 | 0.4139 | |
| 92 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 25500 | 53800 | 0.5262 | 2,775 | 1105 | 0.9747 | |
| 94 | Evangel University | 25700 | 40900 | 0.372 | 1,843 | 1180 | 0.7161 | |
| 94 | Minnesota State University, Mankato | 25700 | 28000 | 0.0815 | 13,433 | 1145 | 0.8844 | |
| 96 | Messiah University | 25900 | 54300 | 0.5228 | 2,722 | 1266 | 0.8107 | |
| 97 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 26000 | 28300 | 0.0808 | 3,375 | 1090 | 0.5885 | |
| 97 | Salem State University | 26000 | 43200 | 0.3984 | 4,867 | 1075 | 0.9588 | |
| 99 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4754 | 1,299 | 1167 | 0.9556 | |
| 100 | Trine University | 26500 | 56100 | 0.5277 | 4,373 | 1159 | 0.8548 | |
| 100 | University of Southern Mississippi | 26500 | 26500 | 0 | 10,371 | 1181 | 0.926 | |
| 102 | Wingate University | 26700 | 65000 | 0.5892 | 2,673 | 1100 | 0.9113 | |
| 103 | Troy University | 26800 | 34700 | 0.2277 | 10,130 | 1075 | 0.9535 | |
| 104 | St. Francis College | 26900 | 39400 | 0.3177 | 1,719 | 1035 | 1 | |
| 105 | Valley City State University | 27100 | 29300 | 0.0779 | 1,663 | 1045 | 0.9942 | |
| 106 | Florida Southern College | 27700 | 63200 | 0.5615 | 2,682 | 1264 | 0.6442 | |
| 107 | Mitchell College | 27800 | 66600 | 0.5826 | 442 | 817 | 0.9466 | |
| 107 | Saint Edward's University | 27800 | 73200 | 0.6205 | 2,499 | 1128 | 0.8142 | |
| 109 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3223 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 110 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 28900 | 49100 | 0.4114 | 29,727 | 990 | 0.9229 | |
| 111 | University of Alaska Southeast | 29000 | 31300 | 0.0731 | 1,559 | 1020 | 0.6192 | |
| 112 | Huntington University | 29300 | 44300 | 0.3384 | 1,512 | 1065 | 0.7518 | |
| 113 | Montclair State University | 29400 | 36300 | 0.1902 | 19,048 | 1005 | 0.894 | |
| 114 | Montana State University | 29500 | 31900 | 0.0751 | 15,142 | 1184 | 0.9938 | |
| 115 | Blue Mountain Christian University | 29600 | 39900 | 0.2576 | 915 | 1095 | 0.8895 | |
| 116 | Lipscomb University | 29800 | 57800 | 0.4841 | 3,327 | 1214 | 0.6774 | |
| 116 | University of Pikeville | 29800 | 34800 | 0.1438 | 1,164 | 1070 | 0.8967 | |
| 118 | Southern Utah University | 29900 | 40800 | 0.2673 | 13,176 | 1140 | 0.9998 | |
| 119 | University of West Florida | 30000 | 38000 | 0.2104 | 9,971 | 1120 | 0.5822 | |
| 120 | Mercy University | 30100 | 44500 | 0.3237 | 6,692 | 1135 | 0.8724 | |
| 120 | Mississippi State University | 30100 | 34400 | 0.1245 | 19,093 | 1205 | 0.8363 | |
| 120 | Southwestern College | 30100 | 64400 | 0.5326 | 816 | 1000 | 0.4729 | |
| 123 | Bryan College-Dayton | 30200 | 36000 | 0.1609 | 1,565 | 1085 | 1 | |
| 124 | Jacksonville University | 30800 | 74200 | 0.5847 | 2,916 | 1210 | 0.5748 | |
| 124 | Utah Tech University | 30800 | 35200 | 0.125 | 12,993 | 1065 | 1 | |
| 126 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 31000 | 77600 | 0.6003 | 4,999 | 1258 | 0.9296 | |
| 127 | University of Louisville | 31200 | 42000 | 0.257 | 17,916 | 1134 | 0.7921 | |
| 128 | Hampton University | 31600 | 54800 | 0.4233 | 4,046 | 1005 | 0.6358 | |
| 129 | Samford University | 32600 | 64600 | 0.4955 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 130 | Liberty University | 33200 | 44600 | 0.2556 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 131 | SUNY Old Westbury | 33600 | 40900 | 0.1785 | 4,474 | 1110 | 0.8352 | |
| 132 | Auburn University | 33700 | 34100 | 0.0117 | 27,907 | 1324 | 0.4593 | |
| 132 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 55300 | 0.3907 | 1,935 | 1214 | 0.8892 | |
| 134 | Nova Southeastern University | 34100 | 56100 | 0.3921 | 7,057 | 1187 | 0.7557 | |
| 134 | SUNY at Fredonia | 34100 | 39600 | 0.1391 | 2,771 | 1258 | 0.777 | |
| 136 | Charleston Southern University | 34200 | 48400 | 0.2949 | 3,126 | 1060 | 0.9646 | |
| 137 | Siena University | 34400 | 65100 | 0.4717 | 3,149 | 1301 | 0.8464 | |
| 137 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 11,981 | 1110 | 0.4247 | |
| 139 | Stockton University | 34800 | 44500 | 0.2181 | 7,583 | 1134 | 0.901 | |
| 140 | Coastal Carolina University | 34900 | 45100 | 0.2259 | 11,471 | 1160 | 0.7003 | |
| 141 | University of South Florida | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 39,093 | 1255 | 0.4071 | |
| 142 | University of New England | 35100 | 68000 | 0.4841 | 4,631 | 1145 | 0.9203 | |
| 143 | Barry University | 35200 | 56400 | 0.3757 | 4,654 | 1005 | 0.9663 | |
| 144 | Pfeiffer University | 35300 | 56100 | 0.3704 | 696 | 941 | 0.9603 | |
| 145 | Centenary University | 35400 | 63600 | 0.4433 | 936 | 1070 | 0.8308 | |
| 146 | The University of Tampa | 35500 | 56900 | 0.3758 | 10,710 | 1250 | 0.4363 | |
| 147 | Roger Williams University | 35600 | 63700 | 0.4413 | 3,970 | 1235 | 0.882 | |
| 148 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 36000 | 48500 | 0.2574 | 2,075 | 1090 | 0.8894 | |
| 149 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 36100 | 36100 | 0 | 16,131 | 1275 | 0.6472 | |
| 150 | Florida International University | 36500 | 36800 | 0.0081 | 46,249 | 1180 | 0.6085 | |
| 151 | Eckerd College | 36600 | 75100 | 0.5126 | 1,893 | 1255 | 0.758 | |
| 152 | University of Connecticut | 37100 | 53600 | 0.3081 | 20,056 | 1329 | 0.5239 | |
| 153 | DePaul University | 37800 | 66000 | 0.4275 | 14,338 | 1258 | 0.878 | |
| 154 | Northwest Nazarene University | 38100 | 62800 | 0.3932 | 1,043 | 1145 | 0.7159 | |
| 154 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 38100 | 65000 | 0.4136 | 1,105 | 1055 | 0.8351 | |
| 156 | University of Dubuque | 38200 | 65900 | 0.4213 | 1,395 | 1074 | 0.8731 | |
| 157 | Maine Maritime Academy | 38400 | 49800 | 0.2287 | 977 | 1189 | 0.9615 | |
| 158 | Reinhardt University | 38700 | 49300 | 0.2138 | 1,129 | 1070 | 0.6154 | |
| 158 | Western New England University | 38700 | 69200 | 0.4409 | 2,616 | 1199 | 0.8348 | |
| 160 | SUNY Oneonta | 39500 | 41700 | 0.0527 | 4,815 | 1090 | 0.7696 | |
| 160 | University of Maine | 39500 | 45200 | 0.1262 | 9,182 | 1195 | 0.9562 | |
| 162 | Stony Brook University | 39700 | 53000 | 0.2507 | 18,616 | 1410 | 0.4818 | |
| 162 | University of Central Florida | 39700 | 39700 | 0 | 60,083 | 1289 | 0.428 | |
| 164 | University of Wyoming | 40000 | 45300 | 0.1167 | 8,138 | 1163 | 0.9695 | |
| 165 | University of New Haven | 41000 | 67300 | 0.3906 | 4,969 | 1219 | 0.5589 | |
| 165 | Western Washington University | 41000 | 51500 | 0.2041 | 13,609 | 1199 | 0.9371 | |
| 167 | Sacred Heart University | 42600 | 67500 | 0.3691 | 7,291 | 1265 | 0.6363 | |
| 167 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 42600 | 56200 | 0.2421 | 10,900 | 1222 | 0.8914 | |
| 169 | Loyola University Chicago | 42900 | 70600 | 0.3922 | 12,640 | 1262 | 0.751 | |
| 170 | Providence College | 43400 | 85000 | 0.4895 | 4,680 | 1345 | 0.4994 | |
| 171 | Florida Institute of Technology | 43500 | 68700 | 0.3678 | 4,279 | 1234 | 0.5796 | |
| 172 | Illinois State University | 43800 | 49100 | 0.1077 | 19,513 | 1115 | 0.8555 | |
| 173 | St. John's University-New York | 44500 | 78000 | 0.4292 | 15,640 | 1249 | 0.8343 | |
| 174 | Quinnipiac University | 44800 | 79200 | 0.4343 | 6,610 | 1250 | 0.7031 | |
| 175 | University of California-San Diego | 45900 | 77200 | 0.4055 | 35,442 | 1375 | 0.2856 | |
| 176 | University of Delaware | 47700 | 61300 | 0.2231 | 19,287 | 1302 | 0.6924 | |
| 177 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 48500 | 51200 | 0.0544 | 43,633 | 1342 | 0.4343 | |
| 178 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 53300 | 53300 | 0 | 34,447 | 1273 | 0.8804 | |
| 179 | Dallas Baptist University | 55800 | 63400 | 0.1199 | 2,938 | 1073 | 0.9131 | |
| 180 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 55900 | 63800 | 0.1237 | 42,565 | 1339 | 0.7887 | |
| 181 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 58100 | 63200 | 0.0806 | 40,996 | 1399 | 0.4175 | |
| 182 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 58200 | 64100 | 0.092 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 183 | College of Charleston | 61200 | 61200 | 0 | 10,596 | 1234 | 0.73 | |
| 184 | Hawaii Pacific University | 63500 | 65800 | 0.0347 | 3,468 | 1200 | 0.8855 | |
| 185 | University of California-Davis | 68400 | 69800 | 0.0201 | 31,695 | 1290 | 0.4435 | |
| 186 | University of Oregon | 69000 | 71300 | 0.0321 | 20,710 | 1193 | 0.8742 | |
| 187 | University of California-Irvine | 72000 | 75600 | 0.0476 | 30,260 | 1333 | 0.2895 | |
| 188 | Rollins College | 82400 | 82400 | 0 | 2,639 | 1284 | 0.5285 | |
| 188 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 82400 | 82400 | 0 | 18,194 | 1281 | 0.7273 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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