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 | Patrick Henry College | 5800 | 42000 | 0.8613 | 425 | 1345 | 0.7744 | |
| 2 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 7700 | 34500 | 0.7763 | 16,086 | 1293 | 0.5117 | |
| 3 | Washington University in St Louis | 9400 | 96200 | 0.9026 | 8,220 | 1513 | 0.1206 | |
| 4 | Francis Marion University | 9800 | 25400 | 0.6139 | 3,635 | 1015 | 0.8639 | |
| 5 | Arkansas Tech University | 9900 | 22900 | 0.5671 | 8,145 | 1055 | 0.9589 | |
| 6 | Valdosta State University | 10500 | 24800 | 0.5776 | 7,206 | 1015 | 0.7214 | |
| 7 | Marshall University | 11300 | 27100 | 0.5821 | 9,165 | 1065 | 0.9572 | |
| 8 | Tennessee State University | 11600 | 30300 | 0.6167 | 5,057 | 980 | 0.7018 | |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 11700 | 24800 | 0.5288 | 6,817 | 1110 | 0.882 | |
| 10 | Northern Illinois University | 12400 | 29000 | 0.5718 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 11 | Brigham Young University | 12500 | 29000 | 0.5686 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 12 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 12800 | 37100 | 0.6545 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 13 | University of Maine at Farmington | 12900 | 26500 | 0.5142 | 1,677 | 1124 | 0.9672 | |
| 14 | Saginaw Valley State University | 13000 | 28600 | 0.5446 | 6,152 | 1050 | 0.7207 | |
| 15 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 13700 | 19400 | 0.2939 | 14,416 | 1205 | 0.8851 | |
| 16 | Louisiana Tech University | 13800 | 24900 | 0.4451 | 11,071 | 1164 | 0.9073 | |
| 16 | Wichita State University | 13800 | 29800 | 0.5369 | 14,280 | 1094 | 0.7211 | |
| 18 | West Virginia University | 14100 | 23300 | 0.3948 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 19 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 20 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14400 | 41100 | 0.6502 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 20 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 14400 | 25600 | 0.4367 | 9,982 | 1125 | 0.7702 | |
| 22 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 36300 | 0.5973 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 23 | California State University-Long Beach | 15300 | 25800 | 0.4071 | 35,843 | 1135 | 0.4628 | |
| 23 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15300 | 28100 | 0.4555 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 25 | James Madison University | 15700 | 28600 | 0.4503 | 21,112 | 1260 | 0.7151 | |
| 26 | Appalachian State University | 15900 | 19500 | 0.1844 | 19,560 | 1159 | 0.9014 | |
| 26 | Grand Valley State University | 15900 | 25300 | 0.372 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 26 | Troy University | 15900 | 26700 | 0.4044 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 29 | Lamar University | 16000 | 22900 | 0.3009 | 8,206 | 1045 | 0.857 | |
| 30 | Lehigh University | 16200 | 85700 | 0.8114 | 5,911 | 1436 | 0.2593 | |
| 31 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 16300 | 26800 | 0.392 | 4,478 | 1065 | 0.8132 | |
| 32 | Sam Houston State University | 16600 | 23000 | 0.2783 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 33 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 16700 | 29300 | 0.4304 | 20,609 | 990 | 0.999 | |
| 34 | Jacksonville State University | 16900 | 26600 | 0.3649 | 8,663 | 1065 | 0.7769 | |
| 34 | Weber State University | 16900 | 22100 | 0.2355 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 36 | Arkansas State University | 17000 | 28100 | 0.3952 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 36 | University of Georgia | 17000 | 27100 | 0.3731 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 38 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 17200 | 26300 | 0.3464 | 19,701 | 1214 | 0.8749 | |
| 39 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | 17400 | 18900 | 0.0795 | 8,320 | 1074 | 0.8858 | |
| 40 | Midwestern State University | 17800 | 29000 | 0.3858 | 4,508 | 1055 | 0.8738 | |
| 40 | University of Arkansas | 17800 | 27700 | 0.3563 | 28,859 | 1179 | 0.7431 | |
| 40 | Virginia State University | 17800 | 29300 | 0.3931 | 4,829 | 935 | 0.891 | |
| 43 | Georgia Southern University | 18000 | 23800 | 0.2441 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 44 | Union College | 18300 | 91000 | 0.799 | 2,065 | 1393 | 0.4392 | |
| 45 | State University of New York at Cortland | 18400 | 27700 | 0.3355 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 45 | SUNY Oneonta | 18400 | 29300 | 0.372 | 4,681 | 1190 | 0.6959 | |
| 47 | Greensboro College | 18500 | 37800 | 0.5105 | 899 | 1005 | 0.7014 | |
| 48 | East Tennessee State University | 18600 | 26300 | 0.293 | 10,633 | 1124 | 0.8706 | |
| 49 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4817 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 50 | Georgia College & State University | 18900 | 21600 | 0.1248 | 6,006 | 1155 | 0.8779 | |
| 50 | Saint Cloud State University | 18900 | 24500 | 0.2311 | 8,013 | 1094 | 0.9495 | |
| 50 | Texas State University | 18900 | 28900 | 0.3455 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 50 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 18900 | 18900 | 0 | 14,449 | 1195 | 0.7816 | |
| 54 | University of Memphis | 19100 | 26400 | 0.277 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 55 | Youngstown State University | 19300 | 29300 | 0.3409 | 8,436 | 1065 | 0.8066 | |
| 56 | University of Mississippi | 19400 | 27000 | 0.2814 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 57 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 58 | Cleveland State University | 19700 | 37300 | 0.4721 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 59 | University of West Georgia | 19800 | 23600 | 0.1607 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 60 | Georgia State University | 20000 | 26000 | 0.2309 | 27,438 | 1089 | 0.5543 | |
| 61 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 20500 | 30000 | 0.3172 | 13,179 | 1110 | 0.8883 | |
| 62 | South Dakota State University | 20600 | 25200 | 0.1814 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 63 | Allegheny College | 20700 | 75200 | 0.7244 | 1,171 | 1269 | 0.5452 | |
| 64 | Niagara University | 20800 | 57400 | 0.6374 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 65 | Western Illinois University | 20900 | 31000 | 0.3266 | 5,025 | 990 | 0.7496 | |
| 66 | Wheaton College | 21000 | 82000 | 0.7438 | 2,119 | 1351 | 0.8998 | |
| 67 | Pennsylvania Western University | 21200 | 29400 | 0.279 | 7,586 | 1070 | 0.9433 | |
| 68 | Northern Arizona University | 21300 | 32000 | 0.3349 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 69 | Louisiana Christian University | 21500 | 26000 | 0.1733 | 803 | 1065 | 0.8379 | |
| 69 | University of Miami | 21500 | 70800 | 0.6967 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 71 | Dillard University | 21600 | 50400 | 0.5717 | 1,117 | 1080 | 0.4051 | |
| 72 | Bentley University | 22000 | 84500 | 0.7394 | 4,526 | 1359 | 0.4505 | |
| 73 | Bradley University | 22200 | 48300 | 0.5396 | 3,596 | 1174 | 0.7675 | |
| 74 | Ave Maria University | 22300 | 44800 | 0.502 | 1,250 | 1193 | 0.4481 | |
| 75 | Lewis University | 22700 | 57000 | 0.6019 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 76 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 22900 | 22900 | 0 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 77 | Grove City College | 23100 | 37200 | 0.3791 | 2,341 | 1256 | 0.7232 | |
| 78 | Berry College | 23200 | 60800 | 0.6182 | 2,254 | 1224 | 0.64 | |
| 79 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | 23700 | 28300 | 0.1627 | 6,800 | 1245 | 0.6857 | |
| 79 | Utica University | 23700 | 41100 | 0.423 | 2,333 | 1120 | 0.8679 | |
| 81 | Beloit College | 23800 | 75600 | 0.6855 | 1,004 | 1298 | 0.6304 | |
| 81 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 23800 | 24500 | 0.0285 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 83 | West Texas A & M University | 25200 | 27100 | 0.07 | 6,930 | 1060 | 0.5863 | |
| 84 | Mary Baldwin University | 25400 | 46100 | 0.4487 | 1,217 | 1099 | 0.947 | |
| 85 | Marquette University | 25600 | 65700 | 0.61 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 86 | Hope College | 25700 | 60100 | 0.5722 | 3,395 | 1245 | 0.7924 | |
| 87 | Northwood University | 25900 | 54500 | 0.5252 | 1,989 | 1075 | 0.839 | |
| 87 | Westmont College | 25900 | 76400 | 0.6612 | 1,311 | 1324 | 0.7704 | |
| 89 | University of Evansville | 26100 | 64700 | 0.5965 | 1,742 | 1207 | 0.7813 | |
| 89 | Westminster University | 26100 | 59500 | 0.561 | 842 | 1233 | 0.6657 | |
| 91 | Iowa State University | 26200 | 42800 | 0.3864 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 92 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 92 | University of Arizona | 26500 | 35200 | 0.247 | 45,025 | 1212 | 0.8614 | |
| 94 | Northwest Nazarene University | 26600 | 68400 | 0.6111 | 1,043 | 1145 | 0.7159 | |
| 95 | Cornell College | 26700 | 72200 | 0.6299 | 1,085 | 1243 | 0.8066 | |
| 95 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 26700 | 48200 | 0.4462 | 1,147 | 990 | 0.7246 | |
| 97 | Oakland University | 26800 | 39800 | 0.3268 | 12,587 | 1050 | 0.8784 | |
| 98 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 99 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 100 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 27400 | 53300 | 0.4858 | 2,803 | 1105 | 0.9576 | |
| 101 | Aquinas College | 27600 | 53300 | 0.4823 | 1,019 | 1035 | 0.8988 | |
| 101 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 27600 | 27600 | 0 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 101 | University of North Texas | 27600 | 37400 | 0.2622 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 104 | Missouri Valley College | 27800 | 38100 | 0.2703 | 1,558 | 985 | 0.5269 | |
| 105 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 27900 | 54800 | 0.4907 | 936 | 980 | 0.8003 | |
| 105 | University of Louisville | 27900 | 42200 | 0.3387 | 17,086 | 1148 | 0.7941 | |
| 107 | Villanova University | 28000 | 88800 | 0.6845 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 108 | Washburn University | 28200 | 38100 | 0.26 | 5,331 | 1015 | 1 | |
| 109 | John Brown University | 28300 | 48300 | 0.4153 | 1,882 | 1226 | 0.6764 | |
| 109 | Mississippi State University | 28300 | 32300 | 0.126 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 111 | George Fox University | 28700 | 67100 | 0.5727 | 3,401 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 111 | Salisbury University | 28700 | 28700 | 0 | 6,288 | 1250 | 0.8747 | |
| 113 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 29500 | 36500 | 0.1919 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 114 | University of North Dakota | 30000 | 32500 | 0.0791 | 11,033 | 1150 | 0.769 | |
| 115 | Belmont University | 30300 | 67800 | 0.5529 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 115 | South Carolina State University | 30300 | 41600 | 0.2716 | 2,950 | 865 | 0.8262 | |
| 117 | Gannon University | 30400 | 45300 | 0.329 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 118 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 30500 | 41800 | 0.2705 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 119 | University of Redlands | 30700 | 81400 | 0.6227 | 2,045 | 1226 | 0.8271 | |
| 120 | St Bonaventure University | 30800 | 61000 | 0.4948 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 121 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 121 | Carroll University | 30900 | 61400 | 0.4966 | 2,581 | 1174 | 0.6684 | |
| 121 | The College of Wooster | 30900 | 82400 | 0.6257 | 1,738 | 1344 | 0.5953 | |
| 121 | Wofford College | 30900 | 73200 | 0.5776 | 1,817 | 1305 | 0.5194 | |
| 125 | North Carolina State University | 31100 | 53000 | 0.4127 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 126 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 31500 | 36700 | 0.1417 | 5,789 | 1115 | 0.5774 | |
| 127 | Rider University | 31600 | 64300 | 0.5084 | 3,196 | 1214 | 0.794 | |
| 128 | Angelo State University | 31800 | 35400 | 0.101 | 9,779 | 1055 | 0.8301 | |
| 128 | Samford University | 31800 | 65200 | 0.5122 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 128 | University of North Florida | 31800 | 37900 | 0.161 | 13,735 | 1150 | 0.5324 | |
| 131 | Hampton University | 32300 | 47000 | 0.3128 | 3,728 | 956 | 0.6225 | |
| 132 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 32500 | 34700 | 0.0633 | 30,564 | 1298 | 0.416 | |
| 132 | Widener University | 32500 | 75300 | 0.5682 | 2,811 | 1155 | 0.8402 | |
| 134 | University of Dayton | 32800 | 64100 | 0.4883 | 7,737 | 1284 | 0.6566 | |
| 135 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 33000 | 73700 | 0.552 | 1,525 | 1241 | 0.556 | |
| 136 | Tarleton State University | 33300 | 33300 | 0 | 15,130 | 0 | 0.5256 | |
| 137 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 137 | Stephen F Austin State University | 33700 | 42800 | 0.2126 | 9,129 | 1060 | 0.7445 | |
| 139 | Western Kentucky University | 34200 | 41900 | 0.1839 | 14,151 | 960 | 0.9387 | |
| 140 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 141 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 34700 | 37800 | 0.0813 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 141 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 34700 | 42200 | 0.1776 | 12,382 | 1242 | 0.8842 | |
| 143 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 144 | Cedarville University | 35100 | 55100 | 0.364 | 4,916 | 1247 | 0.6488 | |
| 144 | Coastal Carolina University | 35100 | 44700 | 0.2146 | 10,811 | 1145 | 0.7527 | |
| 146 | Goldey-Beacom College | 35200 | 38100 | 0.0768 | 702 | 0 | 0.7653 | |
| 147 | University of West Florida | 35600 | 44600 | 0.2019 | 9,661 | 1120 | 0.5687 | |
| 148 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 35700 | 42400 | 0.158 | 31,112 | 1130 | 0.8129 | |
| 149 | Boise State University | 35800 | 48800 | 0.2664 | 24,030 | 1025 | 0.8721 | |
| 150 | University of Maine | 36100 | 45100 | 0.1996 | 591 | 1199 | 0.9684 | |
| 151 | Tennessee Technological University | 36400 | 38500 | 0.0539 | 8,838 | 1159 | 0.8316 | |
| 152 | University of Central Florida | 36700 | 39600 | 0.0733 | 59,649 | 1280 | 0.4471 | |
| 153 | Clark Atlanta University | 36800 | 49800 | 0.2613 | 3,495 | 1000 | 0.6463 | |
| 154 | The University of Texas at Tyler | 37100 | 46700 | 0.2056 | 7,683 | 1120 | 0.9402 | |
| 155 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2603 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 156 | Seattle University | 37800 | 69800 | 0.4582 | 4,103 | 1256 | 0.7703 | |
| 157 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 158 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 38600 | 44600 | 0.1345 | 22,351 | 1159 | 0.7504 | |
| 158 | Saint Vincent College | 38600 | 60700 | 0.3636 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 158 | Suffolk University | 38600 | 73600 | 0.4758 | 4,324 | 1209 | 0.822 | |
| 161 | University of Wyoming | 38800 | 43800 | 0.1158 | 8,130 | 1159 | 0.9688 | |
| 162 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 39400 | 39400 | 0 | 24,868 | 1214 | 0.796 | |
| 163 | Nichols College | 39600 | 59600 | 0.3359 | 1,152 | 1070 | 0.8814 | |
| 164 | Seton Hall University | 39700 | 67400 | 0.4108 | 6,146 | 1313 | 0.7326 | |
| 165 | Alvernia University | 40000 | 68700 | 0.4179 | 2,050 | 1060 | 0.6232 | |
| 165 | Loyola University Chicago | 40000 | 67600 | 0.4085 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 167 | Marymount Manhattan College | 40700 | 68600 | 0.4064 | 1,601 | 1224 | 0.8261 | |
| 168 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 41300 | 41300 | 0 | 3,244 | 1224 | 0.9683 | |
| 169 | Hofstra University | 41700 | 74600 | 0.4409 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 170 | Loyola University Maryland | 42000 | 78800 | 0.4671 | 3,881 | 1309 | 0.7549 | |
| 171 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 52400 | 0.1926 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 172 | Susquehanna University | 42400 | 76800 | 0.4481 | 2,185 | 1204 | 0.7871 | |
| 173 | Mercyhurst University | 42500 | 66400 | 0.3601 | 2,274 | 1189 | 0.8102 | |
| 173 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 175 | Merrimack College | 43600 | 78800 | 0.4464 | 4,199 | 1115 | 0.7361 | |
| 176 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 43800 | 50300 | 0.1293 | 34,242 | 1260 | 0.7333 | |
| 177 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 44000 | 57100 | 0.2292 | 23,351 | 1239 | 0.766 | |
| 178 | Middle Tennessee State University | 45800 | 45800 | 0 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 179 | Saint Louis University | 46000 | 74500 | 0.3826 | 10,436 | 1260 | 0.7504 | |
| 180 | Presbyterian College | 47300 | 62700 | 0.2455 | 853 | 1105 | 0.6837 | |
| 181 | Molloy University | 48200 | 62300 | 0.2265 | 3,240 | 1199 | 0.8174 | |
| 182 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 50100 | 52300 | 0.042 | 21,210 | 1171 | 0.9232 | |
| 183 | University of Kentucky | 51000 | 56000 | 0.0893 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 184 | Chapman University | 51400 | 87300 | 0.4113 | 7,713 | 1357 | 0.6543 | |
| 185 | Oklahoma City University | 52000 | 52000 | 0 | 1,447 | 1190 | 0.7039 | |
| 186 | University of California-Irvine | 55000 | 64800 | 0.1512 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 187 | Miami University-Oxford | 56100 | 56100 | 0 | 16,816 | 1299 | 0.754 | |
| 188 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 56200 | 66500 | 0.1549 | 17,940 | 1281 | 0.6557 | |
| 189 | Santa Clara University | 56800 | 84800 | 0.3303 | 6,577 | 1427 | 0.48 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.