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 | Washington University in St Louis | 7600 | 102300 | 0.9256 | 8,153 | 1512 | 0.1192 | |
| 2 | Brigham Young University | 8000 | 22200 | 0.6405 | 34,354 | 1374 | 0.6862 | |
| 3 | California Institute of Technology | 8400 | 94600 | 0.9108 | 971 | 1564 | 0.0379 | |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 10200 | 41500 | 0.7543 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 5 | Western Kentucky University | 10300 | 27500 | 0.6258 | 13,732 | 1090 | 0.9145 | |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 10700 | 24800 | 0.5691 | 7,393 | 1125 | 0.8968 | |
| 7 | University of West Florida | 12000 | 22200 | 0.459 | 9,971 | 1120 | 0.5822 | |
| 8 | University of Illinois Chicago | 12200 | 30200 | 0.5969 | 24,260 | 1174 | 0.7576 | |
| 9 | Northern Arizona University | 12300 | 30400 | 0.5958 | 22,203 | 1129 | 0.8961 | |
| 10 | Texas A&M University-Commerce | 12700 | 30000 | 0.5767 | 9,666 | 1040 | 0.7498 | |
| 11 | Colorado College | 12800 | 98000 | 0.869 | 1,887 | 1357 | 0.2209 | |
| 12 | University of Arizona | 13000 | 31000 | 0.5803 | 43,294 | 1186 | 0.8351 | |
| 12 | University of North Florida | 13000 | 22400 | 0.4202 | 14,837 | 1124 | 0.6815 | |
| 14 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 13100 | 43000 | 0.6953 | 23,091 | 1354 | 0.382 | |
| 14 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 13100 | 19400 | 0.3248 | 14,865 | 1175 | 0.9113 | |
| 16 | Louisiana Tech University | 13300 | 42900 | 0.6899 | 11,071 | 1189 | 0.9073 | |
| 16 | Northern Illinois University | 13300 | 32100 | 0.5856 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 18 | Lewis University | 13400 | 57700 | 0.7675 | 4,914 | 1127 | 0.6916 | |
| 19 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 14000 | 25600 | 0.4523 | 10,396 | 1125 | 0.7162 | |
| 20 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 14100 | 31000 | 0.5458 | 13,432 | 1225 | 0.8701 | |
| 20 | Youngstown State University | 14100 | 28400 | 0.5033 | 9,687 | 1120 | 0.9145 | |
| 22 | Coastal Carolina University | 14200 | 45300 | 0.6869 | 11,471 | 1160 | 0.7003 | |
| 22 | Eastern Michigan University | 14200 | 33900 | 0.5802 | 10,034 | 1055 | 0.7772 | |
| 24 | University of Memphis | 14300 | 29100 | 0.5088 | 15,538 | 1080 | 0.7878 | |
| 25 | Troy University | 14700 | 34700 | 0.5764 | 10,130 | 1075 | 0.9535 | |
| 25 | West Virginia University | 14700 | 73100 | 0.7986 | 18,206 | 1120 | 0.8514 | |
| 27 | Texas State University | 15000 | 26700 | 0.4375 | 39,353 | 1080 | 0.9118 | |
| 28 | University of Maine | 15100 | 29300 | 0.4849 | 9,182 | 1195 | 0.9562 | |
| 29 | University of Mississippi | 15200 | 27000 | 0.4369 | 22,939 | 1172 | 0.9738 | |
| 30 | Jacksonville State University | 15500 | 38200 | 0.5938 | 8,663 | 1069 | 0.7769 | |
| 31 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 29800 | 0.4782 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8613 | |
| 32 | Grand Valley State University | 15800 | 28300 | 0.441 | 19,154 | 1074 | 0.9271 | |
| 32 | University of North Texas | 15800 | 26100 | 0.3943 | 34,414 | 1094 | 0.7089 | |
| 34 | Greensboro College | 16000 | 38300 | 0.5817 | 899 | 1005 | 0.7014 | |
| 34 | Missouri Valley College | 16000 | 38200 | 0.5813 | 1,687 | 980 | 0.6922 | |
| 34 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 16000 | 38700 | 0.5859 | 22,223 | 975 | 0.9994 | |
| 37 | Tennessee State University | 16200 | 55800 | 0.7098 | 4,221 | 990 | 0.8463 | |
| 38 | Niagara University | 16300 | 57400 | 0.7158 | 2,638 | 1170 | 0.876 | |
| 39 | Francis Marion University | 16400 | 36100 | 0.5453 | 3,793 | 1015 | 0.9508 | |
| 40 | Stephen F Austin State University | 16500 | 27800 | 0.4058 | 9,905 | 1055 | 0.8339 | |
| 40 | Union College | 16500 | 93300 | 0.8231 | 1,954 | 1399 | 0.4342 | |
| 40 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 16500 | 27600 | 0.4027 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 43 | California State University-Long Beach | 16600 | 25800 | 0.3567 | 36,056 | 1135 | 0.4543 | |
| 43 | Georgia Southern University | 16600 | 49700 | 0.6662 | 25,595 | 1045 | 0.695 | |
| 45 | Sam Houston State University | 16800 | 30300 | 0.4452 | 17,822 | 1035 | 0.9372 | |
| 46 | University of Louisville | 17000 | 29100 | 0.4162 | 17,916 | 1134 | 0.7921 | |
| 46 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 17000 | 36500 | 0.5346 | 7,747 | 1073 | 0.9617 | |
| 48 | Middle Tennessee State University | 17200 | 29000 | 0.4071 | 18,042 | 1140 | 0.6909 | |
| 48 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | 17200 | 20700 | 0.169 | 8,673 | 1095 | 0.9156 | |
| 50 | University of Miami | 17400 | 96300 | 0.8194 | 13,241 | 1408 | 0.1761 | |
| 51 | Virginia State University | 17700 | 34900 | 0.4922 | 5,124 | 955 | 0.8863 | |
| 52 | University of Arkansas | 17800 | 28500 | 0.3779 | 29,252 | 1179 | 0.7388 | |
| 53 | Kennesaw State University | 18000 | 27400 | 0.3428 | 46,069 | 1119 | 0.7944 | |
| 54 | Bentley University | 18100 | 89000 | 0.7969 | 4,620 | 1323 | 0.4729 | |
| 54 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 18100 | 28500 | 0.3653 | 11,959 | 1260 | 0.8818 | |
| 56 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 18200 | 66900 | 0.7279 | 1,108 | 990 | 1 | |
| 57 | Angelo State University | 18300 | 23100 | 0.207 | 10,103 | 1045 | 0.7981 | |
| 58 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | 18500 | 30500 | 0.3932 | 6,743 | 1266 | 0.6292 | |
| 59 | Valdosta State University | 18900 | 29600 | 0.3614 | 7,199 | 1005 | 0.7769 | |
| 60 | Wheaton College | 19000 | 68000 | 0.7209 | 2,181 | 1357 | 0.8491 | |
| 61 | Louisiana Christian University | 19200 | 26000 | 0.2613 | 769 | 1065 | 0.7719 | |
| 62 | Jackson State University | 19400 | 28100 | 0.3091 | 4,967 | 940 | 0.9602 | |
| 62 | Lehigh University | 19400 | 89800 | 0.7841 | 5,986 | 1436 | 0.2896 | |
| 64 | Fort Lewis College | 20300 | 29100 | 0.3027 | 3,392 | 1109 | 0.7732 | |
| 65 | Bradley University | 20400 | 59500 | 0.6564 | 3,258 | 1174 | 0.7459 | |
| 65 | Midwestern State University | 20400 | 33600 | 0.3933 | 4,303 | 1055 | 0.9347 | |
| 67 | Grove City College | 20500 | 39700 | 0.4842 | 2,247 | 1248 | 0.667 | |
| 67 | State University of New York at Cortland | 20500 | 27700 | 0.2597 | 5,890 | 1175 | 0.624 | |
| 69 | University of Wyoming | 20600 | 27900 | 0.2642 | 8,138 | 1163 | 0.9695 | |
| 70 | South Carolina State University | 21000 | 43100 | 0.5131 | 3,059 | 925 | 0.6797 | |
| 70 | Tarleton State University | 21000 | 23000 | 0.087 | 17,556 | 1090 | 0.5386 | |
| 70 | West Texas A & M University | 21000 | 29200 | 0.2806 | 7,110 | 1060 | 0.6681 | |
| 73 | Georgia College & State University | 21200 | 52400 | 0.5953 | 6,250 | 1165 | 0.8466 | |
| 73 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 21200 | 51900 | 0.5921 | 5,939 | 1065 | 0.5878 | |
| 75 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 21300 | 27800 | 0.2336 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 75 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 21300 | 33600 | 0.3658 | 21,469 | 1167 | 0.9061 | |
| 77 | Boise State University | 21700 | 31200 | 0.3046 | 25,308 | 1025 | 0.8389 | |
| 78 | South Dakota State University | 21900 | 25200 | 0.1303 | 10,883 | 1115 | 0.9618 | |
| 79 | University of the Incarnate Word | 22000 | 58000 | 0.6205 | 4,651 | 1010 | 0.9947 | |
| 80 | Oklahoma City University | 22400 | 74100 | 0.6979 | 1,546 | 1159 | 0.7103 | |
| 81 | Hope College | 22500 | 60100 | 0.6254 | 3,427 | 1216 | 0.8712 | |
| 81 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 22500 | 22500 | 0 | 20,786 | 1225 | 0.8689 | |
| 81 | Park University | 22500 | 31300 | 0.2816 | 4,657 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 84 | Pennsylvania Western University | 22900 | 34400 | 0.334 | 7,586 | 1045 | 0.9433 | |
| 85 | Carroll University | 23400 | 63900 | 0.6341 | 2,581 | 1174 | 0.6684 | |
| 85 | Dillard University | 23400 | 54600 | 0.5718 | 1,070 | 1055 | 0.7371 | |
| 87 | Lamar University | 23500 | 37700 | 0.3765 | 8,387 | 1040 | 0.8353 | |
| 88 | University of Dayton | 24100 | 64400 | 0.6255 | 7,252 | 1319 | 0.6659 | |
| 89 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 24300 | 53800 | 0.5485 | 2,775 | 1105 | 0.9747 | |
| 90 | Miami University-Oxford | 24400 | 28300 | 0.1378 | 16,405 | 1284 | 0.74 | |
| 91 | Seton Hall University | 24500 | 67400 | 0.6361 | 6,178 | 1328 | 0.6915 | |
| 92 | Ave Maria University | 25000 | 46600 | 0.4637 | 1,320 | 1164 | 0.4139 | |
| 93 | Wichita State University | 25400 | 30600 | 0.1697 | 14,906 | 1065 | 0.7224 | |
| 94 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 25600 | 82600 | 0.6903 | 871 | 985 | 0.8296 | |
| 95 | Loyola University Maryland | 25800 | 78800 | 0.6727 | 4,013 | 1329 | 0.6986 | |
| 95 | University of North Dakota | 25800 | 28600 | 0.0975 | 11,837 | 1189 | 0.8157 | |
| 97 | University of Evansville | 26100 | 64700 | 0.5966 | 1,920 | 1174 | 0.9412 | |
| 98 | George Fox University | 26400 | 92800 | 0.7157 | 3,530 | 1168 | 0.9282 | |
| 98 | Presbyterian College | 26400 | 64600 | 0.5914 | 903 | 1150 | 0.6515 | |
| 100 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 2,082 | 1124 | 0.9576 | |
| 101 | Oakland University | 26700 | 39600 | 0.3258 | 12,770 | 1039 | 0.8897 | |
| 102 | Capital University | 27100 | 63800 | 0.5751 | 1,642 | 1045 | 0.6501 | |
| 103 | Saginaw Valley State University | 27300 | 39800 | 0.3139 | 6,280 | 1050 | 0.7843 | |
| 104 | Cornell College | 27400 | 74800 | 0.6336 | 1,094 | 1243 | 0.799 | |
| 105 | John Brown University | 28000 | 48300 | 0.4197 | 2,091 | 1187 | 0.6802 | |
| 106 | St Bonaventure University | 28100 | 64100 | 0.5617 | 2,134 | 1165 | 0.8533 | |
| 107 | Iowa State University | 28900 | 45200 | 0.3601 | 26,346 | 1212 | 0.8793 | |
| 108 | Georgia State University | 29000 | 45700 | 0.3652 | 26,785 | 1089 | 0.5722 | |
| 109 | Alvernia University | 29100 | 69400 | 0.5805 | 2,192 | 1195 | 0.5806 | |
| 110 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 29400 | 34200 | 0.1402 | 31,845 | 1298 | 0.5651 | |
| 111 | The College of Wooster | 30700 | 82400 | 0.627 | 1,515 | 1345 | 0.6438 | |
| 111 | Wofford College | 30700 | 73200 | 0.5805 | 1,781 | 1305 | 0.5487 | |
| 113 | Marquette University | 31400 | 75900 | 0.5862 | 8,206 | 1304 | 0.7802 | |
| 114 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 31600 | 75700 | 0.5822 | 1,652 | 1281 | 0.6441 | |
| 115 | Cleveland State University | 31700 | 32100 | 0.0125 | 9,418 | 1069 | 0.913 | |
| 115 | Hampton University | 31700 | 54800 | 0.4215 | 4,046 | 1005 | 0.6358 | |
| 117 | Westminster University | 31800 | 94100 | 0.6623 | 868 | 1205 | 0.6513 | |
| 118 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 32000 | 54400 | 0.4117 | 35,248 | 1289 | 0.6939 | |
| 119 | Villanova University | 32100 | 92900 | 0.6548 | 6,933 | 1466 | 0.2814 | |
| 120 | Azusa Pacific University | 32200 | 66600 | 0.5162 | 2,759 | 1189 | 0.8842 | |
| 121 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 32400 | 38400 | 0.1562 | 23,003 | 1164 | 0.7367 | |
| 122 | Rider University | 32500 | 60200 | 0.4601 | 3,052 | 1214 | 0.7741 | |
| 123 | North Carolina State University | 32700 | 54800 | 0.4032 | 29,340 | 1374 | 0.3954 | |
| 124 | Ursinus College | 33200 | 83700 | 0.6038 | 1,378 | 1303 | 0.9285 | |
| 125 | Allegheny College | 33400 | 77600 | 0.5703 | 1,125 | 1243 | 0.5877 | |
| 125 | Utica University | 33400 | 48600 | 0.3129 | 2,191 | 1214 | 0.9187 | |
| 127 | Elizabethtown College | 33600 | 57500 | 0.4154 | 1,935 | 1214 | 0.8892 | |
| 128 | DePaul University | 34100 | 69400 | 0.5083 | 14,338 | 1258 | 0.878 | |
| 129 | Berry College | 34500 | 62400 | 0.4472 | 2,262 | 1219 | 0.7315 | |
| 129 | Washburn University | 34500 | 38400 | 0.1015 | 5,427 | 1048 | 1 | |
| 131 | Samford University | 34600 | 93800 | 0.6312 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 132 | University of Idaho | 34800 | 48700 | 0.2854 | 9,656 | 1104 | 0.7476 | |
| 133 | Southern Connecticut State University | 35000 | 42000 | 0.1667 | 7,252 | 965 | 0.9482 | |
| 134 | Cedarville University | 35700 | 57000 | 0.3735 | 5,794 | 1232 | 0.6529 | |
| 135 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 36000 | 39700 | 0.0932 | 4,789 | 1040 | 0.6671 | |
| 136 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 36400 | 54000 | 0.326 | 32,041 | 1324 | 0.4358 | |
| 137 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 36600 | 39900 | 0.0824 | 3,893 | 1015 | 0.9839 | |
| 138 | Loyola University New Orleans | 37000 | 74600 | 0.5039 | 2,871 | 1150 | 0.9058 | |
| 139 | Beloit College | 37100 | 81700 | 0.5457 | 997 | 1296 | 0.7039 | |
| 139 | University of Maine at Farmington | 37100 | 40800 | 0.0908 | 1,661 | 1062 | 0.9832 | |
| 139 | University of West Georgia | 37100 | 47300 | 0.2155 | 10,075 | 1035 | 0.7995 | |
| 142 | Xavier University | 37600 | 68100 | 0.4481 | 3,744 | 1286 | 0.848 | |
| 143 | Widener University | 37700 | 79400 | 0.5254 | 2,975 | 1179 | 0.7093 | |
| 144 | East Tennessee State University | 38400 | 38500 | 0.0026 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 145 | Loyola University Chicago | 38800 | 73100 | 0.469 | 12,640 | 1262 | 0.751 | |
| 145 | Westmont College | 38800 | 80300 | 0.5168 | 1,311 | 1315 | 0.8059 | |
| 147 | Mississippi State University | 39100 | 53400 | 0.2674 | 19,093 | 1205 | 0.8363 | |
| 148 | Arcadia University | 39300 | 71600 | 0.4512 | 2,163 | 1159 | 0.7448 | |
| 148 | Saint Vincent College | 39300 | 64600 | 0.3915 | 1,157 | 1140 | 0.7863 | |
| 148 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 39300 | 40300 | 0.0248 | 26,213 | 1209 | 0.7778 | |
| 151 | Nichols College | 39600 | 59600 | 0.3359 | 1,163 | 1135 | 0.8084 | |
| 152 | Saint Francis University | 39900 | 67300 | 0.407 | 2,567 | 1150 | 0.7682 | |
| 153 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 40500 | 42700 | 0.0515 | 14,657 | 1190 | 0.7583 | |
| 154 | University of Redlands | 41300 | 90700 | 0.5448 | 1,941 | 1233 | 0.8272 | |
| 155 | Butler University | 41400 | 68400 | 0.395 | 4,418 | 1269 | 0.8209 | |
| 156 | Susquehanna University | 41800 | 85600 | 0.5116 | 2,220 | 1199 | 0.7908 | |
| 157 | University of Central Florida | 42100 | 42800 | 0.0164 | 60,083 | 1289 | 0.428 | |
| 158 | Seattle University | 42500 | 85300 | 0.5016 | 4,370 | 1299 | 0.7313 | |
| 159 | Saint Louis University | 43000 | 84300 | 0.4896 | 9,331 | 1250 | 0.7499 | |
| 160 | Arkansas State University | 43200 | 44600 | 0.0314 | 11,189 | 1080 | 0.7818 | |
| 161 | James Madison University | 43500 | 45100 | 0.0355 | 21,358 | 1259 | 0.6879 | |
| 161 | Merrimack College | 43500 | 78800 | 0.4478 | 4,123 | 1124 | 0.6927 | |
| 163 | Appalachian State University | 46500 | 46500 | 0 | 19,732 | 1174 | 0.9388 | |
| 164 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 47200 | 57100 | 0.1733 | 32,545 | 1129 | 0.799 | |
| 165 | University of Kentucky | 48400 | 59900 | 0.1912 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 166 | The University of Texas at Tyler | 48600 | 57000 | 0.1475 | 8,219 | 1100 | 0.9485 | |
| 167 | Marymount Manhattan College | 49200 | 74900 | 0.3432 | 1,601 | 1224 | 0.8261 | |
| 168 | Chapman University | 50200 | 94000 | 0.4662 | 7,630 | 1336 | 0.7206 | |
| 168 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 50200 | 64400 | 0.2205 | 46,627 | 1366 | 0.492 | |
| 170 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 50500 | 58800 | 0.141 | 25,054 | 1225 | 0.7762 | |
| 171 | Northwest Nazarene University | 51500 | 87600 | 0.412 | 1,043 | 1145 | 0.7159 | |
| 172 | University of Georgia | 52100 | 52100 | 0 | 32,824 | 1348 | 0.3425 | |
| 173 | Molloy University | 56100 | 62300 | 0.0996 | 3,396 | 1188 | 0.6633 | |
| 174 | Hofstra University | 59100 | 83300 | 0.2906 | 6,599 | 1369 | 0.7267 | |
| 175 | Mercyhurst University | 61200 | 68000 | 0.1 | 2,214 | 1203 | 0.775 | |
| 176 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 64000 | 64000 | 0 | 3,211 | 1243 | 0.9594 | |
| 177 | Santa Clara University | 69400 | 85400 | 0.1873 | 6,695 | 1399 | 0.4788 | |
| 178 | University of California-Irvine | 72000 | 75000 | 0.04 | 30,260 | 1333 | 0.2895 | |
| 179 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 82900 | 82900 | 0 | 18,194 | 1281 | 0.7273 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (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.