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 | CUNY City College | 7500 | 31200 | 0.7597 | 12,982 | 1169 | 0.5997 | |
| 2 | Washington University in St Louis | 9300 | 96200 | 0.9037 | 8,220 | 1513 | 0.1206 | |
| 3 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | 10100 | 28800 | 0.6501 | 902 | 1245 | 0.3308 | |
| 4 | New Mexico Highlands University | 10500 | 21500 | 0.5112 | 1,710 | 945 | 0.9481 | |
| 5 | New York University | 12100 | 91800 | 0.868 | 29,060 | 1520 | 0.0923 | |
| 6 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 12200 | 29900 | 0.5919 | 12,498 | 1010 | 0.8896 | |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5739 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 8 | University of Central Florida | 12400 | 23600 | 0.4746 | 59,649 | 1280 | 0.4471 | |
| 9 | Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | 12600 | 28200 | 0.554 | 755 | 895 | 1 | |
| 10 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 12800 | 24500 | 0.4782 | 4,250 | 970 | 0.9166 | |
| 11 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 14500 | 24900 | 0.417 | 5,474 | 1138 | 0.9198 | |
| 11 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14500 | 41100 | 0.6478 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 13 | Goshen College | 14800 | 55800 | 0.7341 | 780 | 995 | 0.8404 | |
| 14 | Clayton State University | 15000 | 21700 | 0.3083 | 5,301 | 980 | 0.7056 | |
| 15 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15300 | 28100 | 0.4555 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 16 | University of California-Riverside | 15500 | 36500 | 0.5749 | 22,599 | 1199 | 0.7685 | |
| 17 | Middle Tennessee State University | 16400 | 23200 | 0.2928 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 18 | SUNY at Fredonia | 16500 | 27800 | 0.407 | 2,876 | 1193 | 0.792 | |
| 19 | University of Southern California | 16600 | 76000 | 0.7815 | 21,023 | 1485 | 0.1002 | |
| 20 | Jacksonville State University | 16900 | 26600 | 0.3649 | 8,663 | 1069 | 0.7769 | |
| 21 | Pacific Union College | 17500 | 52800 | 0.668 | 910 | 1090 | 0.4248 | |
| 21 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 17500 | 33600 | 0.4788 | 21,210 | 1171 | 0.9232 | |
| 23 | Husson University | 17800 | 48100 | 0.6293 | 2,762 | 1115 | 0.8095 | |
| 24 | State University of New York at Cortland | 18400 | 27700 | 0.3355 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 25 | State University of New York at Oswego | 18600 | 27500 | 0.3235 | 5,517 | 1174 | 0.8057 | |
| 26 | Indiana University-Bloomington | 18800 | 30900 | 0.3927 | 38,093 | 1302 | 0.7821 | |
| 27 | The University of Montana | 19300 | 25200 | 0.2339 | 8,014 | 1184 | 0.9586 | |
| 28 | University of Mississippi | 19400 | 27000 | 0.2814 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 29 | Lindenwood University | 19500 | 35800 | 0.4557 | 4,663 | 1170 | 0.5684 | |
| 29 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 31 | Wayne State University | 19700 | 32300 | 0.3906 | 16,173 | 1174 | 0.7786 | |
| 32 | University of West Georgia | 19800 | 23600 | 0.1607 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 33 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 34 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 20100 | 38800 | 0.4812 | 36,588 | 1367 | 0.6535 | |
| 35 | Southwestern Assemblies of God University | 20300 | 40500 | 0.4994 | 1,413 | 1045 | 0.8423 | |
| 36 | Montana State University | 20900 | 27100 | 0.2285 | 15,053 | 1184 | 0.8214 | |
| 37 | University of Miami | 21100 | 70800 | 0.7023 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 38 | Augsburg University | 21200 | 56400 | 0.6241 | 2,527 | 1065 | 0.8198 | |
| 38 | Southern Oregon University | 21200 | 32600 | 0.35 | 4,964 | 1125 | 0.9007 | |
| 40 | Cleveland State University | 21400 | 30900 | 0.3071 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 40 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 21400 | 34000 | 0.3702 | 10,206 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 42 | Rutgers University-Newark | 21500 | 38900 | 0.4474 | 7,417 | 1214 | 0.7873 | |
| 43 | Florida State University | 22600 | 25000 | 0.0962 | 32,711 | 1360 | 0.2422 | |
| 43 | Maharishi International University | 22600 | 30300 | 0.2538 | 777 | 1089 | 0.969 | |
| 45 | California Institute of the Arts | 22700 | 77300 | 0.7063 | 918 | 0 | 0.2595 | |
| 46 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 23100 | 56500 | 0.5915 | 1,567 | 980 | 0.9597 | |
| 47 | Bob Jones University | 23300 | 41500 | 0.4371 | 2,477 | 1149 | 0.8729 | |
| 48 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 23500 | 25700 | 0.0856 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 48 | Syracuse University | 23500 | 83100 | 0.7172 | 15,958 | 1363 | 0.4611 | |
| 50 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 23800 | 24500 | 0.0285 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 51 | Oral Roberts University | 23900 | 55600 | 0.5702 | 5,017 | 1139 | 0.989 | |
| 52 | University of Central Arkansas | 24300 | 29500 | 0.1757 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 53 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 24500 | 26600 | 0.082 | 3,413 | 1085 | 0.5295 | |
| 54 | Northern Michigan University | 24800 | 32900 | 0.2465 | 6,684 | 1100 | 0.8402 | |
| 55 | Temple University | 24900 | 36300 | 0.3143 | 21,428 | 1245 | 0.8045 | |
| 55 | The University of Tampa | 24900 | 56900 | 0.562 | 10,594 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 57 | Missouri Western State University | 25800 | 39300 | 0.3445 | 3,494 | 1015 | 0.9996 | |
| 58 | Fitchburg State University | 26000 | 31300 | 0.1694 | 3,027 | 1150 | 0.8693 | |
| 59 | Point Park University | 26200 | 56800 | 0.5391 | 2,337 | 1144 | 0.9691 | |
| 60 | La Sierra University | 26400 | 55100 | 0.5213 | 1,244 | 1015 | 0.933 | |
| 61 | Oakland University | 26800 | 39800 | 0.3268 | 12,587 | 1050 | 0.8784 | |
| 62 | Columbia College Chicago | 26900 | 60600 | 0.5565 | 5,422 | 0 | 0.7549 | |
| 63 | Webster University | 27000 | 54300 | 0.5024 | 2,091 | 1105 | 0.9594 | |
| 64 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 27100 | 55200 | 0.5088 | 1,997 | 1160 | 0.9526 | |
| 65 | Weber State University | 27700 | 33300 | 0.1682 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 66 | John Brown University | 28100 | 48300 | 0.4176 | 1,882 | 1226 | 0.6764 | |
| 67 | Lipscomb University | 28500 | 57600 | 0.5052 | 3,327 | 1214 | 0.6774 | |
| 68 | George Fox University | 28700 | 67100 | 0.5727 | 3,401 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 68 | Kansas City Art Institute | 28700 | 61000 | 0.5294 | 813 | 1056 | 0.5476 | |
| 68 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 28700 | 78100 | 0.6326 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 71 | Cornerstone University | 29100 | 40800 | 0.2865 | 1,444 | 1124 | 0.7316 | |
| 72 | Messiah University | 29300 | 54100 | 0.4586 | 2,618 | 1241 | 0.7897 | |
| 73 | Montclair State University | 29500 | 36300 | 0.1874 | 18,712 | 1058 | 0.8789 | |
| 73 | William Penn University | 29500 | 48000 | 0.3849 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 75 | Huntington University | 29700 | 44300 | 0.3299 | 1,286 | 1095 | 0.7115 | |
| 76 | Southern Adventist University | 29800 | 46900 | 0.3643 | 2,827 | 1125 | 0.6661 | |
| 76 | Southern Methodist University | 29800 | 81700 | 0.6355 | 7,285 | 1423 | 0.6335 | |
| 78 | University of South Alabama | 30000 | 35000 | 0.1429 | 9,241 | 1140 | 0.7096 | |
| 79 | Belmont University | 30200 | 67800 | 0.5538 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 79 | Keene State College | 30200 | 40700 | 0.2593 | 2,744 | 1020 | 0.9033 | |
| 81 | St Bonaventure University | 30600 | 61000 | 0.4981 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 82 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 83 | University of Rhode Island | 31300 | 46700 | 0.3298 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 84 | Rider University | 31600 | 64300 | 0.5084 | 3,196 | 1214 | 0.794 | |
| 85 | CUNY Brooklyn College | 31800 | 31800 | 0 | 11,562 | 1110 | 0.5836 | |
| 86 | Vermont State University | 32100 | 38000 | 0.1554 | 4,087 | 960 | 0.8323 | |
| 87 | California Lutheran University | 32700 | 65800 | 0.5027 | 2,297 | 1258 | 0.7567 | |
| 87 | Southeastern University | 32700 | 60500 | 0.4592 | 10,351 | 1130 | 0.6165 | |
| 89 | Liberty University | 32800 | 43900 | 0.2528 | 52,823 | 1181 | 0.9932 | |
| 90 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | 32900 | 41100 | 0.1995 | 1,871 | 1085 | 0.7627 | |
| 91 | Ithaca College | 33600 | 72500 | 0.5365 | 4,268 | 1314 | 0.6901 | |
| 92 | Taylor University | 34000 | 57600 | 0.4093 | 2,503 | 1235 | 0.7353 | |
| 93 | California State University-Sacramento | 34300 | 44900 | 0.2362 | 28,226 | 1015 | 0.9343 | |
| 94 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 94 | College for Creative Studies | 34600 | 79600 | 0.5653 | 1,376 | 1100 | 0.9194 | |
| 96 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 97 | Stevenson University | 35300 | 59900 | 0.4105 | 3,106 | 1100 | 0.7891 | |
| 98 | Anderson University | 35800 | 46900 | 0.2383 | 1,095 | 1055 | 0.5342 | |
| 99 | Western Kentucky University | 36100 | 41900 | 0.1385 | 14,151 | 1090 | 0.9387 | |
| 100 | Biola University | 36300 | 52900 | 0.3141 | 3,481 | 1268 | 0.7482 | |
| 101 | Long Island University | 37200 | 59600 | 0.376 | 11,753 | 1222 | 0.8977 | |
| 102 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 37900 | 39900 | 0.0501 | 7,924 | 0 | 0.6024 | |
| 103 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 38000 | 80700 | 0.5297 | 1,733 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 104 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 105 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | 38700 | 52100 | 0.2572 | 18,452 | 930 | 0.9697 | |
| 106 | Hofstra University | 38900 | 74600 | 0.4784 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 106 | Pacific University | 38900 | 74900 | 0.4803 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 108 | SUNY at Purchase College | 39600 | 41300 | 0.0411 | 3,283 | 1294 | 0.7405 | |
| 109 | Pace University | 39700 | 74100 | 0.464 | 8,038 | 1274 | 0.7592 | |
| 110 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 40000 | 40000 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 111 | Marymount Manhattan College | 40600 | 68600 | 0.4079 | 1,601 | 1224 | 0.8261 | |
| 112 | Marquette University | 41400 | 75100 | 0.4489 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 112 | York College of Pennsylvania | 41400 | 41400 | 0 | 3,308 | 1135 | 0.942 | |
| 114 | Columbus College of Art & Design | 42000 | 61600 | 0.3182 | 893 | 1124 | 0.7174 | |
| 115 | Quinnipiac University | 42200 | 79200 | 0.4671 | 6,248 | 1209 | 0.77 | |
| 116 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 42400 | 42400 | 0 | 14,019 | 1159 | 0.7781 | |
| 117 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 42600 | 55100 | 0.227 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 118 | California College of the Arts | 43300 | 87600 | 0.5056 | 1,004 | 1079 | 0.911 | |
| 119 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 43500 | 50300 | 0.1352 | 34,242 | 1273 | 0.7333 | |
| 120 | University of the Arts | 44900 | 88300 | 0.4913 | 1,072 | 1050 | 0.782 | |
| 121 | High Point University | 45700 | 70500 | 0.3518 | 5,006 | 1209 | 0.7683 | |
| 122 | Wagner College | 47000 | 73400 | 0.3597 | 1,590 | 1230 | 0.8346 | |
| 123 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 48600 | 64400 | 0.2454 | 14,657 | 1180 | 0.8368 | |
| 124 | George Mason University | 49200 | 49200 | 0 | 28,331 | 1268 | 0.8748 | |
| 125 | Binghamton University | 50600 | 52800 | 0.0414 | 14,669 | 1417 | 0.3861 | |
| 125 | Woodbury University | 50600 | 68700 | 0.2636 | 825 | 1087 | 0.7287 | |
| 127 | Drexel University | 51100 | 82600 | 0.3812 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 128 | Chapman University | 51300 | 87300 | 0.4125 | 7,713 | 1357 | 0.6543 | |
| 129 | Lynn University | 51500 | 64200 | 0.1979 | 2,861 | 1130 | 0.7347 | |
| 130 | Oklahoma City University | 52000 | 52000 | 0 | 1,447 | 1190 | 0.7039 | |
| 131 | Ringling College of Art and Design | 52300 | 91600 | 0.4289 | 1,689 | 0 | 0.6965 | |
| 132 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 53800 | 66000 | 0.1849 | 714 | 1271 | 0.4836 | |
| 133 | Emerson College | 55800 | 82600 | 0.3245 | 4,171 | 1339 | 0.4749 | |
| 134 | Pratt Institute-Main | 57300 | 83800 | 0.3163 | 3,967 | 1266 | 0.7325 | |
| 135 | Cornish College of the Arts | 59700 | 75100 | 0.2051 | 502 | 0 | 0.7046 | |
| 136 | Maryland Institute College of Art | 60700 | 71200 | 0.1476 | 1,324 | 1196 | 0.7729 | |
| 137 | Loyola Marymount University | 72500 | 94300 | 0.2311 | 7,273 | 1353 | 0.4508 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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