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 | Brigham Young University | 8000 | 22000 | 0.6362 | 32,952 | 1374 | 0.6778 | |
| 2 | Washington University in St Louis | 9300 | 102300 | 0.9089 | 8,220 | 1513 | 0.1206 | |
| 3 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 10400 | 20700 | 0.4966 | 4,239 | 970 | 0.9166 | |
| 4 | Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | 12700 | 32200 | 0.6052 | 877 | 895 | 0.9747 | |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 12700 | 34600 | 0.6336 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 6 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 13200 | 54500 | 0.7577 | 12,507 | 1010 | 0.8897 | |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University | 13200 | 29000 | 0.5439 | 11,348 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 8 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 13300 | 25700 | 0.4825 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 9 | University of California-Riverside | 14200 | 66000 | 0.7853 | 22,600 | 1199 | 0.7639 | |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 14300 | 31000 | 0.5383 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 11 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 14700 | 37900 | 0.6117 | 5,661 | 1085 | 0.982 | |
| 12 | Oakland University | 16000 | 28200 | 0.4329 | 12,587 | 1130 | 0.8784 | |
| 13 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 16200 | 23200 | 0.3017 | 20,444 | 1209 | 0.8499 | |
| 13 | University of South Alabama | 16200 | 22400 | 0.2773 | 9,241 | 1140 | 0.7096 | |
| 15 | Keene State College | 16400 | 51200 | 0.6801 | 2,725 | 1085 | 0.9033 | |
| 16 | Goshen College | 16500 | 55900 | 0.7041 | 780 | 995 | 0.8407 | |
| 16 | Jacksonville State University | 16500 | 27000 | 0.3896 | 8,663 | 1069 | 0.7769 | |
| 16 | SUNY at Fredonia | 16500 | 27800 | 0.407 | 2,771 | 1258 | 0.777 | |
| 16 | Wayne State University | 16500 | 46200 | 0.643 | 16,012 | 1174 | 0.8116 | |
| 20 | New Mexico Highlands University | 16600 | 31500 | 0.4727 | 1,603 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | California State University-Sacramento | 16700 | 27600 | 0.3952 | 28,820 | 1035 | 0.9399 | |
| 22 | Cleveland State University | 17000 | 30900 | 0.4493 | 9,482 | 1069 | 0.913 | |
| 23 | Weber State University | 17400 | 41300 | 0.5782 | 31,672 | 0 | 0 | |
| 24 | Clayton State University | 17500 | 43400 | 0.5968 | 5,551 | 965 | 0.6845 | |
| 25 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 17600 | 52500 | 0.6647 | 21,210 | 1148 | 0.9262 | |
| 26 | University of Miami | 17700 | 96300 | 0.8159 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 27 | University of Rhode Island | 17900 | 46400 | 0.6137 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 28 | State University of New York at Cortland | 18200 | 27700 | 0.3427 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 29 | Pacific Union College | 18400 | 52800 | 0.651 | 937 | 1070 | 0.473 | |
| 30 | Lee University | 18500 | 37400 | 0.5057 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 31 | Husson University | 18600 | 48100 | 0.6127 | 2,763 | 1174 | 0.8095 | |
| 32 | Northern Michigan University | 18700 | 33100 | 0.4351 | 6,684 | 1100 | 0.8402 | |
| 33 | University of Mississippi | 18800 | 45000 | 0.5828 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 34 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 19000 | 67900 | 0.7197 | 1,567 | 980 | 0.9597 | |
| 35 | University of West Georgia | 19300 | 24900 | 0.225 | 9,103 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 36 | La Sierra University | 19400 | 70200 | 0.7235 | 1,226 | 1025 | 0.915 | |
| 37 | Lindenwood University | 19600 | 35800 | 0.4529 | 4,663 | 1209 | 0.5684 | |
| 38 | Nelson University | 19800 | 53900 | 0.6332 | 1,479 | 990 | 0.8902 | |
| 39 | University of Southern California | 20000 | 75800 | 0.7365 | 20,630 | 1492 | 0.0981 | |
| 40 | State University of New York at Oswego | 20500 | 40200 | 0.4902 | 5,517 | 1180 | 0.8055 | |
| 41 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 20600 | 42500 | 0.5159 | 13,921 | 1119 | 0.7468 | |
| 42 | Southern Oregon University | 21200 | 62000 | 0.6582 | 4,235 | 1104 | 0.8862 | |
| 43 | Montana State University | 21600 | 27100 | 0.2027 | 15,046 | 1184 | 0.8214 | |
| 44 | Augsburg University | 21700 | 56400 | 0.6157 | 2,527 | 1065 | 0.8198 | |
| 45 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 22100 | 59900 | 0.6309 | 34,242 | 1273 | 0.7333 | |
| 46 | Florida State University | 22600 | 32500 | 0.3046 | 32,720 | 1360 | 0.2422 | |
| 46 | Maharishi International University | 22600 | 38500 | 0.4131 | 922 | 1089 | 0.957 | |
| 46 | St Bonaventure University | 22600 | 61200 | 0.6306 | 2,042 | 1189 | 0.8165 | |
| 49 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 23300 | 35000 | 0.3343 | 65,450 | 1203 | 0.8989 | |
| 50 | Bob Jones University | 23400 | 41500 | 0.4365 | 2,312 | 1149 | 0.8616 | |
| 51 | Columbia College Chicago | 23500 | 63200 | 0.6285 | 5,422 | 0 | 0.8946 | |
| 52 | Webster University | 23600 | 66700 | 0.6467 | 2,322 | 1109 | 0.8623 | |
| 53 | New York University | 23700 | 91800 | 0.7416 | 29,060 | 1520 | 0.0923 | |
| 54 | Point Park University | 24000 | 57000 | 0.5793 | 2,337 | 1140 | 0.9691 | |
| 55 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 24300 | 69500 | 0.6506 | 7,924 | 0 | 0.6024 | |
| 56 | Marquette University | 25000 | 63100 | 0.6034 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 57 | SUNY at Purchase College | 25500 | 37500 | 0.3201 | 3,257 | 1294 | 0.7405 | |
| 58 | Binghamton University | 25700 | 32700 | 0.2159 | 14,669 | 1415 | 0.3861 | |
| 58 | Walla Walla University | 25700 | 51700 | 0.503 | 1,313 | 1113 | 0.5077 | |
| 60 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 26100 | 79400 | 0.6715 | 2,012 | 1174 | 0.9519 | |
| 61 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 26200 | 28300 | 0.0753 | 3,375 | 1090 | 0.5876 | |
| 62 | Calvin University | 26300 | 53000 | 0.5035 | 3,356 | 1222 | 0.7091 | |
| 63 | Oklahoma City University | 26500 | 62200 | 0.5738 | 1,514 | 1174 | 0.7702 | |
| 64 | Missouri Western State University | 26600 | 39300 | 0.3228 | 3,491 | 0 | 0 | |
| 65 | University of Central Arkansas | 27100 | 31200 | 0.1322 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 66 | Loyola University New Orleans | 27200 | 72100 | 0.6226 | 3,007 | 1155 | 0.9305 | |
| 67 | Oral Roberts University | 27400 | 52700 | 0.4808 | 5,017 | 1214 | 0.989 | |
| 68 | George Fox University | 27700 | 76800 | 0.6393 | 3,354 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 69 | Long Island University | 27800 | 59800 | 0.5356 | 12,072 | 1229 | 0.8616 | |
| 69 | Syracuse University | 27800 | 83100 | 0.6654 | 15,957 | 1363 | 0.4592 | |
| 71 | California Lutheran University | 28100 | 70000 | 0.5988 | 2,297 | 1254 | 0.7567 | |
| 72 | John Brown University | 28200 | 48300 | 0.4165 | 1,948 | 1197 | 0.7614 | |
| 73 | Messiah University | 28400 | 54200 | 0.4762 | 2,618 | 1241 | 0.7897 | |
| 74 | Lipscomb University | 28500 | 57800 | 0.5075 | 3,336 | 1260 | 0.6773 | |
| 75 | Kansas City Art Institute | 29000 | 76000 | 0.6186 | 813 | 1159 | 0.5476 | |
| 76 | Southern Methodist University | 29100 | 83200 | 0.6506 | 7,285 | 1423 | 0.6335 | |
| 77 | Cornerstone University | 29200 | 40800 | 0.2852 | 1,354 | 1110 | 0.7777 | |
| 78 | Huntington University | 29500 | 44300 | 0.3342 | 1,588 | 1055 | 0.7564 | |
| 79 | William Penn University | 29600 | 48000 | 0.3837 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 80 | York College of Pennsylvania | 29700 | 45800 | 0.3518 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 81 | Southeastern University | 29800 | 60500 | 0.5072 | 10,172 | 1110 | 0.5298 | |
| 82 | Southern Adventist University | 29900 | 46900 | 0.3632 | 2,929 | 1134 | 0.655 | |
| 83 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 30500 | 78100 | 0.6094 | 14,267 | 1381 | 0.6693 | |
| 84 | Taylor University | 31100 | 59100 | 0.473 | 2,503 | 1229 | 0.7353 | |
| 85 | Columbus College of Art & Design | 31300 | 86800 | 0.6398 | 884 | 1080 | 0.6766 | |
| 86 | Baylor University | 31900 | 70300 | 0.5462 | 14,915 | 1321 | 0.5128 | |
| 86 | DePaul University | 31900 | 67100 | 0.5246 | 14,188 | 1254 | 0.7589 | |
| 86 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 31900 | 39200 | 0.1859 | 10,166 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 89 | Rider University | 32000 | 60600 | 0.472 | 3,145 | 1233 | 0.7864 | |
| 90 | Ithaca College | 32100 | 72500 | 0.5571 | 4,268 | 1314 | 0.6901 | |
| 91 | Azusa Pacific University | 32200 | 66600 | 0.5162 | 2,759 | 1189 | 0.8843 | |
| 92 | Liberty University | 32300 | 44300 | 0.2709 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 92 | Vermont State University | 32300 | 38700 | 0.1653 | 4,108 | 960 | 0.8167 | |
| 94 | Belmont University | 32500 | 69900 | 0.5359 | 7,175 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 95 | The University of Tampa | 32700 | 56900 | 0.425 | 10,598 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 96 | College for Creative Studies | 32800 | 89100 | 0.6322 | 1,376 | 1100 | 0.9194 | |
| 97 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 33800 | 58500 | 0.4227 | 37,985 | 1390 | 0.5815 | |
| 98 | Hofstra University | 34200 | 77000 | 0.5557 | 6,581 | 1328 | 0.6808 | |
| 99 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | 34400 | 84100 | 0.5908 | 18,071 | 0 | 0.9697 | |
| 100 | Pace University | 34800 | 74800 | 0.5346 | 8,038 | 1260 | 0.7592 | |
| 101 | Stevenson University | 35300 | 59900 | 0.4105 | 3,106 | 1100 | 0.7891 | |
| 101 | Western Kentucky University | 35300 | 42300 | 0.1655 | 14,151 | 970 | 0.9387 | |
| 103 | Temple University | 35600 | 55300 | 0.3565 | 21,457 | 1135 | 0.8041 | |
| 104 | Anderson University | 35800 | 46900 | 0.2371 | 1,092 | 1035 | 0.7934 | |
| 105 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 36100 | 36100 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 106 | California Institute of the Arts | 37100 | 84600 | 0.5616 | 868 | 0 | 0.3234 | |
| 107 | Cornish College of the Arts | 37500 | 80200 | 0.5325 | 505 | 0 | 0.6221 | |
| 107 | Xavier University | 37500 | 67500 | 0.4445 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8641 | |
| 109 | Crown College | 38800 | 53200 | 0.2704 | 1,523 | 1060 | 0.2278 | |
| 110 | Pacific University | 39000 | 74900 | 0.4796 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 111 | Rutgers University-Newark | 39200 | 60500 | 0.3523 | 7,989 | 1159 | 0.7136 | |
| 112 | University of Central Florida | 39600 | 39600 | 0 | 59,552 | 1280 | 0.4011 | |
| 113 | Quinnipiac University | 41200 | 79200 | 0.4797 | 6,557 | 1245 | 0.7215 | |
| 114 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | 41800 | 42900 | 0.0257 | 946 | 1241 | 0.2997 | |
| 115 | Montclair State University | 42100 | 46200 | 0.0888 | 18,712 | 1058 | 0.8789 | |
| 116 | Marymount Manhattan College | 42200 | 69900 | 0.3963 | 1,601 | 1224 | 0.8261 | |
| 117 | California College of the Arts | 42500 | 87600 | 0.5147 | 1,004 | 1079 | 0.911 | |
| 118 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 43000 | 80700 | 0.4674 | 1,731 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 119 | The University of Montana | 44400 | 45900 | 0.0327 | 7,891 | 1225 | 0.9586 | |
| 120 | Biola University | 45100 | 71200 | 0.3667 | 3,481 | 1268 | 0.7435 | |
| 121 | High Point University | 45500 | 72900 | 0.3758 | 5,135 | 1263 | 0.7531 | |
| 122 | Middle Tennessee State University | 46000 | 46000 | 0 | 18,042 | 1140 | 0.6909 | |
| 123 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 46200 | 66500 | 0.3054 | 720 | 1211 | 0.4848 | |
| 124 | Wagner College | 47000 | 73400 | 0.359 | 1,666 | 1240 | 0.88 | |
| 125 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | 48500 | 69000 | 0.2972 | 1,871 | 1085 | 0.7627 | |
| 126 | Drexel University | 48800 | 83800 | 0.4176 | 13,309 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 127 | Chapman University | 51500 | 94000 | 0.4523 | 7,713 | 1353 | 0.6543 | |
| 128 | Lynn University | 51700 | 66000 | 0.2166 | 2,861 | 1130 | 0.7347 | |
| 128 | Ringling College of Art and Design | 51700 | 91600 | 0.4358 | 1,666 | 0 | 0.6965 | |
| 130 | George Mason University | 53600 | 61000 | 0.1213 | 28,334 | 1268 | 0.8748 | |
| 131 | Woodbury University | 53900 | 69500 | 0.2244 | 786 | 1087 | 0.8165 | |
| 132 | Emerson College | 54600 | 82600 | 0.339 | 3,908 | 1359 | 0.5131 | |
| 133 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 54700 | 66500 | 0.1775 | 15,552 | 1174 | 0.8298 | |
| 134 | Pratt Institute-Main | 57200 | 83800 | 0.3175 | 3,967 | 1272 | 0.7325 | |
| 135 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 58200 | 64100 | 0.0921 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 136 | Maryland Institute College of Art | 60700 | 71200 | 0.1476 | 1,191 | 1232 | 0.7679 | |
| 137 | Indiana University-Bloomington | 60800 | 63000 | 0.0338 | 38,093 | 1302 | 0.7821 | |
| 138 | Loyola Marymount University | 74800 | 95600 | 0.2176 | 7,273 | 1353 | 0.4508 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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