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 | 10700 | 102300 | 0.8957 | 8,153 | 1512 | 0.1192 | |
| 2 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | 10800 | 24600 | 0.5615 | 4,250 | 970 | 0.9166 | |
| 3 | California State University-Sacramento | 11700 | 30700 | 0.6186 | 28,619 | 1015 | 0.9357 | |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 12200 | 24900 | 0.5092 | 5,677 | 985 | 0.9301 | |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,421 | 1054 | 0.9444 | |
| 6 | Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development | 13500 | 28100 | 0.5197 | 877 | 895 | 0.9747 | |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 8 | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | 14200 | 24800 | 0.4266 | 946 | 1241 | 0.2997 | |
| 9 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 10 | Fitchburg State University | 15600 | 33700 | 0.5372 | 3,000 | 1090 | 0.8885 | |
| 10 | Florida State University | 15600 | 22900 | 0.3184 | 34,271 | 1369 | 0.2383 | |
| 10 | University of West Georgia | 15600 | 24600 | 0.3662 | 10,075 | 1035 | 0.7995 | |
| 13 | Goshen College | 16500 | 55900 | 0.7052 | 738 | 995 | 0.8342 | |
| 13 | Wayne State University | 16500 | 32900 | 0.4982 | 16,390 | 1183 | 0.8359 | |
| 15 | Maharishi International University | 16900 | 32800 | 0.4848 | 925 | 1089 | 0.957 | |
| 16 | SUNY at Fredonia | 17100 | 27800 | 0.3854 | 2,771 | 1258 | 0.777 | |
| 17 | Middle Tennessee State University | 17200 | 23200 | 0.2586 | 18,042 | 1140 | 0.6909 | |
| 17 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 17200 | 25700 | 0.3307 | 21,138 | 1134 | 0.9039 | |
| 19 | Keene State College | 17500 | 41400 | 0.5775 | 2,640 | 1064 | 0.8982 | |
| 20 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,241 | 1408 | 0.1761 | |
| 21 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 18000 | 39000 | 0.5381 | 37,985 | 1390 | 0.5815 | |
| 22 | University of Mississippi | 18300 | 45000 | 0.5938 | 22,939 | 1172 | 0.9738 | |
| 23 | Grand Canyon University | 18900 | 33700 | 0.4392 | 75,936 | 1075 | 0.7891 | |
| 23 | The University of Montana | 18900 | 25200 | 0.2497 | 8,014 | 1184 | 0.9586 | |
| 25 | Lee University | 19600 | 37400 | 0.4762 | 3,425 | 1154 | 0.7138 | |
| 26 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19700 | 72100 | 0.7266 | 2,871 | 1150 | 0.9058 | |
| 26 | SUNY at Purchase College | 19700 | 28000 | 0.2959 | 3,283 | 1294 | 0.7405 | |
| 28 | Cleveland State University | 20000 | 30900 | 0.3523 | 9,418 | 1069 | 0.913 | |
| 28 | Lindenwood University | 20000 | 35800 | 0.4417 | 4,422 | 1193 | 0.5996 | |
| 28 | University of Southern California | 20000 | 75900 | 0.7369 | 20,768 | 1499 | 0.1119 | |
| 31 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 20200 | 57300 | 0.6479 | 1,567 | 980 | 0.9597 | |
| 32 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20400 | 23200 | 0.1207 | 20,786 | 1225 | 0.8689 | |
| 33 | Husson University | 20500 | 48100 | 0.5732 | 2,865 | 1174 | 0.8143 | |
| 34 | La Sierra University | 20600 | 65900 | 0.687 | 1,266 | 1124 | 0.9069 | |
| 35 | Piedmont University | 20700 | 47200 | 0.5614 | 1,154 | 1080 | 0.9054 | |
| 36 | Northern Michigan University | 21300 | 33100 | 0.3565 | 6,650 | 1100 | 0.8505 | |
| 37 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 21400 | 34000 | 0.3702 | 10,594 | 1193 | 0.6493 | |
| 38 | New Mexico Highlands University | 21600 | 27200 | 0.2057 | 1,603 | 945 | 1 | |
| 39 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 22200 | 33600 | 0.339 | 21,469 | 1167 | 0.9061 | |
| 40 | Nelson University | 22300 | 55500 | 0.5982 | 1,526 | 990 | 0.8902 | |
| 41 | New York University | 22400 | 91800 | 0.7556 | 29,471 | 1520 | 0.0906 | |
| 42 | Oklahoma City University | 22600 | 64400 | 0.6492 | 1,546 | 1159 | 0.7103 | |
| 43 | Bob Jones University | 23300 | 41500 | 0.4384 | 2,312 | 1149 | 1 | |
| 44 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23400 | 45800 | 0.4895 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 45 | Millikin University | 23800 | 43700 | 0.4549 | 1,427 | 1065 | 0.765 | |
| 46 | Oral Roberts University | 24200 | 52700 | 0.5408 | 5,017 | 1139 | 0.989 | |
| 47 | Columbia College Chicago | 24400 | 63200 | 0.6143 | 4,346 | 0 | 0.738 | |
| 48 | Augsburg University | 25200 | 56400 | 0.5536 | 2,706 | 1065 | 0.95 | |
| 48 | Point Park University | 25200 | 57000 | 0.5582 | 2,498 | 1144 | 0.984 | |
| 50 | Walla Walla University | 25600 | 51700 | 0.5047 | 1,314 | 1159 | 0.604 | |
| 51 | Missouri Western State University | 25700 | 39300 | 0.3472 | 3,550 | 1015 | 0.9981 | |
| 52 | Messiah University | 25900 | 54300 | 0.5228 | 2,722 | 1266 | 0.8107 | |
| 53 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 26000 | 28300 | 0.0809 | 3,375 | 1090 | 0.5885 | |
| 54 | University of Mobile | 26200 | 48300 | 0.4572 | 1,313 | 1209 | 0.7789 | |
| 55 | St Bonaventure University | 26300 | 61200 | 0.5702 | 2,134 | 1165 | 0.8533 | |
| 56 | Oakland University | 26700 | 39300 | 0.3205 | 12,770 | 1039 | 0.8897 | |
| 57 | Western Kentucky University | 26800 | 41800 | 0.3588 | 13,732 | 1090 | 0.9145 | |
| 58 | George Fox University | 27500 | 69400 | 0.6041 | 3,530 | 1168 | 0.9282 | |
| 59 | Clayton State University | 27600 | 39300 | 0.2978 | 5,551 | 965 | 0.6845 | |
| 60 | Syracuse University | 27900 | 83100 | 0.6641 | 16,149 | 1374 | 0.4879 | |
| 61 | Bridgewater State University | 28000 | 35500 | 0.2113 | 8,849 | 1143 | 0.8798 | |
| 61 | John Brown University | 28000 | 48300 | 0.4198 | 2,091 | 1187 | 0.6802 | |
| 63 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 28100 | 69300 | 0.5943 | 2,012 | 1174 | 0.9631 | |
| 64 | Weber State University | 28200 | 33900 | 0.168 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 65 | Webster University | 28500 | 54700 | 0.4792 | 1,898 | 1120 | 0.8618 | |
| 66 | Cornerstone University | 29100 | 40800 | 0.2867 | 1,354 | 1110 | 0.7777 | |
| 66 | Jacksonville State University | 29100 | 38200 | 0.2381 | 8,663 | 1069 | 0.7769 | |
| 66 | Marquette University | 29100 | 63800 | 0.544 | 8,206 | 1304 | 0.7802 | |
| 69 | Huntington University | 29300 | 44300 | 0.3384 | 1,512 | 1065 | 0.7518 | |
| 70 | Columbus College of Art & Design | 29400 | 71800 | 0.5907 | 885 | 1080 | 0.6766 | |
| 70 | William Penn University | 29400 | 48000 | 0.387 | 1,366 | 1035 | 0.7311 | |
| 72 | Montana State University | 29500 | 31900 | 0.0751 | 15,142 | 1184 | 0.9938 | |
| 73 | Kansas City Art Institute | 29700 | 78600 | 0.6225 | 813 | 1056 | 0.5476 | |
| 73 | Southern Adventist University | 29700 | 46900 | 0.3666 | 2,946 | 1142 | 0.7163 | |
| 73 | Southern Methodist University | 29700 | 90100 | 0.6703 | 7,545 | 1427 | 0.4764 | |
| 76 | Lipscomb University | 29800 | 57800 | 0.4841 | 3,327 | 1214 | 0.6774 | |
| 77 | Southern Utah University | 29900 | 40800 | 0.2673 | 13,176 | 1140 | 0.9998 | |
| 78 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 30500 | 39200 | 0.2222 | 13,039 | 1020 | 0.894 | |
| 79 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 30600 | 78100 | 0.608 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 80 | Ithaca College | 30800 | 72500 | 0.575 | 4,205 | 1328 | 0.7015 | |
| 81 | Taylor University | 31100 | 59100 | 0.474 | 2,769 | 1229 | 0.9881 | |
| 82 | Rider University | 31400 | 60600 | 0.4816 | 3,052 | 1214 | 0.7741 | |
| 83 | Azusa Pacific University | 32200 | 66600 | 0.5162 | 2,759 | 1189 | 0.8842 | |
| 84 | Belmont University | 32400 | 69900 | 0.5372 | 7,174 | 1273 | 0.9367 | |
| 85 | State University of New York at Oswego | 32700 | 40200 | 0.1866 | 5,293 | 1179 | 0.7989 | |
| 86 | Liberty University | 33200 | 44600 | 0.2556 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 87 | Baylor University | 33400 | 70300 | 0.5247 | 14,183 | 1302 | 0.5222 | |
| 88 | Harding University | 33500 | 47800 | 0.299 | 3,536 | 1184 | 0.7052 | |
| 89 | DeSales University | 34200 | 68500 | 0.5006 | 2,172 | 1185 | 0.7709 | |
| 89 | University of Rhode Island | 34200 | 46400 | 0.2627 | 14,466 | 1197 | 0.7456 | |
| 91 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 11,981 | 1110 | 0.4247 | |
| 92 | California Lutheran University | 35200 | 70000 | 0.4973 | 2,160 | 1218 | 0.7631 | |
| 93 | Stevenson University | 35300 | 59900 | 0.4105 | 3,154 | 1100 | 0.8006 | |
| 94 | College for Creative Studies | 35400 | 89800 | 0.6061 | 1,376 | 1100 | 0.9194 | |
| 95 | The University of Tampa | 35500 | 56900 | 0.3758 | 10,710 | 1250 | 0.4363 | |
| 96 | Anderson University | 35700 | 46900 | 0.2405 | 1,096 | 1035 | 0.7934 | |
| 97 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 35900 | 47500 | 0.2444 | 8,513 | 1160 | 0.9261 | |
| 97 | Temple University | 35900 | 56400 | 0.3636 | 21,031 | 1172 | 0.8622 | |
| 99 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 36100 | 36100 | 0 | 16,131 | 1275 | 0.6472 | |
| 100 | Hofstra University | 36400 | 76900 | 0.5266 | 6,599 | 1369 | 0.7267 | |
| 101 | Marymount Manhattan College | 37600 | 69900 | 0.4621 | 1,601 | 1224 | 0.8261 | |
| 102 | DePaul University | 37800 | 66000 | 0.4275 | 14,338 | 1258 | 0.878 | |
| 103 | University of Central Arkansas | 38000 | 40200 | 0.0569 | 8,238 | 1110 | 0.9157 | |
| 104 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | 38400 | 63000 | 0.3907 | 18,904 | 0 | 0.8516 | |
| 104 | Xavier University | 38400 | 68100 | 0.4364 | 3,744 | 1286 | 0.848 | |
| 106 | Crown College | 38600 | 53200 | 0.2734 | 1,523 | 1060 | 0.2278 | |
| 107 | Long Island University | 38800 | 60000 | 0.3535 | 12,072 | 1229 | 0.8616 | |
| 107 | Pacific University | 38800 | 74900 | 0.4817 | 1,465 | 1019 | 0.8986 | |
| 107 | State University of New York at Cortland | 38800 | 39900 | 0.0276 | 5,890 | 1175 | 0.624 | |
| 110 | Rutgers University-Newark | 39600 | 57900 | 0.316 | 7,989 | 1159 | 0.7136 | |
| 110 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 39600 | 42500 | 0.0683 | 14,249 | 1084 | 0.7761 | |
| 112 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 39700 | 50000 | 0.2062 | 35,248 | 1289 | 0.6939 | |
| 112 | University of Central Florida | 39700 | 39700 | 0 | 60,083 | 1289 | 0.428 | |
| 112 | University of South Alabama | 39700 | 39700 | 0 | 9,530 | 1140 | 0.9455 | |
| 115 | Southern Oregon University | 39800 | 39800 | 0 | 4,235 | 1104 | 0.8862 | |
| 116 | Pace University | 40500 | 74800 | 0.4585 | 5,520 | 1273 | 0.7827 | |
| 116 | Saint Mary's College of California | 40500 | 81500 | 0.5029 | 1,955 | 1175 | 0.8856 | |
| 118 | Pacific Union College | 41000 | 52800 | 0.2233 | 968 | 1070 | 0.473 | |
| 119 | Montclair State University | 41600 | 46600 | 0.1073 | 19,048 | 1005 | 0.894 | |
| 120 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 42900 | 80700 | 0.4683 | 1,733 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 121 | California Institute of the Arts | 43200 | 84900 | 0.4913 | 870 | 0 | 0.3234 | |
| 122 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 43300 | 75900 | 0.4298 | 7,880 | 0 | 0.6701 | |
| 123 | Quinnipiac University | 44800 | 79200 | 0.4343 | 6,610 | 1250 | 0.7031 | |
| 124 | High Point University | 45300 | 72900 | 0.3785 | 5,135 | 1263 | 0.7531 | |
| 125 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 46000 | 66500 | 0.3085 | 720 | 1211 | 0.4848 | |
| 126 | Biola University | 46700 | 71200 | 0.3442 | 3,553 | 1281 | 0.7817 | |
| 127 | Wagner College | 46900 | 73400 | 0.3611 | 1,666 | 1240 | 0.88 | |
| 128 | Drexel University | 47700 | 83900 | 0.4315 | 12,318 | 1354 | 0.699 | |
| 129 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | 48500 | 69000 | 0.2972 | 1,825 | 1085 | 0.8311 | |
| 130 | University of California-Riverside | 49200 | 66000 | 0.2547 | 24,034 | 1199 | 0.8609 | |
| 131 | Binghamton University | 50500 | 52800 | 0.0433 | 14,559 | 1404 | 0.3731 | |
| 132 | Ringling College of Art and Design | 50600 | 92000 | 0.4499 | 1,535 | 0 | 0.6794 | |
| 133 | Lynn University | 51800 | 66000 | 0.2151 | 3,020 | 1135 | 0.7425 | |
| 134 | George Mason University | 53400 | 61000 | 0.1246 | 28,862 | 1271 | 0.8647 | |
| 135 | Moore College of Art and Design | 53500 | 81500 | 0.3437 | 535 | 1292 | 0.5646 | |
| 136 | Emerson College | 54600 | 82600 | 0.339 | 3,908 | 1359 | 0.5131 | |
| 137 | Chapman University | 55400 | 93100 | 0.405 | 7,630 | 1336 | 0.7206 | |
| 138 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 56000 | 66400 | 0.1567 | 15,552 | 1174 | 0.8298 | |
| 139 | Pratt Institute-Main | 57600 | 83800 | 0.3127 | 3,734 | 1249 | 0.8638 | |
| 140 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 58200 | 64100 | 0.092 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 141 | Maryland Institute College of Art | 58400 | 71200 | 0.1798 | 1,192 | 1232 | 0.7681 | |
| 142 | Indiana University-Bloomington | 60700 | 63000 | 0.0364 | 38,463 | 1324 | 0.7589 | |
| 143 | California College of the Arts | 65300 | 87600 | 0.2545 | 1,004 | 1079 | 0.911 | |
| 144 | Loyola Marymount University | 77700 | 95500 | 0.1863 | 7,187 | 1347 | 0.4821 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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