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 | United States Coast Guard Academy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,081 | 1283 | 0.2432 | |
| 1 | United States Military Academy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,473 | 1326 | 0.1245 | |
| 3 | Millikin University | 6900 | 43700 | 0.8419 | 1,496 | 1020 | 0.6668 | |
| 4 | Brigham Young University | 8000 | 28600 | 0.7211 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 5 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 8200 | 43500 | 0.8122 | 28,674 | 980 | 0.9401 | |
| 6 | Marshall University | 9200 | 34400 | 0.732 | 9,165 | 1065 | 0.9572 | |
| 7 | University of Richmond | 10000 | 97100 | 0.8971 | 3,055 | 1484 | 0.222 | |
| 8 | University of Maine at Presque Isle | 10100 | 35500 | 0.7163 | 2,152 | 925 | 0.9709 | |
| 9 | Felician University | 11600 | 58700 | 0.8025 | 1,870 | 1005 | 0.9511 | |
| 10 | Southern Utah University | 12000 | 44000 | 0.7268 | 13,126 | 1140 | 0.8179 | |
| 11 | University of Maine at Fort Kent | 12100 | 33400 | 0.6372 | 1,357 | 1078 | 0.9907 | |
| 12 | Bismarck State College | 12400 | 28600 | 0.5662 | 4,065 | 0 | 0.8666 | |
| 13 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 12700 | 34600 | 0.6336 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 14 | West Virginia University | 12800 | 57700 | 0.778 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 15 | University of West Florida | 12900 | 21500 | 0.3995 | 9,661 | 1120 | 0.5687 | |
| 16 | Northern Illinois University | 13200 | 29000 | 0.5434 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 17 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute | 13500 | 13500 | 0 | 1,919 | 1245 | 0.7844 | |
| 18 | Kansas State University | 13600 | 26100 | 0.4786 | 15,650 | 1164 | 0.8199 | |
| 18 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 13600 | 27600 | 0.508 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 20 | Arkansas Tech University | 14100 | 35900 | 0.6065 | 8,145 | 1035 | 0.9589 | |
| 20 | University of South Florida | 14100 | 17100 | 0.1753 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 22 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 14400 | 26800 | 0.4632 | 4,478 | 1065 | 0.8132 | |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 14400 | 19300 | 0.2539 | 10,090 | 1075 | 0.9368 | |
| 24 | Southeast Missouri State University | 14500 | 28200 | 0.4864 | 7,926 | 1080 | 0.6897 | |
| 25 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 27900 | 0.476 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 26 | Northern Arizona University | 14800 | 25400 | 0.4182 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 27 | Murray State University | 15000 | 27000 | 0.4463 | 8,281 | 1124 | 0.8568 | |
| 28 | Florida International University | 15100 | 23700 | 0.3621 | 44,904 | 1175 | 0.5466 | |
| 28 | Northeastern University | 15100 | 89900 | 0.832 | 22,695 | 1490 | 0.0522 | |
| 28 | University of Maine at Augusta | 15100 | 44900 | 0.6639 | 4,250 | 0 | 0.0683 | |
| 31 | Troy University | 15200 | 26700 | 0.4306 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 31 | University of North Georgia | 15200 | 48000 | 0.6836 | 18,329 | 1100 | 0.6794 | |
| 33 | Grand Valley State University | 15300 | 25300 | 0.3957 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 34 | Eastern Oregon University | 15900 | 52000 | 0.6944 | 2,502 | 1040 | 0.9831 | |
| 34 | Sam Houston State University | 15900 | 30300 | 0.4749 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 34 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 15900 | 41600 | 0.6185 | 9,302 | 1125 | 0.9735 | |
| 37 | Shawnee State University | 16000 | 26400 | 0.3944 | 2,994 | 1085 | 0.8147 | |
| 38 | Keene State College | 16200 | 51200 | 0.6839 | 2,744 | 1020 | 0.9033 | |
| 39 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 16300 | 42300 | 0.6145 | 3,469 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 40 | Lewis University | 16400 | 57700 | 0.7155 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 41 | Columbus State University | 16600 | 47900 | 0.6532 | 6,033 | 1020 | 0.9918 | |
| 42 | Eastern Michigan University | 16700 | 31800 | 0.4753 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 43 | Collin County Community College District | 16900 | 35900 | 0.5298 | 39,552 | 0 | 0.9836 | |
| 44 | Ferris State University | 17000 | 31000 | 0.4523 | 8,989 | 1015 | 0.9151 | |
| 45 | Mid-America Christian University | 17400 | 36800 | 0.5276 | 1,636 | 0 | 0 | |
| 46 | Aurora University | 17500 | 40900 | 0.5729 | 4,107 | 1045 | 0.8085 | |
| 47 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | 17600 | 46700 | 0.6234 | 3,525 | 1070 | 0.8175 | |
| 48 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 17700 | 26700 | 0.3376 | 4,894 | 1090 | 0.8596 | |
| 48 | University of Mary | 17700 | 32600 | 0.4576 | 2,650 | 1189 | 0.7825 | |
| 48 | University of Miami | 17700 | 96300 | 0.8159 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 51 | Montana Technological University | 18000 | 55400 | 0.6746 | 1,435 | 1125 | 0.899 | |
| 52 | Augusta University | 18100 | 51200 | 0.6461 | 5,684 | 1125 | 0.8931 | |
| 52 | Saint Leo University | 18100 | 50000 | 0.6378 | 7,603 | 1085 | 0.721 | |
| 52 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 18100 | 36500 | 0.5044 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 55 | Florida Memorial University | 18600 | 44900 | 0.5858 | 1,299 | 0 | 0.7431 | |
| 56 | Saint Cloud State University | 18900 | 24500 | 0.2306 | 8,013 | 1094 | 0.9495 | |
| 57 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 19000 | 25200 | 0.2457 | 6,853 | 1090 | 0.7147 | |
| 58 | Lindenwood University | 19200 | 35800 | 0.464 | 4,663 | 1170 | 0.5684 | |
| 59 | The University of Montana | 19400 | 25200 | 0.2299 | 8,014 | 1184 | 0.9586 | |
| 60 | Western Michigan University | 19500 | 31200 | 0.3747 | 13,860 | 1104 | 0.846 | |
| 61 | Illinois Institute of Technology | 19700 | 75200 | 0.7382 | 3,135 | 1299 | 0.5493 | |
| 62 | Morris College | 19900 | 28100 | 0.2915 | 421 | 0 | 0.9828 | |
| 63 | Central Connecticut State University | 20000 | 29500 | 0.3219 | 8,170 | 1010 | 0.7333 | |
| 64 | Bradley University | 20100 | 48500 | 0.5849 | 3,596 | 1174 | 0.7675 | |
| 64 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | 20100 | 46300 | 0.5657 | 2,634 | 1030 | 0.8841 | |
| 66 | University of Tulsa | 20200 | 62900 | 0.6789 | 2,852 | 1328 | 0.615 | |
| 67 | Olivet Nazarene University | 20300 | 71400 | 0.7155 | 2,704 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 67 | Stetson University | 20300 | 79100 | 0.7437 | 2,349 | 1114 | 0.716 | |
| 69 | Western Illinois University | 20800 | 31000 | 0.3308 | 5,025 | 990 | 0.7496 | |
| 70 | Blackburn College | 20900 | 53700 | 0.6107 | 389 | 1020 | 0.8014 | |
| 71 | Kennesaw State University | 21400 | 27200 | 0.2133 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 72 | Elmhurst University | 21500 | 67000 | 0.6794 | 3,170 | 1148 | 0.7357 | |
| 72 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks | 21500 | 47300 | 0.5453 | 1,880 | 1185 | 0.9867 | |
| 74 | Guilford College | 21900 | 57400 | 0.6184 | 1,160 | 1025 | 0.8376 | |
| 75 | Bentley University | 22000 | 85500 | 0.7426 | 4,526 | 1359 | 0.4505 | |
| 76 | Farmingdale State College | 22400 | 37800 | 0.4069 | 10,007 | 1145 | 0.6329 | |
| 76 | William Woods University | 22400 | 60800 | 0.6312 | 1,097 | 1140 | 0.7449 | |
| 78 | Assumption University | 22500 | 91300 | 0.7533 | 1,713 | 1085 | 0.8298 | |
| 79 | Mount Saint Mary College | 23000 | 68400 | 0.6638 | 2,141 | 1090 | 0.8888 | |
| 80 | Dakota State University | 23100 | 25600 | 0.0977 | 3,066 | 1192 | 0.8814 | |
| 81 | Saint Ambrose University | 23200 | 55400 | 0.5809 | 1,939 | 1085 | 0.7733 | |
| 81 | University of Central Missouri | 23200 | 34300 | 0.3244 | 7,584 | 1055 | 0.638 | |
| 83 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill | 23300 | 51600 | 0.5486 | 1,764 | 1055 | 0.8325 | |
| 84 | College of Our Lady of the Elms | 23400 | 81700 | 0.7136 | 1,002 | 1235 | 0.8882 | |
| 84 | Indiana Institute of Technology | 23400 | 48800 | 0.5206 | 1,642 | 1055 | 0.5713 | |
| 86 | Regis University | 23600 | 67200 | 0.6484 | 2,704 | 1199 | 0.8639 | |
| 87 | University of Illinois Springfield | 23800 | 39800 | 0.4011 | 2,342 | 1140 | 0.8437 | |
| 88 | Fontbonne University | 24000 | 49800 | 0.5183 | 650 | 1090 | 0.9503 | |
| 89 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 24100 | 58100 | 0.5848 | 1,147 | 990 | 0.7246 | |
| 90 | Old Dominion University | 24300 | 36600 | 0.3357 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 90 | St Bonaventure University | 24300 | 61200 | 0.6029 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 90 | University of Central Arkansas | 24300 | 29500 | 0.1763 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 93 | Norwich University | 24700 | 88400 | 0.7208 | 2,642 | 1209 | 0.7361 | |
| 94 | Illinois State University | 25000 | 35200 | 0.2914 | 19,107 | 1115 | 0.8815 | |
| 94 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 25000 | 38500 | 0.3508 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 96 | Northwood University | 25200 | 54500 | 0.5381 | 1,989 | 1075 | 0.839 | |
| 97 | Syracuse University | 25300 | 83100 | 0.6955 | 15,958 | 1363 | 0.4611 | |
| 98 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | 25500 | 47400 | 0.4623 | 2,371 | 1189 | 0.9808 | |
| 99 | Neumann University | 25800 | 45000 | 0.427 | 1,658 | 975 | 0.8128 | |
| 100 | Columbia College | 25900 | 51600 | 0.4985 | 876 | 1025 | 0.8878 | |
| 101 | Lipscomb University | 26100 | 57800 | 0.5484 | 3,327 | 1214 | 0.6774 | |
| 102 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 26200 | 28400 | 0.0776 | 14,504 | 1145 | 0.7637 | |
| 103 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4748 | 1,147 | 1110 | 0.8035 | |
| 104 | Ferrum College | 26500 | 44700 | 0.4074 | 747 | 1035 | 1 | |
| 105 | Defiance College | 26600 | 45900 | 0.4208 | 464 | 1040 | 0.4243 | |
| 106 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 27200 | 45500 | 0.4024 | 4,264 | 1130 | 0.7423 | |
| 107 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 27300 | 47900 | 0.4298 | 4,047 | 1219 | 0.976 | |
| 108 | York College of Pennsylvania | 27400 | 45800 | 0.4021 | 3,308 | 1135 | 0.942 | |
| 109 | George Fox University | 27700 | 76800 | 0.6393 | 3,401 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 109 | Oregon Institute of Technology | 27700 | 36400 | 0.2375 | 5,162 | 1131 | 0.9502 | |
| 111 | Mount St. Mary's University | 27900 | 61400 | 0.5464 | 1,833 | 1164 | 0.7381 | |
| 112 | Randolph-Macon College | 28000 | 69200 | 0.595 | 1,643 | 1140 | 0.8661 | |
| 112 | Thomas College | 28000 | 55800 | 0.4989 | 1,581 | 905 | 0.9707 | |
| 114 | Mississippi State University | 28100 | 32300 | 0.13 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 115 | Bellevue University | 28200 | 32400 | 0.1269 | 11,096 | 0 | 0.995 | |
| 116 | Messiah University | 28400 | 54200 | 0.4762 | 2,618 | 1241 | 0.7897 | |
| 117 | Roosevelt University | 28500 | 47600 | 0.401 | 2,605 | 1015 | 0.9427 | |
| 118 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 33400 | 0.1437 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 119 | Drury University | 28700 | 52900 | 0.4573 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 119 | Mercy University | 28700 | 44500 | 0.3552 | 6,775 | 1074 | 0.8584 | |
| 121 | Radford University | 28800 | 32800 | 0.122 | 6,161 | 1070 | 0.8953 | |
| 122 | University of Detroit Mercy | 28900 | 48100 | 0.3989 | 3,422 | 1154 | 0.7572 | |
| 123 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 29500 | 42400 | 0.3041 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 124 | New England College | 29700 | 65800 | 0.5487 | 1,032 | 930 | 0.9213 | |
| 124 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 29700 | 37200 | 0.2006 | 12,151 | 1154 | 0.5716 | |
| 126 | Southern Adventist University | 29800 | 46900 | 0.3648 | 2,827 | 1125 | 0.6661 | |
| 127 | Northern Kentucky University | 29900 | 32100 | 0.0686 | 10,163 | 1090 | 0.8307 | |
| 128 | Gannon University | 30500 | 52900 | 0.4238 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 129 | University of North Texas | 30600 | 48200 | 0.3651 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 130 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 30700 | 78100 | 0.6069 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 131 | Siena Heights University | 31000 | 46300 | 0.3287 | 1,669 | 1000 | 0.6656 | |
| 132 | New Jersey City University | 31600 | 39800 | 0.2062 | 4,209 | 1015 | 0.8918 | |
| 133 | Angelo State University | 31700 | 35400 | 0.1047 | 9,779 | 1055 | 0.8301 | |
| 134 | McKendree University | 31900 | 52200 | 0.3882 | 1,605 | 1098 | 0.6388 | |
| 135 | DePaul University | 32000 | 67100 | 0.5231 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 135 | Liberty University | 32000 | 60900 | 0.4748 | 52,823 | 1181 | 0.9932 | |
| 137 | Grambling State University | 32200 | 38100 | 0.155 | 4,279 | 965 | 0.2368 | |
| 138 | Friends University | 32500 | 53600 | 0.3934 | 1,549 | 1030 | 0.6046 | |
| 138 | St. John's University-New York | 32500 | 78000 | 0.583 | 15,640 | 1249 | 0.8343 | |
| 140 | Shenandoah University | 32600 | 56800 | 0.4257 | 2,641 | 1127 | 0.7695 | |
| 141 | The University of Tampa | 32700 | 56900 | 0.425 | 10,594 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 142 | Harding University | 32800 | 47000 | 0.3023 | 3,523 | 1193 | 0.3942 | |
| 143 | Southern New Hampshire University | 33000 | 52800 | 0.3751 | 159,653 | 965 | 0.9612 | |
| 144 | Anderson University | 33200 | 52500 | 0.3678 | 3,405 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 144 | Frostburg State University | 33200 | 43000 | 0.228 | 2,619 | 1082 | 0.892 | |
| 146 | George Washington University | 33700 | 81800 | 0.5882 | 11,677 | 1421 | 0.4709 | |
| 146 | Touro University | 33700 | 42000 | 0.1974 | 5,098 | 1366 | 0.6196 | |
| 148 | Loyola University Chicago | 34000 | 68100 | 0.5008 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 148 | Taylor University | 34000 | 57600 | 0.4097 | 2,503 | 1235 | 0.7353 | |
| 150 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 34100 | 36100 | 0.0554 | 33,572 | 1264 | 0.8529 | |
| 151 | New England Institute of Technology | 34600 | 77700 | 0.5549 | 1,718 | 995 | 0.6673 | |
| 151 | North Greenville University | 34600 | 44800 | 0.2277 | 2,020 | 1164 | 0.6667 | |
| 153 | Hofstra University | 34700 | 77000 | 0.5492 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 154 | Stevenson University | 35300 | 59900 | 0.4105 | 3,106 | 1100 | 0.7891 | |
| 155 | University of New Haven | 35400 | 67100 | 0.4725 | 4,903 | 1180 | 0.6038 | |
| 156 | Freed-Hardeman University | 35500 | 35900 | 0.0111 | 1,878 | 1180 | 0.9061 | |
| 157 | Anderson University | 35700 | 46900 | 0.2387 | 1,095 | 1055 | 0.5342 | |
| 157 | Roger Williams University | 35700 | 63700 | 0.4401 | 4,050 | 1225 | 0.8778 | |
| 159 | Immaculata University | 35800 | 47800 | 0.2508 | 1,652 | 1245 | 0.8578 | |
| 160 | Seton Hill University | 35900 | 78000 | 0.54 | 1,597 | 1150 | 0.7579 | |
| 161 | Davenport University | 36000 | 44400 | 0.1892 | 4,991 | 0 | 0.9827 | |
| 162 | Warner Pacific University | 36400 | 41600 | 0.1252 | 350 | 945 | 0.5855 | |
| 163 | Ashland University | 36500 | 52700 | 0.3073 | 5,180 | 1145 | 0.8053 | |
| 164 | Bluefield University | 37200 | 43200 | 0.1389 | 694 | 995 | 0.6272 | |
| 165 | Point University | 37300 | 44600 | 0.1638 | 2,617 | 975 | 0.6751 | |
| 166 | Champlain College | 37500 | 90100 | 0.5839 | 1,691 | 1304 | 0.8764 | |
| 167 | Saint Francis University | 37900 | 62800 | 0.3967 | 2,450 | 1150 | 0.7916 | |
| 168 | Montreat College | 38800 | 55000 | 0.2948 | 759 | 1055 | 0.6555 | |
| 169 | Marist College | 41400 | 90500 | 0.5428 | 5,551 | 1279 | 0.5651 | |
| 169 | Saint Vincent College | 41400 | 64600 | 0.3593 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 171 | Campbell University | 41600 | 65100 | 0.3611 | 2,699 | 1120 | 0.872 | |
| 172 | Western Washington University | 42300 | 51500 | 0.1788 | 13,752 | 1218 | 0.9325 | |
| 173 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 43000 | 46200 | 0.0693 | 44,170 | 1327 | 0.4979 | |
| 174 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 43700 | 43700 | 0 | 11,554 | 1100 | 0.5516 | |
| 175 | Mercyhurst University | 43800 | 66400 | 0.3405 | 2,274 | 1189 | 0.8102 | |
| 176 | Wagner College | 46900 | 73400 | 0.36 | 1,590 | 1230 | 0.8346 | |
| 177 | Mercer University | 47100 | 63700 | 0.2607 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 178 | Wentworth Institute of Technology | 47900 | 67900 | 0.2945 | 3,965 | 1229 | 0.9121 | |
| 179 | Tulane University of Louisiana | 48500 | 92100 | 0.4736 | 7,283 | 1451 | 0.1398 | |
| 180 | Drexel University | 48700 | 83800 | 0.4188 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 181 | University at Albany | 48900 | 48900 | 0 | 12,666 | 1245 | 0.6909 | |
| 182 | Stevens Institute of Technology | 49400 | 85800 | 0.4242 | 4,236 | 1445 | 0.4758 | |
| 183 | Dallas Baptist University | 55900 | 71900 | 0.2224 | 2,785 | 1104 | 0.8884 | |
| 184 | The University of Alabama | 57100 | 57100 | 0 | 34,389 | 1233 | 0.7665 | |
| 185 | Michigan Technological University | 59300 | 59300 | 0 | 6,022 | 1256 | 0.8353 | |
| 186 | St. John Fisher University | 62500 | 62500 | 0 | 2,583 | 1210 | 0.664 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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