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 | Old Dominion University | 0 | 32400 | 1 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania | 9500 | 92900 | 0.8977 | 11,478 | 1536 | 0.054 | |
| 3 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | 10300 | 10300 | 0 | 6,139 | 1070 | 0.9052 | |
| 4 | Eastern Washington University | 11500 | 31200 | 0.6315 | 6,952 | 995 | 0.9075 | |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 12600 | 12600 | 0 | 25,255 | 1134 | 0.7517 | |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 12700 | 19300 | 0.342 | 10,084 | 1055 | 0.8572 | |
| 7 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 13400 | 25700 | 0.4786 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 13500 | 19400 | 0.304 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 10 | Utah State University | 13800 | 20800 | 0.3369 | 25,706 | 1176 | 0.9247 | |
| 11 | University of Idaho | 14100 | 25800 | 0.4543 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 12 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 11,348 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 13 | Virginia Union University | 14500 | 39400 | 0.6315 | 1,205 | 870 | 0.9799 | |
| 14 | University of St Thomas | 14900 | 50900 | 0.7075 | 3,365 | 1095 | 0.8992 | |
| 15 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 15000 | 29800 | 0.4962 | 3,084 | 1055 | 0.7533 | |
| 16 | Lander University | 15200 | 24600 | 0.3814 | 3,776 | 1055 | 0.8131 | |
| 17 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 29800 | 0.4782 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8609 | |
| 17 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15600 | 31000 | 0.4964 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 17 | University of West Georgia | 15600 | 24600 | 0.3662 | 9,103 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 20 | Kansas State University | 15800 | 26100 | 0.3945 | 15,650 | 1164 | 0.8169 | |
| 21 | Eastern Michigan University | 16400 | 36100 | 0.5463 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 21 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 16400 | 28200 | 0.4179 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 23 | West Virginia University | 16500 | 40900 | 0.5963 | 18,206 | 1125 | 0.89 | |
| 24 | North Carolina State University | 16600 | 28500 | 0.4187 | 28,422 | 1378 | 0.4174 | |
| 25 | University of Lynchburg | 17500 | 54900 | 0.6801 | 1,595 | 1104 | 0.4301 | |
| 26 | Central Connecticut State University | 17600 | 34000 | 0.4818 | 8,170 | 1075 | 0.7333 | |
| 26 | East Carolina University | 17600 | 26100 | 0.3256 | 21,445 | 1160 | 0.8921 | |
| 28 | Avila University | 17700 | 64100 | 0.7236 | 1,331 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 28 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 30 | Delaware State University | 17900 | 42200 | 0.5752 | 4,581 | 930 | 0.4658 | |
| 30 | Tabor College | 17900 | 54400 | 0.6713 | 539 | 1050 | 0.6458 | |
| 32 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 18100 | 25200 | 0.2812 | 6,835 | 1090 | 0.7147 | |
| 33 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 18200 | 28600 | 0.3634 | 4,218 | 1030 | 0.9489 | |
| 34 | Texas Tech University | 18300 | 27100 | 0.3253 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 35 | Rosemont College | 18500 | 38100 | 0.5129 | 486 | 1085 | 0.7634 | |
| 36 | SUNY Old Westbury | 18700 | 24400 | 0.2339 | 4,260 | 1110 | 0.8363 | |
| 37 | Framingham State University | 18800 | 31000 | 0.3937 | 2,782 | 1190 | 0.8361 | |
| 38 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 19100 | 68100 | 0.7197 | 709 | 1030 | 0.8216 | |
| 39 | Carlow University | 19500 | 57800 | 0.6627 | 1,355 | 1065 | 0.8695 | |
| 40 | Lee University | 19600 | 37400 | 0.4762 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 40 | McMurry University | 19600 | 51900 | 0.6218 | 3,167 | 1065 | 0.5704 | |
| 40 | Norwich University | 19600 | 73800 | 0.7342 | 2,626 | 1186 | 0.7444 | |
| 40 | Olivet Nazarene University | 19600 | 61600 | 0.6823 | 2,711 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 44 | Illinois College | 19800 | 55200 | 0.6415 | 937 | 1059 | 0.7819 | |
| 44 | Johnson C Smith University | 19800 | 40800 | 0.5148 | 1,252 | 885 | 0.4521 | |
| 46 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19900 | 72100 | 0.7238 | 3,007 | 1155 | 0.9305 | |
| 47 | Cleveland State University | 20000 | 30900 | 0.3523 | 9,482 | 1069 | 0.913 | |
| 47 | Davis & Elkins College | 20000 | 48300 | 0.5862 | 661 | 902 | 0.9433 | |
| 49 | Coker University | 20100 | 47800 | 0.5798 | 1,220 | 1050 | 0.9396 | |
| 50 | Lasell University | 20200 | 48500 | 0.5831 | 1,293 | 1095 | 0.8122 | |
| 51 | State University of New York at Cortland | 20500 | 27700 | 0.2597 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 52 | Nebraska Wesleyan University | 20900 | 70000 | 0.7016 | 1,463 | 1200 | 0.7982 | |
| 52 | University of Northern Iowa | 20900 | 24000 | 0.1293 | 7,711 | 1129 | 0.9274 | |
| 54 | North Central College | 21100 | 63700 | 0.6692 | 2,454 | 1203 | 0.7733 | |
| 55 | Albright College | 21200 | 49300 | 0.5699 | 1,230 | 1050 | 0.7633 | |
| 56 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 21400 | 35300 | 0.3934 | 5,731 | 1174 | 0.9064 | |
| 56 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 21400 | 34000 | 0.3702 | 10,166 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 58 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 21500 | 48900 | 0.5599 | 5,692 | 1124 | 0.9508 | |
| 58 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 21500 | 24000 | 0.1042 | 4,880 | 1124 | 0.8172 | |
| 60 | Le Moyne College | 21900 | 58100 | 0.6226 | 2,529 | 1255 | 0.8298 | |
| 61 | Lycoming College | 22000 | 65800 | 0.6663 | 1,012 | 1189 | 0.7407 | |
| 61 | Niagara University | 22000 | 57400 | 0.6165 | 2,692 | 1160 | 0.8737 | |
| 63 | South Dakota State University | 22100 | 25200 | 0.1231 | 10,719 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 64 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.467 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 65 | Cottey College | 22300 | 37300 | 0.4025 | 254 | 991 | 0.6918 | |
| 66 | Buena Vista University | 22500 | 59100 | 0.6191 | 1,436 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 67 | Manchester University | 22900 | 54100 | 0.5766 | 988 | 1044 | 0.7106 | |
| 68 | Ohio Dominican University | 23000 | 55400 | 0.5849 | 843 | 1171 | 0.9423 | |
| 69 | Hamline University | 23100 | 56500 | 0.5907 | 1,806 | 1163 | 0.8763 | |
| 70 | Concordia University-Chicago | 23200 | 54900 | 0.5769 | 1,368 | 1100 | 0.9279 | |
| 71 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 23600 | 34800 | 0.3215 | 3,459 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 72 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 23700 | 67400 | 0.6488 | 5,690 | 1055 | 0.9071 | |
| 73 | Millikin University | 23800 | 43700 | 0.4549 | 1,495 | 1020 | 0.6668 | |
| 74 | Dominican University | 24000 | 56000 | 0.5708 | 2,690 | 1005 | 0.9032 | |
| 75 | Indiana State University | 24200 | 32400 | 0.2532 | 6,224 | 1020 | 0.8077 | |
| 76 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 24400 | 34400 | 0.292 | 4,174 | 1165 | 0.8298 | |
| 76 | Maryville College | 24400 | 58400 | 0.5819 | 1,132 | 1167 | 0.6092 | |
| 78 | University of Saint Mary | 24700 | 53700 | 0.5402 | 1,027 | 1040 | 0.8663 | |
| 79 | Pennsylvania Western University | 24900 | 34400 | 0.2759 | 7,586 | 1045 | 0.9433 | |
| 80 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 25200 | 37900 | 0.3348 | 5,661 | 1085 | 0.982 | |
| 80 | Mary Baldwin University | 25200 | 48600 | 0.4818 | 1,124 | 1045 | 0.871 | |
| 82 | Drury University | 25300 | 52900 | 0.5216 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 83 | Northern Arizona University | 25600 | 43200 | 0.4076 | 22,990 | 1090 | 0.8961 | |
| 84 | Hastings College | 25800 | 63000 | 0.5905 | 933 | 1305 | 0.7165 | |
| 84 | Seattle Pacific University | 25800 | 70000 | 0.6314 | 1,776 | 1180 | 0.834 | |
| 86 | Rockford University | 25900 | 58500 | 0.5577 | 983 | 975 | 0.9291 | |
| 86 | Western Kentucky University | 25900 | 41800 | 0.3803 | 14,151 | 970 | 0.9387 | |
| 88 | Lakeland University | 26000 | 56500 | 0.5407 | 2,411 | 1015 | 0.8628 | |
| 89 | University of Mobile | 26200 | 48300 | 0.4572 | 1,308 | 1209 | 0.7789 | |
| 90 | Heidelberg University | 26300 | 48600 | 0.4589 | 969 | 1100 | 0.8579 | |
| 91 | St. Mary's University | 26400 | 59800 | 0.5587 | 2,149 | 1084 | 0.9776 | |
| 92 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1161 | 0.9523 | |
| 92 | Flagler College | 26500 | 61200 | 0.5668 | 2,409 | 1090 | 0.8076 | |
| 92 | Geneva College | 26500 | 50300 | 0.4728 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 95 | Georgia Southern University | 26600 | 26800 | 0.0075 | 23,541 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 95 | St Bonaventure University | 26600 | 61200 | 0.5653 | 2,042 | 1189 | 0.8165 | |
| 97 | Hiram College | 26700 | 48700 | 0.4516 | 1,026 | 1030 | 0.9353 | |
| 98 | University of La Verne | 26800 | 67300 | 0.6015 | 3,050 | 1109 | 0.7117 | |
| 99 | Capital University | 27200 | 62400 | 0.564 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 99 | Randolph-Macon College | 27200 | 69200 | 0.6066 | 1,643 | 1109 | 0.8661 | |
| 101 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 27300 | 36500 | 0.2522 | 7,505 | 1073 | 0.9633 | |
| 102 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 27500 | 31300 | 0.1215 | 8,426 | 1235 | 0.8875 | |
| 103 | Mount St. Mary's University | 27800 | 61400 | 0.5467 | 1,830 | 1164 | 0.7381 | |
| 103 | Pacific Lutheran University | 27800 | 71200 | 0.6099 | 2,446 | 1159 | 0.7802 | |
| 105 | Florida Southern College | 27900 | 63200 | 0.5586 | 2,682 | 1264 | 0.6442 | |
| 105 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 27900 | 30000 | 0.0702 | 6,136 | 1159 | 0.8767 | |
| 105 | Villanova University | 27900 | 88800 | 0.6855 | 7,004 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 108 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 28000 | 38200 | 0.2674 | 12,317 | 1152 | 0.6267 | |
| 109 | California State University-San Marcos | 28100 | 38300 | 0.2662 | 14,977 | 1040 | 0.951 | |
| 110 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 28200 | 69300 | 0.5929 | 2,012 | 1174 | 0.9519 | |
| 111 | Webster University | 28500 | 54700 | 0.4792 | 2,322 | 1109 | 0.8623 | |
| 112 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 32300 | 0.1145 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 112 | University of Hartford | 28600 | 70100 | 0.5917 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9575 | |
| 114 | University of Utah | 28900 | 32000 | 0.097 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 115 | Cedar Crest College | 29000 | 66000 | 0.5602 | 870 | 1115 | 0.8407 | |
| 115 | University of Iowa | 29000 | 31100 | 0.0677 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 117 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 29400 | 56200 | 0.4768 | 765 | 1020 | 0.6617 | |
| 118 | Huntington University | 29500 | 44300 | 0.3339 | 1,588 | 1055 | 0.7564 | |
| 119 | William Penn University | 29600 | 48000 | 0.3832 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 120 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4089 | 722 | 1180 | 0.9425 | |
| 121 | Dominican University of California | 30100 | 69200 | 0.5649 | 1,114 | 1255 | 0.835 | |
| 122 | Baker University | 30200 | 54800 | 0.4487 | 1,530 | 924 | 0.9419 | |
| 123 | Otterbein University | 30400 | 57300 | 0.4694 | 2,211 | 1209 | 0.8453 | |
| 124 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 30500 | 54700 | 0.4411 | 1,427 | 1025 | 0.4941 | |
| 125 | Assumption University | 30600 | 74400 | 0.5884 | 1,713 | 1085 | 0.8298 | |
| 126 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 30800 | 77600 | 0.6029 | 5,044 | 1274 | 0.8883 | |
| 127 | Mount Saint Mary College | 31300 | 68600 | 0.5437 | 2,141 | 1153 | 0.8888 | |
| 128 | Lebanon Valley College | 31400 | 72400 | 0.5665 | 1,720 | 1225 | 0.8377 | |
| 129 | Southern Wesleyan University | 31500 | 47100 | 0.331 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 130 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31900 | 50000 | 0.3617 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 130 | Saint Michael's College | 31900 | 68500 | 0.5346 | 1,120 | 1240 | 0.8451 | |
| 132 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 32000 | 45700 | 0.3 | 7,062 | 965 | 0.928 | |
| 133 | Azusa Pacific University | 32300 | 66600 | 0.5147 | 2,759 | 1189 | 0.8843 | |
| 133 | Marquette University | 32300 | 66500 | 0.5142 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 133 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 32300 | 36700 | 0.1202 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 136 | The University of Tampa | 32700 | 56900 | 0.425 | 10,598 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 137 | Suffolk University | 32900 | 70300 | 0.5319 | 4,326 | 1209 | 0.8233 | |
| 137 | University of Rhode Island | 32900 | 46400 | 0.2907 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 139 | Wilkes University | 33400 | 61900 | 0.4597 | 2,076 | 1144 | 0.9064 | |
| 140 | Fort Lewis College | 33500 | 41400 | 0.191 | 3,392 | 1109 | 0.773 | |
| 141 | Emmanuel College | 33600 | 71400 | 0.5294 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 142 | LeTourneau University | 34000 | 54800 | 0.3798 | 3,187 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 143 | University of St Thomas | 34200 | 70300 | 0.5138 | 6,270 | 1299 | 0.8536 | |
| 144 | Barry University | 34800 | 56400 | 0.3828 | 3,232 | 1005 | 0.7724 | |
| 145 | University of Denver | 34900 | 76900 | 0.5465 | 6,614 | 1347 | 0.7781 | |
| 145 | Valparaiso University | 34900 | 62700 | 0.4428 | 2,123 | 1189 | 0.8943 | |
| 147 | Chatham University | 35000 | 63300 | 0.4474 | 1,550 | 1197 | 0.6196 | |
| 147 | University of South Florida | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 149 | California Lutheran University | 35100 | 70000 | 0.4988 | 2,297 | 1254 | 0.7567 | |
| 150 | University of the Pacific | 35700 | 71500 | 0.501 | 3,249 | 1298 | 0.7132 | |
| 151 | Siena College | 35900 | 65100 | 0.4486 | 3,467 | 1254 | 0.6902 | |
| 152 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 36100 | 36100 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 153 | Mississippi State University | 36400 | 50500 | 0.2795 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 154 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 36500 | 41600 | 0.1226 | 5,386 | 1050 | 0.9092 | |
| 155 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 36800 | 39900 | 0.0779 | 5,086 | 1124 | 0.949 | |
| 156 | California State University-Fresno | 36900 | 43800 | 0.1578 | 21,954 | 995 | 0.9526 | |
| 157 | University of Southern Maine | 37500 | 37500 | 0 | 5,525 | 1144 | 0.7923 | |
| 158 | Benedictine College | 37700 | 50800 | 0.2579 | 2,403 | 1241 | 0.9812 | |
| 159 | DePaul University | 37800 | 66000 | 0.4275 | 14,188 | 1254 | 0.7589 | |
| 160 | University of Central Arkansas | 38100 | 40200 | 0.0523 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 161 | Hofstra University | 38200 | 76900 | 0.5032 | 6,581 | 1328 | 0.6808 | |
| 162 | Washington State University | 38300 | 53900 | 0.2897 | 21,455 | 1125 | 0.8664 | |
| 163 | Howard Payne University | 38400 | 54500 | 0.2955 | 751 | 1043 | 0.6737 | |
| 164 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 38800 | 46600 | 0.1673 | 799 | 865 | 0.6974 | |
| 164 | Crown College | 38800 | 53200 | 0.27 | 1,523 | 1060 | 0.2278 | |
| 166 | Pacific University | 39000 | 74900 | 0.4793 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 167 | Arcadia University | 39400 | 71600 | 0.4487 | 2,030 | 1170 | 0.8022 | |
| 167 | Concordia University Texas | 39400 | 45800 | 0.1408 | 1,188 | 990 | 0.9125 | |
| 169 | Saint Vincent College | 39500 | 64600 | 0.3888 | 1,284 | 1135 | 0.6173 | |
| 170 | Saint Anselm College | 40000 | 73700 | 0.4572 | 2,094 | 1205 | 0.7805 | |
| 171 | Fresno Pacific University | 40100 | 52200 | 0.2318 | 1,545 | 1099 | 0.6407 | |
| 172 | Arkansas State University | 40500 | 41000 | 0.0122 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.8226 | |
| 173 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 40700 | 53600 | 0.2408 | 46,815 | 1378 | 0.6057 | |
| 174 | Butler University | 41200 | 67900 | 0.3934 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 175 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 43000 | 80700 | 0.4672 | 1,731 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 175 | University of Maryland-College Park | 43000 | 53600 | 0.1979 | 31,133 | 1463 | 0.4479 | |
| 177 | University of Florida | 43300 | 45700 | 0.0526 | 36,573 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 178 | Manhattan University | 43600 | 74100 | 0.4115 | 2,744 | 1274 | 0.7894 | |
| 179 | Union University | 43900 | 66000 | 0.3347 | 1,934 | 1242 | 0.6041 | |
| 179 | University at Buffalo | 43900 | 46700 | 0.06 | 20,359 | 1303 | 0.7418 | |
| 181 | The University of Montana | 44400 | 45000 | 0.0133 | 7,891 | 1225 | 0.9586 | |
| 182 | Mercer University | 45300 | 65400 | 0.3078 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 183 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 46000 | 56300 | 0.183 | 849 | 0 | 0 | |
| 184 | University of Delaware | 48400 | 61300 | 0.211 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 185 | Drexel University | 48900 | 83900 | 0.4172 | 13,309 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 186 | Mount St. Joseph University | 54300 | 54300 | 0 | 1,545 | 1143 | 0.5912 | |
| 187 | The University of Alabama | 55800 | 55800 | 0 | 34,389 | 1284 | 0.7665 | |
| 188 | Clemson University | 61500 | 63700 | 0.0331 | 23,401 | 1343 | 0.3834 | |
| 189 | St. John Fisher University | 62500 | 62500 | 0 | 2,571 | 1215 | 0.664 | |
| 190 | Stonehill College | 70600 | 70600 | 0 | 2,568 | 1150 | 0.6628 | |
| 191 | Gonzaga University | 70700 | 76600 | 0.077 | 5,281 | 1329 | 0.8169 | |
| 192 | University of California-Irvine | 72000 | 75600 | 0.0476 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2857 | |
| 193 | The Catholic University of America | 82500 | 82500 | 0 | 3,177 | 1140 | 0.8278 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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