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 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | 100 | 22300 | 0.9939 | 6,029 | 1080 | 0.834 | |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania | 5700 | 93000 | 0.9389 | 10,013 | 1528 | 0.054 | |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 10300 | 24000 | 0.5723 | 4,721 | 1110 | 0.7782 | |
| 4 | Eastern Washington University | 11800 | 28600 | 0.5884 | 6,951 | 1055 | 0.9437 | |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5744 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 6 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 12600 | 12600 | 0 | 25,255 | 1134 | 0.737 | |
| 7 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 12700 | 37100 | 0.6572 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 8 | University of Delaware | 13600 | 32500 | 0.5829 | 19,119 | 1303 | 0.6356 | |
| 9 | Northern Arizona University | 14000 | 25400 | 0.4509 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 10 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 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 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 27900 | 0.476 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 14 | Lander University | 15100 | 24600 | 0.3854 | 3,669 | 1060 | 0.6792 | |
| 15 | University of California-Irvine | 15200 | 35300 | 0.5701 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 16 | University of Florida | 15900 | 22300 | 0.2871 | 36,567 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 16 | University of St Thomas | 15900 | 50900 | 0.6879 | 3,395 | 1080 | 0.8993 | |
| 18 | North Carolina State University | 16500 | 28500 | 0.4223 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 19 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 16800 | 26000 | 0.3534 | 3,102 | 1055 | 0.7533 | |
| 20 | Avila University | 16900 | 67600 | 0.7506 | 1,335 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 21 | Coker University | 17000 | 47800 | 0.6446 | 1,187 | 1005 | 0.9723 | |
| 22 | SUNY Old Westbury | 17400 | 24400 | 0.2873 | 4,260 | 1110 | 0.8352 | |
| 23 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 17800 | 28800 | 0.3822 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 24 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 18200 | 29800 | 0.3899 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 25 | Delaware State University | 18300 | 33100 | 0.4474 | 4,941 | 960 | 0.6167 | |
| 26 | Rosemont College | 18400 | 38100 | 0.5155 | 484 | 1085 | 0.7451 | |
| 27 | Fort Lewis College | 18600 | 29100 | 0.3612 | 3,320 | 1160 | 0.9323 | |
| 28 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4826 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 28 | Hastings College | 18700 | 50400 | 0.629 | 936 | 1116 | 0.654 | |
| 30 | Illinois College | 18900 | 52300 | 0.6391 | 940 | 1054 | 0.7819 | |
| 31 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 32 | Davis & Elkins College | 19900 | 48300 | 0.5883 | 683 | 1025 | 0.5823 | |
| 32 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 34 | McMurry University | 20300 | 46600 | 0.5649 | 3,167 | 1065 | 0.5704 | |
| 34 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 20300 | 33400 | 0.3927 | 3,469 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 36 | South Dakota State University | 20500 | 25200 | 0.1866 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 37 | Hiram College | 20700 | 48700 | 0.5749 | 1,026 | 1005 | 0.9244 | |
| 37 | Lebanon Valley College | 20700 | 71600 | 0.7111 | 1,720 | 1225 | 0.8377 | |
| 37 | Virginia Union University | 20700 | 31000 | 0.3321 | 1,170 | 900 | 0.978 | |
| 37 | West Virginia University | 20700 | 28800 | 0.2815 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 41 | Niagara University | 20800 | 57400 | 0.6374 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 41 | University of Northern Iowa | 20800 | 24000 | 0.1334 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 43 | Central Connecticut State University | 21000 | 34000 | 0.3821 | 8,170 | 1010 | 0.7333 | |
| 44 | University of Miami | 21100 | 70800 | 0.7023 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 44 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 21100 | 23500 | 0.1023 | 10,090 | 1075 | 0.9368 | |
| 46 | Cleveland State University | 21400 | 30900 | 0.3071 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 47 | Cottey College | 21800 | 37300 | 0.4157 | 261 | 1090 | 0.7023 | |
| 47 | Tabor College | 21800 | 55600 | 0.6076 | 539 | 965 | 0.6458 | |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 21800 | 25400 | 0.1427 | 6,124 | 1159 | 0.8747 | |
| 50 | Lycoming College | 22000 | 65800 | 0.666 | 807 | 1189 | 0.7407 | |
| 51 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4666 | 2,504 | 1045 | 0.9338 | |
| 52 | Buena Vista University | 22400 | 59100 | 0.6203 | 810 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 52 | Concordia University-Chicago | 22400 | 46400 | 0.5168 | 1,327 | 1100 | 0.9279 | |
| 54 | Manchester University | 22800 | 54100 | 0.5778 | 915 | 1044 | 0.913 | |
| 55 | Carlow University | 23100 | 58100 | 0.6029 | 1,355 | 1080 | 0.8696 | |
| 56 | The University of Alabama | 23400 | 29900 | 0.2177 | 34,389 | 1233 | 0.7665 | |
| 57 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 23500 | 25700 | 0.0856 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 58 | Ohio Dominican University | 23800 | 53500 | 0.5548 | 843 | 1171 | 0.9423 | |
| 59 | Wells College | 23900 | 54500 | 0.5609 | 357 | 1084 | 0.6965 | |
| 60 | Dominican University | 24000 | 56000 | 0.5708 | 2,690 | 1035 | 0.9032 | |
| 60 | Hamline University | 24000 | 56500 | 0.5748 | 1,716 | 1145 | 0.8983 | |
| 62 | University at Buffalo | 24100 | 34000 | 0.2912 | 20,360 | 1303 | 0.7418 | |
| 62 | University of Mobile | 24100 | 44500 | 0.458 | 1,688 | 1180 | 0.7251 | |
| 64 | University of Central Arkansas | 24300 | 29500 | 0.1763 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 65 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 24400 | 76300 | 0.6804 | 7,703 | 1105 | 0.9556 | |
| 65 | Maryville College | 24400 | 58400 | 0.5819 | 1,136 | 1167 | 0.6092 | |
| 65 | Old Dominion University | 24400 | 32100 | 0.24 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 68 | Heidelberg University | 24600 | 48600 | 0.4939 | 933 | 1100 | 0.6773 | |
| 69 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 24700 | 62200 | 0.6033 | 686 | 1030 | 0.8649 | |
| 69 | University of Saint Mary | 24700 | 53700 | 0.5402 | 1,027 | 1045 | 0.8663 | |
| 71 | University of Lynchburg | 24800 | 54900 | 0.5488 | 1,595 | 1124 | 0.4301 | |
| 72 | Rockford University | 24900 | 59000 | 0.5771 | 968 | 1045 | 0.5704 | |
| 72 | The University of Tampa | 24900 | 56900 | 0.562 | 10,594 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 74 | Flagler College | 25100 | 37800 | 0.3362 | 2,409 | 785 | 0.8076 | |
| 75 | California State University-Fresno | 25300 | 35900 | 0.2951 | 21,430 | 995 | 0.9638 | |
| 75 | St. Mary's University | 25300 | 55900 | 0.5476 | 2,150 | 1084 | 0.9776 | |
| 77 | Mary Baldwin University | 25400 | 46100 | 0.4487 | 1,217 | 1099 | 0.947 | |
| 78 | Marquette University | 25800 | 65700 | 0.6069 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 79 | Lakeland University | 25900 | 56500 | 0.5417 | 2,318 | 1000 | 0.914 | |
| 80 | Otterbein University | 26000 | 66500 | 0.6094 | 2,211 | 1114 | 0.8452 | |
| 81 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 26300 | 48900 | 0.4619 | 5,692 | 1090 | 0.9508 | |
| 81 | Norwich University | 26300 | 70900 | 0.6293 | 2,642 | 1209 | 0.7361 | |
| 83 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4748 | 1,147 | 1110 | 0.8035 | |
| 84 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 84 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26700 | 0.0075 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 86 | Randolph-Macon College | 26600 | 69200 | 0.6155 | 1,643 | 1140 | 0.8661 | |
| 87 | Saint Edward's University | 26700 | 71900 | 0.6283 | 2,731 | 1135 | 0.8369 | |
| 88 | Indiana State University | 26900 | 30900 | 0.1296 | 6,224 | 1140 | 0.8077 | |
| 88 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 26900 | 37200 | 0.2773 | 12,151 | 1154 | 0.5716 | |
| 90 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 27000 | 30400 | 0.1135 | 8,426 | 1235 | 0.8876 | |
| 90 | Webster University | 27000 | 54300 | 0.5024 | 2,091 | 1105 | 0.9594 | |
| 92 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 27100 | 55200 | 0.5088 | 1,997 | 1160 | 0.9526 | |
| 93 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 94 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 27400 | 37900 | 0.2777 | 4,174 | 1164 | 0.8298 | |
| 95 | Johnson C Smith University | 27500 | 41000 | 0.3289 | 1,252 | 885 | 0.4521 | |
| 96 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 27600 | 36700 | 0.2476 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 97 | Pacific Lutheran University | 27700 | 71200 | 0.6109 | 2,446 | 1179 | 0.78 | |
| 98 | McPherson College | 27800 | 47600 | 0.4163 | 876 | 1065 | 0.7676 | |
| 99 | Mount St. Mary's University | 27900 | 61400 | 0.5464 | 1,833 | 1164 | 0.7381 | |
| 99 | Villanova University | 27900 | 88800 | 0.6856 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 101 | Mississippi State University | 28100 | 32300 | 0.13 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 102 | Drury University | 28200 | 52900 | 0.4668 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 103 | California State University-San Marcos | 28300 | 38400 | 0.2628 | 14,977 | 970 | 0.951 | |
| 104 | Assumption University | 28500 | 74400 | 0.6173 | 1,713 | 1085 | 0.8298 | |
| 104 | University of Hartford | 28500 | 70100 | 0.5926 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9579 | |
| 106 | Framingham State University | 28600 | 38100 | 0.2496 | 2,817 | 1125 | 0.8491 | |
| 106 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 31500 | 0.0921 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 108 | Regis University | 28800 | 67200 | 0.5711 | 2,704 | 1199 | 0.8639 | |
| 108 | University of Utah | 28800 | 32000 | 0.1002 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 110 | Clemson University | 29100 | 37100 | 0.2156 | 23,401 | 1343 | 0.3834 | |
| 111 | William Penn University | 29500 | 48000 | 0.3853 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 111 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 29500 | 36500 | 0.1919 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 113 | Huntington University | 29700 | 44300 | 0.3299 | 1,286 | 1095 | 0.7115 | |
| 113 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4086 | 722 | 1170 | 0.9425 | |
| 115 | Le Moyne College | 29900 | 53700 | 0.4433 | 2,563 | 1240 | 0.7529 | |
| 116 | Cedar Crest College | 30000 | 66000 | 0.5451 | 886 | 1095 | 0.9913 | |
| 117 | Baker University | 30100 | 54800 | 0.4505 | 1,264 | 1040 | 0.9418 | |
| 118 | Crown College | 30300 | 46800 | 0.3528 | 1,379 | 1110 | 0.6281 | |
| 119 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 30400 | 54700 | 0.4429 | 1,409 | 1110 | 0.6327 | |
| 120 | Southern Wesleyan University | 30500 | 46200 | 0.34 | 887 | 1090 | 1 | |
| 121 | Albright College | 30600 | 48700 | 0.3717 | 1,328 | 1050 | 0.8615 | |
| 121 | St Bonaventure University | 30600 | 61000 | 0.4981 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 123 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 124 | Florida Southern College | 31300 | 63200 | 0.5048 | 2,626 | 1219 | 0.5909 | |
| 124 | University of Rhode Island | 31300 | 46700 | 0.3298 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 124 | University of West Georgia | 31300 | 36000 | 0.1306 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 127 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 31400 | 31400 | 0 | 6,853 | 1090 | 0.7147 | |
| 128 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31800 | 50000 | 0.3637 | 898 | 1044 | 0.7614 | |
| 128 | Saint Michael's College | 31800 | 68400 | 0.5348 | 1,120 | 1240 | 0.8451 | |
| 128 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 31800 | 39200 | 0.1878 | 10,206 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 131 | California Lutheran University | 32700 | 65800 | 0.5027 | 2,297 | 1258 | 0.7567 | |
| 132 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 33000 | 40400 | 0.183 | 6,706 | 960 | 0.92 | |
| 133 | Mount Saint Mary College | 33200 | 68400 | 0.5147 | 2,141 | 1090 | 0.8888 | |
| 134 | Wilkes University | 33400 | 61900 | 0.4597 | 1,956 | 1153 | 0.9146 | |
| 135 | Lasell University | 33500 | 47000 | 0.287 | 1,293 | 1139 | 0.927 | |
| 136 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 33600 | 46200 | 0.2729 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 136 | Stockton University | 33600 | 44500 | 0.2451 | 7,565 | 1135 | 0.8894 | |
| 138 | Emmanuel College | 34000 | 68300 | 0.5024 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 138 | LeTourneau University | 34000 | 54600 | 0.3772 | 3,184 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 138 | Valparaiso University | 34000 | 62700 | 0.4572 | 2,123 | 1247 | 0.8934 | |
| 141 | Saint Anselm College | 34300 | 73700 | 0.5346 | 2,094 | 1195 | 0.7805 | |
| 142 | St. John Fisher University | 34400 | 63700 | 0.4601 | 2,583 | 1210 | 0.664 | |
| 143 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 34600 | 37800 | 0.0848 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 144 | University of South Florida | 34700 | 34700 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 145 | Barry University | 34900 | 54600 | 0.3607 | 3,232 | 1015 | 0.7721 | |
| 145 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 147 | Chatham University | 35000 | 63300 | 0.4474 | 1,555 | 1197 | 0.6196 | |
| 148 | University of Southern Maine | 36000 | 37100 | 0.0296 | 5,525 | 1129 | 0.7931 | |
| 149 | Western Kentucky University | 36100 | 41900 | 0.1385 | 14,151 | 1090 | 0.9387 | |
| 150 | State University of New York at Cortland | 36300 | 39900 | 0.0903 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 151 | Mercer University | 36400 | 60500 | 0.3984 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 151 | University of Denver | 36400 | 76800 | 0.5259 | 6,619 | 1323 | 0.7729 | |
| 153 | Concordia University Texas | 36600 | 43600 | 0.1606 | 1,391 | 1110 | 0.9106 | |
| 154 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 37400 | 41600 | 0.101 | 5,187 | 1005 | 0.9229 | |
| 155 | Benedictine College | 37700 | 50800 | 0.258 | 2,391 | 1229 | 0.7645 | |
| 155 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2609 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 157 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 37900 | 80700 | 0.5298 | 1,733 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 158 | Washington State University | 38500 | 53900 | 0.2859 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 159 | Hofstra University | 38800 | 74600 | 0.4797 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 160 | Pacific University | 38900 | 74900 | 0.4806 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 161 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 39000 | 48900 | 0.2024 | 5,731 | 1174 | 0.9064 | |
| 162 | Arcadia University | 39300 | 71600 | 0.4501 | 2,030 | 1185 | 0.8022 | |
| 163 | Fresno Pacific University | 40000 | 52200 | 0.2337 | 1,616 | 1075 | 0.5752 | |
| 163 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 40000 | 40000 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 165 | Saint Vincent College | 41400 | 64600 | 0.3593 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 166 | Howard Payne University | 41500 | 57700 | 0.2809 | 768 | 1025 | 0.6769 | |
| 167 | Arkansas State University | 41900 | 45700 | 0.0833 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 167 | Union University | 41900 | 64100 | 0.3465 | 1,934 | 1242 | 0.6016 | |
| 169 | Saint Joseph's University | 42300 | 74500 | 0.4321 | 4,828 | 1234 | 0.8639 | |
| 170 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 171 | University of Maryland-College Park | 42700 | 52900 | 0.1928 | 31,133 | 1456 | 0.448 | |
| 172 | Butler University | 43300 | 64500 | 0.3286 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 173 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 43700 | 43700 | 0 | 11,554 | 1100 | 0.5516 | |
| 174 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 47300 | 58800 | 0.1956 | 849 | 1090 | 0.9947 | |
| 175 | University of St Thomas | 50100 | 70300 | 0.2875 | 6,044 | 1270 | 0.9125 | |
| 176 | University of Iowa | 51000 | 53200 | 0.0415 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 177 | Drexel University | 51100 | 82600 | 0.3812 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 178 | Mount St. Joseph University | 54200 | 54200 | 0 | 1,545 | 1134 | 0.5915 | |
| 179 | University of La Verne | 62100 | 66500 | 0.0662 | 2,414 | 1123 | 0.4847 | |
| 180 | Stonehill College | 70700 | 70700 | 0 | 2,515 | 1245 | 0.7256 | |
| 181 | Gonzaga University | 73200 | 73200 | 0 | 5,281 | 1303 | 0.8169 | |
| 182 | The Catholic University of America | 82500 | 82500 | 0 | 3,177 | 1204 | 0.8278 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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