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 Pennsylvania | 9400 | 92900 | 0.8988 | 11,478 | 1536 | 0.054 | |
| 2 | Utah State University | 9700 | 26700 | 0.6361 | 25,706 | 1176 | 0.9247 | |
| 3 | California State University-Fresno | 11300 | 19600 | 0.4226 | 21,954 | 995 | 0.9526 | |
| 4 | Northern Arizona University | 11600 | 27900 | 0.5837 | 22,990 | 1090 | 0.8961 | |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University | 11800 | 28600 | 0.5879 | 6,952 | 995 | 0.9075 | |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 11800 | 20500 | 0.4246 | 4,880 | 1124 | 0.8172 | |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 12600 | 12600 | 0 | 25,255 | 1134 | 0.7517 | |
| 9 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 13500 | 19400 | 0.304 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 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 | California State University-San Marcos | 14600 | 24700 | 0.4097 | 14,977 | 1040 | 0.951 | |
| 15 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 14700 | 28200 | 0.4786 | 3,084 | 1055 | 0.7533 | |
| 16 | University of St Thomas | 14900 | 50900 | 0.7075 | 3,365 | 1095 | 0.8992 | |
| 17 | Lander University | 15200 | 24600 | 0.3814 | 3,776 | 1055 | 0.8131 | |
| 18 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 38800 | 0.5992 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8609 | |
| 18 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 15600 | 25800 | 0.3938 | 5,386 | 1050 | 0.9092 | |
| 18 | University of West Georgia | 15600 | 24600 | 0.3662 | 9,103 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 21 | Eastern Michigan University | 16400 | 36100 | 0.5448 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 21 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 16400 | 28200 | 0.4179 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 21 | University of Florida | 16400 | 22500 | 0.271 | 36,573 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 24 | West Virginia University | 17000 | 40900 | 0.5841 | 18,206 | 1125 | 0.89 | |
| 25 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 17200 | 25700 | 0.3307 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 25 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 17200 | 29800 | 0.4223 | 7,062 | 965 | 0.928 | |
| 27 | University of Lynchburg | 17600 | 54900 | 0.6791 | 1,595 | 1104 | 0.4301 | |
| 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 | |
| 28 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 17700 | 23500 | 0.2472 | 10,084 | 1055 | 0.8572 | |
| 31 | Tabor College | 17900 | 54400 | 0.6713 | 539 | 1050 | 0.6458 | |
| 32 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 18200 | 28600 | 0.3634 | 4,218 | 1030 | 0.9489 | |
| 33 | Texas Tech University | 18300 | 27100 | 0.3253 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 34 | Rosemont College | 18500 | 38100 | 0.5141 | 486 | 1085 | 0.7634 | |
| 35 | Delaware State University | 18700 | 42200 | 0.5563 | 4,581 | 930 | 0.4658 | |
| 36 | Framingham State University | 18800 | 31000 | 0.3937 | 2,782 | 1190 | 0.8361 | |
| 37 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 19100 | 68100 | 0.7197 | 709 | 1030 | 0.8216 | |
| 38 | University of Rhode Island | 19200 | 33900 | 0.4337 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 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 | 0.6219 | 3,167 | 1065 | 0.5704 | |
| 40 | Norwich University | 19600 | 73800 | 0.7342 | 2,626 | 1186 | 0.7444 | |
| 40 | Olivet Nazarene University | 19600 | 61600 | 0.6814 | 2,711 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 44 | Illinois College | 19700 | 55200 | 0.6423 | 937 | 1059 | 0.7819 | |
| 45 | Central Connecticut State University | 19800 | 29500 | 0.3286 | 8,170 | 1075 | 0.7333 | |
| 45 | Johnson C Smith University | 19800 | 40800 | 0.5148 | 1,252 | 885 | 0.4521 | |
| 47 | Davis & Elkins College | 19900 | 48300 | 0.5871 | 661 | 902 | 0.9433 | |
| 47 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19900 | 72100 | 0.7238 | 3,007 | 1155 | 0.9305 | |
| 47 | University of Northern Iowa | 19900 | 24000 | 0.1728 | 7,711 | 1129 | 0.9274 | |
| 50 | Coker University | 20100 | 47800 | 0.5798 | 1,220 | 1050 | 0.9396 | |
| 51 | Lasell University | 20200 | 48500 | 0.5831 | 1,293 | 1095 | 0.8122 | |
| 52 | South Dakota State University | 20600 | 25200 | 0.1844 | 10,719 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 53 | Hiram College | 20700 | 48700 | 0.5758 | 1,026 | 1030 | 0.9353 | |
| 54 | Nebraska Wesleyan University | 20800 | 70000 | 0.7022 | 1,463 | 1200 | 0.7982 | |
| 55 | North Central College | 21100 | 63700 | 0.6692 | 2,454 | 1203 | 0.7733 | |
| 56 | Albright College | 21200 | 49300 | 0.5699 | 1,230 | 1050 | 0.7633 | |
| 57 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 21400 | 35300 | 0.3934 | 5,731 | 1174 | 0.9064 | |
| 57 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 21400 | 34000 | 0.3702 | 10,166 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 59 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 21500 | 48900 | 0.5599 | 5,692 | 1124 | 0.9508 | |
| 60 | Le Moyne College | 21900 | 58100 | 0.6226 | 2,529 | 1255 | 0.8298 | |
| 60 | Niagara University | 21900 | 57400 | 0.6182 | 2,692 | 1160 | 0.8737 | |
| 62 | Lycoming College | 22000 | 65800 | 0.6663 | 1,012 | 1189 | 0.7407 | |
| 63 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.467 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 64 | Cottey College | 22300 | 37300 | 0.4025 | 254 | 991 | 0.6918 | |
| 65 | Buena Vista University | 22500 | 59100 | 0.6197 | 1,436 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 66 | The University of Alabama | 22600 | 31000 | 0.2708 | 34,389 | 1284 | 0.7665 | |
| 67 | Manchester University | 22900 | 54100 | 0.5771 | 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 | 0.5716 | 2,690 | 1005 | 0.9032 | |
| 75 | Indiana State University | 24200 | 32400 | 0.2532 | 6,224 | 1020 | 0.8077 | |
| 76 | Maryville College | 24500 | 58400 | 0.581 | 1,132 | 1167 | 0.6092 | |
| 77 | University of Saint Mary | 24600 | 53700 | 0.541 | 1,027 | 1040 | 0.8663 | |
| 78 | University at Buffalo | 24700 | 34000 | 0.2736 | 20,359 | 1303 | 0.7418 | |
| 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 | Hastings College | 25800 | 63000 | 0.5905 | 933 | 1305 | 0.7165 | |
| 83 | Seattle Pacific University | 25800 | 70000 | 0.6314 | 1,776 | 1180 | 0.834 | |
| 85 | Lakeland University | 25900 | 56500 | 0.5412 | 2,411 | 1015 | 0.8628 | |
| 85 | Rockford University | 25900 | 58500 | 0.5577 | 983 | 975 | 0.9291 | |
| 85 | Western Kentucky University | 25900 | 41800 | 0.3803 | 14,151 | 970 | 0.9387 | |
| 88 | University of Mobile | 26200 | 48300 | 0.4572 | 1,308 | 1209 | 0.7789 | |
| 89 | Heidelberg University | 26300 | 48600 | 0.4589 | 969 | 1100 | 0.8579 | |
| 90 | St. Mary's University | 26400 | 59800 | 0.5587 | 2,149 | 1084 | 0.9776 | |
| 91 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1161 | 0.9523 | |
| 91 | Flagler College | 26500 | 61200 | 0.5668 | 2,409 | 1090 | 0.8076 | |
| 91 | Geneva College | 26500 | 50300 | 0.4737 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 94 | Georgia Southern University | 26600 | 26800 | 0.0075 | 23,541 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 94 | St Bonaventure University | 26600 | 61200 | 0.5653 | 2,042 | 1189 | 0.8165 | |
| 96 | University of La Verne | 26700 | 67300 | 0.6029 | 3,050 | 1109 | 0.7117 | |
| 97 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 26900 | 30100 | 0.1047 | 5,086 | 1124 | 0.949 | |
| 97 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 26900 | 37200 | 0.2758 | 12,317 | 1152 | 0.6267 | |
| 99 | Kansas State University | 27000 | 31400 | 0.1405 | 15,650 | 1164 | 0.8169 | |
| 100 | Randolph-Macon College | 27100 | 69200 | 0.608 | 1,643 | 1109 | 0.8661 | |
| 101 | Capital University | 27200 | 62400 | 0.564 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 102 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 27300 | 31100 | 0.1238 | 8,426 | 1235 | 0.8875 | |
| 102 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 27300 | 29500 | 0.0729 | 6,136 | 1159 | 0.8767 | |
| 102 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 27300 | 36500 | 0.2522 | 7,505 | 1073 | 0.9633 | |
| 105 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 27400 | 37900 | 0.2773 | 4,174 | 1165 | 0.8298 | |
| 106 | Pacific Lutheran University | 27700 | 71200 | 0.6103 | 2,446 | 1159 | 0.7802 | |
| 107 | Mount St. Mary's University | 27800 | 61400 | 0.5467 | 1,830 | 1164 | 0.7381 | |
| 108 | Florida Southern College | 27900 | 63200 | 0.5593 | 2,682 | 1264 | 0.6442 | |
| 108 | Villanova University | 27900 | 88800 | 0.6855 | 7,004 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 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 | 0.5921 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9575 | |
| 114 | Cedar Crest College | 28900 | 66000 | 0.5618 | 870 | 1115 | 0.8407 | |
| 115 | University of Iowa | 29000 | 31100 | 0.0691 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 116 | Huntington University | 29400 | 44300 | 0.3362 | 1,588 | 1055 | 0.7564 | |
| 116 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 29400 | 56200 | 0.4776 | 765 | 1020 | 0.6617 | |
| 118 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 29600 | 31600 | 0.0633 | 6,835 | 1090 | 0.7147 | |
| 118 | William Penn University | 29600 | 48000 | 0.3841 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 120 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4089 | 722 | 1180 | 0.9425 | |
| 121 | Dominican University of California | 30100 | 69200 | 0.565 | 1,114 | 1255 | 0.835 | |
| 122 | Baker University | 30200 | 54800 | 0.4495 | 1,530 | 924 | 0.9419 | |
| 123 | Otterbein University | 30400 | 57300 | 0.4694 | 2,211 | 1209 | 0.8453 | |
| 124 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 30500 | 54700 | 0.4419 | 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 | 0.332 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 130 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31900 | 50000 | 0.3626 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 130 | Saint Michael's College | 31900 | 68500 | 0.5346 | 1,120 | 1240 | 0.8451 | |
| 132 | Azusa Pacific University | 32300 | 66600 | 0.5147 | 2,759 | 1189 | 0.8843 | |
| 132 | Marquette University | 32300 | 66500 | 0.5142 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 134 | The University of Tampa | 32700 | 56900 | 0.425 | 10,598 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 135 | North Carolina State University | 32800 | 54800 | 0.4007 | 28,422 | 1378 | 0.4174 | |
| 136 | Suffolk University | 32900 | 70300 | 0.5319 | 4,326 | 1209 | 0.8233 | |
| 137 | Wilkes University | 33400 | 61900 | 0.4597 | 2,076 | 1144 | 0.9064 | |
| 138 | Cleveland State University | 33500 | 37300 | 0.1019 | 9,482 | 1069 | 0.913 | |
| 138 | Fort Lewis College | 33500 | 41400 | 0.191 | 3,392 | 1109 | 0.773 | |
| 140 | Emmanuel College | 33600 | 71400 | 0.5294 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 140 | SUNY Old Westbury | 33600 | 40900 | 0.1785 | 4,260 | 1110 | 0.8363 | |
| 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 | 34400 | 56400 | 0.3899 | 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 | 35600 | 71500 | 0.5024 | 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 | 36300 | 50500 | 0.2804 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 154 | East Carolina University | 37100 | 40100 | 0.0748 | 21,445 | 1160 | 0.8921 | |
| 155 | University of Southern Maine | 37500 | 37500 | 0 | 5,525 | 1144 | 0.7923 | |
| 156 | Benedictine College | 37700 | 50800 | 0.2579 | 2,403 | 1241 | 0.9812 | |
| 157 | DePaul University | 37800 | 66000 | 0.4275 | 14,188 | 1254 | 0.7589 | |
| 158 | University of Central Arkansas | 38100 | 40200 | 0.0534 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 159 | Hofstra University | 38200 | 76900 | 0.5032 | 6,581 | 1328 | 0.6808 | |
| 160 | Howard Payne University | 38400 | 54500 | 0.2963 | 751 | 1043 | 0.6737 | |
| 161 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 38800 | 46600 | 0.1673 | 799 | 865 | 0.6974 | |
| 161 | Crown College | 38800 | 53200 | 0.2708 | 1,523 | 1060 | 0.2278 | |
| 161 | State University of New York at Cortland | 38800 | 39900 | 0.0276 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 164 | Pacific University | 39000 | 74900 | 0.4799 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 165 | Concordia University Texas | 39300 | 45800 | 0.1418 | 1,188 | 990 | 0.9125 | |
| 166 | Arcadia University | 39400 | 71600 | 0.4493 | 2,030 | 1170 | 0.8022 | |
| 166 | Saint Vincent College | 39400 | 64600 | 0.3895 | 1,284 | 1135 | 0.6173 | |
| 168 | Saint Anselm College | 40000 | 73700 | 0.4572 | 2,094 | 1205 | 0.7805 | |
| 169 | Fresno Pacific University | 40100 | 52200 | 0.2327 | 1,545 | 1099 | 0.6407 | |
| 170 | Arkansas State University | 40500 | 41000 | 0.0122 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.8226 | |
| 171 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 40700 | 53600 | 0.2408 | 46,815 | 1378 | 0.6057 | |
| 171 | Washington State University | 40700 | 56300 | 0.2777 | 21,455 | 1125 | 0.8664 | |
| 173 | Butler University | 41200 | 67900 | 0.3934 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 174 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 47700 | 0.1132 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 175 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 43000 | 80700 | 0.4675 | 1,731 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 175 | University of Maryland-College Park | 43000 | 53600 | 0.1979 | 31,133 | 1463 | 0.4479 | |
| 177 | Manhattan University | 43600 | 74100 | 0.4115 | 2,744 | 1274 | 0.7894 | |
| 178 | Union University | 43900 | 66000 | 0.3354 | 1,934 | 1242 | 0.6041 | |
| 179 | The University of Montana | 44400 | 45000 | 0.0133 | 7,891 | 1225 | 0.9586 | |
| 180 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 46000 | 56300 | 0.183 | 849 | 0 | 0 | |
| 181 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | 46400 | 46600 | 0.0043 | 6,139 | 1070 | 0.9052 | |
| 182 | University of Delaware | 48400 | 61300 | 0.211 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 183 | Drexel University | 48800 | 83900 | 0.4184 | 13,309 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 184 | Mercer University | 48900 | 63700 | 0.2324 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 185 | University of Utah | 51600 | 53700 | 0.04 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 186 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 53300 | 61000 | 0.127 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 187 | Mount St. Joseph University | 54300 | 54300 | 0 | 1,545 | 1143 | 0.5912 | |
| 188 | Clemson University | 61500 | 63700 | 0.0338 | 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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