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 | 9200 | 92900 | 0.9009 | 11,478 | 1536 | 0.054 | |
| 3 | Utah State University | 9700 | 26700 | 0.6361 | 25,706 | 1176 | 0.9247 | |
| 4 | California State University-Fresno | 11300 | 19600 | 0.4226 | 21,954 | 995 | 0.9526 | |
| 5 | Indiana State University | 11400 | 25900 | 0.5607 | 6,224 | 1020 | 0.8077 | |
| 6 | Eastern Washington University | 11500 | 31200 | 0.6315 | 6,952 | 995 | 0.9075 | |
| 6 | Northern Arizona University | 11500 | 27900 | 0.5864 | 22,990 | 1090 | 0.8961 | |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 11800 | 20500 | 0.4246 | 4,880 | 1124 | 0.8172 | |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 10 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 13500 | 19400 | 0.304 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 11 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 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 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15100 | 37700 | 0.6009 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8609 | |
| 16 | University of California-Irvine | 15100 | 38000 | 0.603 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2857 | |
| 18 | Lander University | 15200 | 24600 | 0.3814 | 3,776 | 1055 | 0.8131 | |
| 19 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 15500 | 25800 | 0.3988 | 5,386 | 1050 | 0.9092 | |
| 20 | University of West Georgia | 15600 | 24600 | 0.3662 | 9,103 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 21 | Kansas State University | 15800 | 26100 | 0.3962 | 15,650 | 1164 | 0.8169 | |
| 22 | University of Southern Maine | 16300 | 23000 | 0.291 | 5,525 | 1144 | 0.7923 | |
| 23 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 16400 | 28200 | 0.4179 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 23 | North Carolina State University | 16400 | 28500 | 0.425 | 28,422 | 1378 | 0.4174 | |
| 25 | Eastern Michigan University | 16500 | 36100 | 0.5429 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 26 | West Virginia University | 17000 | 40900 | 0.5841 | 18,206 | 1125 | 0.89 | |
| 27 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 17200 | 25700 | 0.3307 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 28 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 17300 | 26900 | 0.357 | 849 | 0 | 0 | |
| 29 | University of Lynchburg | 17600 | 54900 | 0.6796 | 1,595 | 1104 | 0.4301 | |
| 29 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 17600 | 26600 | 0.3387 | 7,505 | 1073 | 0.9633 | |
| 31 | Avila University | 17700 | 64100 | 0.7236 | 1,331 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 31 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 31 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 17700 | 23500 | 0.2472 | 10,084 | 1055 | 0.8572 | |
| 34 | Tabor College | 17900 | 54400 | 0.6713 | 539 | 1050 | 0.6458 | |
| 35 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 18100 | 25200 | 0.2812 | 6,835 | 1090 | 0.7147 | |
| 36 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 18200 | 28600 | 0.3634 | 4,218 | 1030 | 0.9489 | |
| 37 | Texas Tech University | 18300 | 27100 | 0.3253 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 38 | Rosemont College | 18400 | 38100 | 0.5175 | 486 | 1085 | 0.7634 | |
| 39 | Delaware State University | 18700 | 42200 | 0.5563 | 4,581 | 930 | 0.4658 | |
| 40 | Framingham State University | 18800 | 31000 | 0.3937 | 2,782 | 1190 | 0.8361 | |
| 41 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 19100 | 68100 | 0.7197 | 709 | 1030 | 0.8216 | |
| 42 | University of Rhode Island | 19200 | 33900 | 0.4337 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 43 | Carlow University | 19500 | 57800 | 0.6627 | 1,355 | 1065 | 0.8695 | |
| 44 | Lee University | 19600 | 37400 | 0.4762 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 44 | McMurry University | 19600 | 51900 | 0.6219 | 3,167 | 1065 | 0.5704 | |
| 44 | Norwich University | 19600 | 73800 | 0.7342 | 2,626 | 1186 | 0.7444 | |
| 44 | Olivet Nazarene University | 19600 | 61600 | 0.6819 | 2,711 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 48 | Illinois College | 19700 | 55200 | 0.6438 | 937 | 1059 | 0.7819 | |
| 48 | Lasell University | 19700 | 48500 | 0.5934 | 1,293 | 1095 | 0.8122 | |
| 48 | Pennsylvania Western University | 19700 | 29000 | 0.3212 | 7,586 | 1045 | 0.9433 | |
| 51 | Central Connecticut State University | 19800 | 29500 | 0.3286 | 8,170 | 1075 | 0.7333 | |
| 51 | Davis & Elkins College | 19800 | 48300 | 0.5898 | 661 | 902 | 0.9433 | |
| 51 | Johnson C Smith University | 19800 | 40800 | 0.5148 | 1,252 | 885 | 0.4521 | |
| 54 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19900 | 72100 | 0.7238 | 3,007 | 1155 | 0.9305 | |
| 55 | Coker University | 20100 | 47800 | 0.5798 | 1,220 | 1050 | 0.9396 | |
| 56 | Hiram College | 20600 | 48700 | 0.5764 | 1,026 | 1030 | 0.9353 | |
| 57 | University of Northern Iowa | 20700 | 24000 | 0.1366 | 7,711 | 1129 | 0.9274 | |
| 58 | Nebraska Wesleyan University | 20800 | 70000 | 0.7027 | 1,463 | 1200 | 0.7982 | |
| 59 | Albright College | 21000 | 49300 | 0.5739 | 1,230 | 1050 | 0.7633 | |
| 60 | North Central College | 21100 | 63700 | 0.6692 | 2,454 | 1203 | 0.7733 | |
| 61 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 21400 | 35300 | 0.3934 | 5,731 | 1174 | 0.9064 | |
| 62 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 21500 | 48900 | 0.5599 | 5,692 | 1124 | 0.9508 | |
| 63 | Niagara University | 21800 | 57400 | 0.62 | 2,692 | 1160 | 0.8737 | |
| 64 | Le Moyne College | 21900 | 58100 | 0.6226 | 2,529 | 1255 | 0.8298 | |
| 64 | South Dakota State University | 21900 | 25200 | 0.1301 | 10,719 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 66 | Lycoming College | 22000 | 65800 | 0.6663 | 1,012 | 1189 | 0.7407 | |
| 67 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.467 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 68 | Cottey College | 22300 | 37300 | 0.4025 | 254 | 991 | 0.6918 | |
| 69 | Buena Vista University | 22400 | 59100 | 0.6212 | 1,436 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 70 | Manchester University | 22800 | 54100 | 0.5787 | 988 | 1044 | 0.7106 | |
| 71 | Ohio Dominican University | 23000 | 55400 | 0.5849 | 843 | 1171 | 0.9423 | |
| 72 | Concordia University-Chicago | 23100 | 54900 | 0.5787 | 1,368 | 1100 | 0.9279 | |
| 72 | Hamline University | 23100 | 56500 | 0.5907 | 1,806 | 1163 | 0.8763 | |
| 74 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 23600 | 34800 | 0.3215 | 3,459 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 74 | Washington State University | 23600 | 38700 | 0.3897 | 21,455 | 1125 | 0.8664 | |
| 76 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 23700 | 67400 | 0.6488 | 5,690 | 1055 | 0.9071 | |
| 76 | Millikin University | 23700 | 43700 | 0.4572 | 1,495 | 1020 | 0.6668 | |
| 78 | Dominican University | 24000 | 56000 | 0.5721 | 2,690 | 1005 | 0.9032 | |
| 79 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 24300 | 34400 | 0.2927 | 4,174 | 1165 | 0.8298 | |
| 80 | Maryville College | 24400 | 58400 | 0.5832 | 1,132 | 1167 | 0.6092 | |
| 81 | University of Saint Mary | 24600 | 53700 | 0.5416 | 1,027 | 1040 | 0.8663 | |
| 82 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 25200 | 37900 | 0.3348 | 5,661 | 1085 | 0.982 | |
| 82 | Drury University | 25200 | 52900 | 0.5235 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 82 | Mary Baldwin University | 25200 | 48600 | 0.4818 | 1,124 | 1045 | 0.871 | |
| 85 | Hastings College | 25800 | 63000 | 0.5905 | 933 | 1305 | 0.7165 | |
| 85 | Seattle Pacific University | 25800 | 70000 | 0.6314 | 1,776 | 1180 | 0.834 | |
| 85 | Western Kentucky University | 25800 | 41800 | 0.3827 | 14,151 | 970 | 0.9387 | |
| 88 | Lakeland University | 25900 | 56500 | 0.5425 | 2,411 | 1015 | 0.8628 | |
| 88 | Rockford University | 25900 | 58500 | 0.5577 | 983 | 975 | 0.9291 | |
| 90 | University of Mobile | 26200 | 48300 | 0.4572 | 1,308 | 1209 | 0.7789 | |
| 91 | Heidelberg University | 26300 | 48600 | 0.4589 | 969 | 1100 | 0.8579 | |
| 92 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4753 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 92 | St. Mary's University | 26400 | 59800 | 0.5587 | 2,149 | 1084 | 0.9776 | |
| 94 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1161 | 0.9523 | |
| 94 | Flagler College | 26500 | 61200 | 0.5668 | 2,409 | 1090 | 0.8076 | |
| 96 | Georgia Southern University | 26600 | 26800 | 0.0075 | 23,541 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 96 | St Bonaventure University | 26600 | 61200 | 0.5653 | 2,042 | 1189 | 0.8165 | |
| 96 | University of La Verne | 26600 | 67300 | 0.6044 | 3,050 | 1109 | 0.7117 | |
| 99 | University of Idaho | 26800 | 45200 | 0.4067 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 100 | University of Central Arkansas | 27000 | 31200 | 0.137 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 100 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 27000 | 31800 | 0.1505 | 8,426 | 1235 | 0.8875 | |
| 102 | Randolph-Macon College | 27100 | 69200 | 0.608 | 1,643 | 1109 | 0.8661 | |
| 103 | Capital University | 27200 | 62400 | 0.564 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 103 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 27200 | 29500 | 0.0773 | 6,136 | 1159 | 0.8767 | |
| 105 | Pacific Lutheran University | 27600 | 71200 | 0.6116 | 2,446 | 1159 | 0.7802 | |
| 106 | Florida Southern College | 27700 | 63200 | 0.5614 | 2,682 | 1264 | 0.6442 | |
| 107 | Mount St. Mary's University | 27800 | 61400 | 0.5467 | 1,830 | 1164 | 0.7381 | |
| 107 | Villanova University | 27800 | 88800 | 0.6867 | 7,004 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 109 | California State University-San Marcos | 28100 | 38300 | 0.2662 | 14,977 | 1040 | 0.951 | |
| 109 | Mississippi State University | 28100 | 32300 | 0.1323 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 111 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 28200 | 69300 | 0.5929 | 2,012 | 1174 | 0.9519 | |
| 112 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28500 | 32300 | 0.1176 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 112 | University of Hartford | 28500 | 70100 | 0.5933 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9575 | |
| 112 | Webster University | 28500 | 54700 | 0.4792 | 2,322 | 1109 | 0.8623 | |
| 115 | Cedar Crest College | 28700 | 66000 | 0.5648 | 870 | 1115 | 0.8407 | |
| 115 | University of Utah | 28700 | 32000 | 0.1025 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 117 | University of Iowa | 28800 | 31100 | 0.0733 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 118 | Marquette University | 29100 | 63800 | 0.544 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 119 | Huntington University | 29300 | 44300 | 0.3384 | 1,588 | 1055 | 0.7564 | |
| 119 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 29300 | 56200 | 0.4781 | 765 | 1020 | 0.6617 | |
| 121 | William Penn University | 29500 | 48000 | 0.3868 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 122 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 29600 | 37200 | 0.2026 | 12,317 | 1152 | 0.6267 | |
| 123 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4089 | 722 | 1180 | 0.9425 | |
| 124 | Baker University | 30100 | 54800 | 0.4519 | 1,530 | 924 | 0.9419 | |
| 124 | Dominican University of California | 30100 | 69200 | 0.565 | 1,114 | 1255 | 0.835 | |
| 126 | Assumption University | 30400 | 74400 | 0.5911 | 1,713 | 1085 | 0.8298 | |
| 126 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 30400 | 54700 | 0.4443 | 1,427 | 1025 | 0.4941 | |
| 126 | Otterbein University | 30400 | 57300 | 0.4694 | 2,211 | 1209 | 0.8453 | |
| 129 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 30800 | 77600 | 0.6029 | 5,044 | 1274 | 0.8883 | |
| 130 | Mount Saint Mary College | 31300 | 68600 | 0.5437 | 2,141 | 1153 | 0.8888 | |
| 131 | Lebanon Valley College | 31400 | 72400 | 0.5665 | 1,720 | 1225 | 0.8377 | |
| 131 | Southern Wesleyan University | 31400 | 47100 | 0.3347 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 133 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 31500 | 41200 | 0.2357 | 25,255 | 1134 | 0.7517 | |
| 134 | Saint Michael's College | 31700 | 68500 | 0.5375 | 1,120 | 1240 | 0.8451 | |
| 134 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 31700 | 39200 | 0.1897 | 10,166 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 136 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31800 | 50000 | 0.3652 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 137 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 32000 | 45700 | 0.3 | 7,062 | 965 | 0.928 | |
| 138 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 32100 | 36700 | 0.1249 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 139 | Azusa Pacific University | 32200 | 66600 | 0.5162 | 2,759 | 1189 | 0.8843 | |
| 140 | The University of Tampa | 32600 | 56900 | 0.4267 | 10,598 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 141 | Suffolk University | 32900 | 70300 | 0.5319 | 4,326 | 1209 | 0.8233 | |
| 142 | Wilkes University | 33400 | 61900 | 0.4597 | 2,076 | 1144 | 0.9064 | |
| 143 | Cleveland State University | 33500 | 37300 | 0.1019 | 9,482 | 1069 | 0.913 | |
| 143 | Fort Lewis College | 33500 | 41400 | 0.191 | 3,392 | 1109 | 0.773 | |
| 145 | Emmanuel College | 33600 | 71400 | 0.5294 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 145 | SUNY Old Westbury | 33600 | 40900 | 0.1785 | 4,260 | 1110 | 0.8363 | |
| 147 | LeTourneau University | 33900 | 54800 | 0.3817 | 3,187 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 148 | University of St Thomas | 34200 | 70300 | 0.5138 | 6,270 | 1299 | 0.8536 | |
| 149 | Barry University | 34400 | 56400 | 0.3899 | 3,232 | 1005 | 0.7724 | |
| 150 | Chatham University | 34900 | 63300 | 0.449 | 1,550 | 1197 | 0.6196 | |
| 150 | University of Denver | 34900 | 76900 | 0.5465 | 6,614 | 1347 | 0.7781 | |
| 150 | Valparaiso University | 34900 | 62700 | 0.4428 | 2,123 | 1189 | 0.8943 | |
| 153 | University of South Florida | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 154 | California Lutheran University | 35100 | 70000 | 0.4988 | 2,297 | 1254 | 0.7567 | |
| 155 | University of the Pacific | 35600 | 71500 | 0.5024 | 3,249 | 1298 | 0.7132 | |
| 156 | Siena College | 35900 | 65100 | 0.4486 | 3,467 | 1254 | 0.6902 | |
| 157 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 36100 | 36100 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 158 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 36600 | 39900 | 0.0823 | 5,086 | 1124 | 0.949 | |
| 159 | East Carolina University | 37100 | 40100 | 0.0748 | 21,445 | 1160 | 0.8921 | |
| 160 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 37500 | 38500 | 0.026 | 799 | 865 | 0.6974 | |
| 161 | Benedictine College | 37700 | 50800 | 0.2579 | 2,403 | 1241 | 0.9812 | |
| 162 | DePaul University | 37800 | 66000 | 0.4275 | 14,188 | 1254 | 0.7589 | |
| 163 | Hofstra University | 38200 | 76900 | 0.5032 | 6,581 | 1328 | 0.6808 | |
| 163 | Howard Payne University | 38200 | 54500 | 0.2987 | 751 | 1043 | 0.6737 | |
| 165 | Crown College | 38600 | 53200 | 0.2732 | 1,523 | 1060 | 0.2278 | |
| 166 | Pacific University | 38800 | 74900 | 0.4816 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 166 | State University of New York at Cortland | 38800 | 39900 | 0.0276 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 168 | Concordia University Texas | 39200 | 45800 | 0.1446 | 1,188 | 990 | 0.9125 | |
| 169 | Arcadia University | 39300 | 71600 | 0.4512 | 2,030 | 1170 | 0.8022 | |
| 169 | Saint Vincent College | 39300 | 64600 | 0.3915 | 1,284 | 1135 | 0.6173 | |
| 171 | Saint Anselm College | 39800 | 73700 | 0.4599 | 2,094 | 1205 | 0.7805 | |
| 172 | Fresno Pacific University | 39900 | 52200 | 0.2352 | 1,545 | 1099 | 0.6407 | |
| 173 | Arkansas State University | 40500 | 41000 | 0.0122 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.8226 | |
| 174 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 40700 | 53600 | 0.2408 | 46,815 | 1378 | 0.6057 | |
| 175 | Butler University | 41200 | 67900 | 0.3934 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 176 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 42900 | 80700 | 0.4683 | 1,731 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 177 | University of Maryland-College Park | 43000 | 53600 | 0.1979 | 31,133 | 1463 | 0.4479 | |
| 178 | University of Florida | 43100 | 45700 | 0.057 | 36,573 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 179 | Manhattan University | 43600 | 74100 | 0.4115 | 2,744 | 1274 | 0.7894 | |
| 180 | Union University | 43800 | 66000 | 0.3374 | 1,934 | 1242 | 0.6041 | |
| 181 | University at Buffalo | 43900 | 46700 | 0.06 | 20,359 | 1303 | 0.7418 | |
| 182 | The University of Montana | 44300 | 45000 | 0.0156 | 7,891 | 1225 | 0.9586 | |
| 183 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | 46400 | 46600 | 0.0043 | 6,139 | 1070 | 0.9052 | |
| 184 | University of Delaware | 48400 | 61300 | 0.211 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 185 | Drexel University | 48600 | 83900 | 0.4208 | 13,309 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 186 | Mercer University | 48900 | 63700 | 0.2324 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 187 | Mount St. Joseph University | 54300 | 54300 | 0 | 1,545 | 1143 | 0.5912 | |
| 188 | The University of Alabama | 55800 | 55800 | 0 | 34,389 | 1284 | 0.7665 | |
| 189 | Clemson University | 61400 | 63700 | 0.0358 | 23,401 | 1343 | 0.3834 | |
| 190 | St. John Fisher University | 62500 | 62500 | 0 | 2,571 | 1215 | 0.664 | |
| 191 | Stonehill College | 70600 | 70600 | 0 | 2,568 | 1150 | 0.6628 | |
| 192 | Gonzaga University | 70700 | 76600 | 0.077 | 5,281 | 1329 | 0.8169 | |
| 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.
Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.