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 Chicago | 4000 | 87200 | 0.9541 | 7,519 | 1535 | 0.0448 | |
| 2 | Davidson College | 6000 | 89900 | 0.933 | 1,869 | 1454 | 0.1337 | |
| 3 | Valdosta State University | 10500 | 24800 | 0.5776 | 7,206 | 1015 | 0.7214 | |
| 4 | New York University | 12000 | 91800 | 0.869 | 29,060 | 1520 | 0.0923 | |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5744 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 6 | Florida Atlantic University | 12600 | 24800 | 0.491 | 24,942 | 1130 | 0.6613 | |
| 6 | Northwestern University | 12600 | 87700 | 0.8563 | 8,846 | 1513 | 0.0722 | |
| 8 | William Jewell College | 12700 | 46900 | 0.7295 | 969 | 1110 | 0.3836 | |
| 9 | Florida Gulf Coast University | 13000 | 20300 | 0.3588 | 14,243 | 1125 | 0.7675 | |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 13300 | 13300 | 0 | 18,428 | 1090 | 0.9529 | |
| 11 | Union College | 13500 | 90400 | 0.851 | 2,065 | 1393 | 0.4374 | |
| 12 | University of South Florida | 13700 | 17100 | 0.1987 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 13 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 13800 | 25000 | 0.4483 | 3,018 | 920 | 0.9386 | |
| 14 | Texas Tech University | 14000 | 27000 | 0.4813 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 15 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 16 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14500 | 41100 | 0.6478 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 17 | Florida International University | 15100 | 23700 | 0.3621 | 44,904 | 1175 | 0.5466 | |
| 18 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 15500 | 24800 | 0.3744 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 19 | Florida State University | 15600 | 23100 | 0.3246 | 32,711 | 1360 | 0.2422 | |
| 20 | Middle Tennessee State University | 16400 | 23200 | 0.2928 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 21 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 16800 | 29300 | 0.427 | 20,609 | 990 | 0.999 | |
| 22 | University of Georgia | 17000 | 27100 | 0.373 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 23 | Eastern Illinois University | 17400 | 27700 | 0.3709 | 6,785 | 1020 | 0.6535 | |
| 24 | University of Rochester | 17700 | 93100 | 0.8101 | 6,580 | 1469 | 0.4008 | |
| 25 | Keene State College | 17800 | 31900 | 0.4435 | 2,744 | 1020 | 0.9033 | |
| 26 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 17900 | 28100 | 0.3632 | 20,592 | 1435 | 0.1407 | |
| 27 | State University of New York at Cortland | 18400 | 27700 | 0.3355 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 28 | University of Mississippi | 18700 | 45500 | 0.5895 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 29 | Eastern Michigan University | 18800 | 36100 | 0.4798 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 30 | Bluffton University | 18900 | 55000 | 0.6562 | 602 | 1025 | 0.6116 | |
| 30 | Texas State University | 18900 | 28900 | 0.3455 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 32 | Lincoln University | 19200 | 36300 | 0.4716 | 1,545 | 890 | 0.6572 | |
| 33 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 34 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 19800 | 24500 | 0.1915 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 34 | University of Northern Iowa | 19800 | 24000 | 0.1751 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 36 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 37 | Bethany Lutheran College | 20000 | 46400 | 0.5695 | 856 | 1160 | 0.3897 | |
| 38 | University of Colorado Boulder | 20100 | 30600 | 0.3431 | 32,100 | 1290 | 0.8115 | |
| 38 | Western Michigan University | 20100 | 26500 | 0.2417 | 13,860 | 1104 | 0.846 | |
| 40 | Marian University | 20300 | 46100 | 0.5594 | 1,074 | 1035 | 0.6677 | |
| 40 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 20300 | 33400 | 0.3927 | 3,469 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 42 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 20400 | 49400 | 0.5866 | 2,079 | 1135 | 0.8221 | |
| 43 | Lebanon Valley College | 20700 | 71600 | 0.7111 | 1,720 | 1225 | 0.8377 | |
| 44 | Augsburg University | 21200 | 56400 | 0.6241 | 2,527 | 1065 | 0.8198 | |
| 45 | Saint Peter's University | 21300 | 66300 | 0.6785 | 2,101 | 1070 | 0.9053 | |
| 46 | Canisius University | 22000 | 53200 | 0.5861 | 1,724 | 1129 | 0.7224 | |
| 47 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 22300 | 54400 | 0.5902 | 1,778 | 1115 | 0.9519 | |
| 48 | Buena Vista University | 22400 | 59100 | 0.6203 | 810 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 49 | Colorado Christian University | 22700 | 63300 | 0.6412 | 6,730 | 1110 | 0.8328 | |
| 50 | Alma College | 22800 | 70500 | 0.677 | 1,159 | 1085 | 0.57 | |
| 50 | Manchester University | 22800 | 54100 | 0.5778 | 915 | 1044 | 0.913 | |
| 52 | Murray State University | 22900 | 27600 | 0.1707 | 8,281 | 1124 | 0.8568 | |
| 52 | Washington State University | 22900 | 36800 | 0.3783 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 54 | Carlow University | 23100 | 58100 | 0.6029 | 1,355 | 1080 | 0.8696 | |
| 55 | Henderson State University | 23200 | 35900 | 0.3542 | 1,493 | 1075 | 0.8192 | |
| 56 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 23300 | 33600 | 0.3067 | 65,450 | 1203 | 0.8989 | |
| 57 | Western Connecticut State University | 23400 | 30100 | 0.2229 | 3,542 | 1130 | 0.8136 | |
| 58 | University of Charleston | 23700 | 56300 | 0.5794 | 2,087 | 1075 | 0.6458 | |
| 59 | Muskingum University | 23800 | 49600 | 0.5193 | 1,524 | 1020 | 0.8184 | |
| 60 | Oral Roberts University | 23900 | 55600 | 0.5706 | 5,017 | 1139 | 0.989 | |
| 61 | Visible Music College | 24000 | 42900 | 0.4405 | 168 | 0 | 0.2868 | |
| 62 | Tulane University of Louisiana | 24100 | 83600 | 0.712 | 7,283 | 1451 | 0.1398 | |
| 63 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 24300 | 34400 | 0.2923 | 4,174 | 1164 | 0.8298 | |
| 63 | North Central College | 24300 | 62500 | 0.6112 | 2,454 | 1203 | 0.7733 | |
| 65 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 24400 | 26600 | 0.0828 | 3,413 | 1085 | 0.5295 | |
| 66 | Calvin University | 24600 | 53000 | 0.536 | 3,356 | 1214 | 0.7091 | |
| 67 | University of Saint Mary | 24700 | 53700 | 0.5402 | 1,027 | 1045 | 0.8663 | |
| 68 | Northern Michigan University | 24800 | 32900 | 0.2465 | 6,684 | 1100 | 0.8402 | |
| 69 | Dordt University | 25200 | 52300 | 0.518 | 1,695 | 1195 | 0.7116 | |
| 69 | West Texas A & M University | 25200 | 27100 | 0.07 | 6,930 | 1060 | 0.5863 | |
| 71 | Ball State University | 25400 | 25900 | 0.0193 | 15,189 | 1170 | 0.855 | |
| 72 | Texas A&M University-Commerce | 25500 | 37400 | 0.3186 | 9,666 | 1040 | 0.7498 | |
| 73 | Eastern Mennonite University | 25600 | 62000 | 0.5872 | 791 | 1269 | 1 | |
| 74 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 25800 | 36500 | 0.2928 | 14,783 | 1124 | 0.8096 | |
| 75 | Northwood University | 25900 | 54500 | 0.5252 | 1,989 | 1075 | 0.839 | |
| 76 | Corban University | 26000 | 57300 | 0.5456 | 785 | 1124 | 0.8974 | |
| 77 | North Central University | 26100 | 43800 | 0.4039 | 865 | 1075 | 0.9082 | |
| 78 | Point Park University | 26200 | 56800 | 0.5391 | 2,337 | 1144 | 0.9691 | |
| 79 | Evangel University | 26300 | 39900 | 0.341 | 1,843 | 1183 | 0.7161 | |
| 79 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 26300 | 48900 | 0.4619 | 5,692 | 1090 | 0.9508 | |
| 79 | University of the Incarnate Word | 26300 | 59900 | 0.5613 | 4,638 | 1035 | 0.9813 | |
| 82 | University of Mount Union | 26400 | 50900 | 0.4805 | 1,927 | 1105 | 0.8013 | |
| 83 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26700 | 0.0075 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 84 | Marywood University | 26600 | 55500 | 0.521 | 1,834 | 1160 | 0.6058 | |
| 85 | Saint Edward's University | 26700 | 71900 | 0.6283 | 2,731 | 1135 | 0.8369 | |
| 86 | Columbia College Chicago | 26800 | 60600 | 0.5582 | 5,422 | 0 | 0.7549 | |
| 86 | St. Francis College | 26800 | 39400 | 0.3202 | 1,934 | 1035 | 0.8153 | |
| 88 | Southwestern College | 26900 | 69700 | 0.6143 | 938 | 1005 | 0.7443 | |
| 89 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 89 | University of North Georgia | 27000 | 35500 | 0.2393 | 18,329 | 1100 | 0.6794 | |
| 89 | Webster University | 27000 | 54300 | 0.5024 | 2,091 | 1105 | 0.9594 | |
| 92 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 93 | Park University | 27500 | 30800 | 0.1072 | 6,238 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 93 | Wilmington College | 27500 | 48200 | 0.4295 | 924 | 1070 | 0.846 | |
| 95 | Central Washington University | 27600 | 27800 | 0.0072 | 10,033 | 1060 | 0.9061 | |
| 95 | University of Valley Forge | 27600 | 50000 | 0.4477 | 517 | 1059 | 0.612 | |
| 97 | University of South Carolina Aiken | 27700 | 36700 | 0.2452 | 3,289 | 1115 | 0.7857 | |
| 98 | McPherson College | 27800 | 47600 | 0.4163 | 876 | 1065 | 0.7676 | |
| 98 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 27800 | 34200 | 0.1873 | 5,823 | 1150 | 0.8619 | |
| 100 | Drury University | 28200 | 52900 | 0.4668 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 100 | Grand Valley State University | 28200 | 35700 | 0.2101 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 102 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.322 | 1,817 | 1080 | 0.8078 | |
| 103 | University of Hartford | 28500 | 70100 | 0.5926 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9579 | |
| 104 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 28700 | 78100 | 0.6326 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 105 | Oregon State University | 28900 | 36700 | 0.2147 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 106 | Cornerstone University | 29200 | 40800 | 0.2846 | 1,444 | 1124 | 0.7316 | |
| 107 | Messiah University | 29300 | 54100 | 0.4586 | 2,618 | 1241 | 0.7897 | |
| 108 | University of Toledo | 29400 | 32600 | 0.0983 | 11,013 | 1159 | 0.9202 | |
| 109 | University of Connecticut | 29600 | 33200 | 0.1086 | 19,388 | 1324 | 0.5395 | |
| 110 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4086 | 722 | 1170 | 0.9425 | |
| 111 | Hilbert College | 29800 | 54600 | 0.4546 | 939 | 1103 | 0.98 | |
| 112 | Cedar Crest College | 30000 | 66000 | 0.5451 | 886 | 1095 | 0.9913 | |
| 112 | Kent State University at Kent | 30000 | 37500 | 0.2 | 20,841 | 1105 | 0.8634 | |
| 114 | Belmont University | 30200 | 67800 | 0.554 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 114 | Mississippi College | 30200 | 45400 | 0.3352 | 2,724 | 1110 | 0.4928 | |
| 116 | Gannon University | 30400 | 45300 | 0.329 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 117 | Albright College | 30600 | 48700 | 0.3717 | 1,328 | 1050 | 0.8615 | |
| 117 | St Bonaventure University | 30600 | 61000 | 0.4981 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 119 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 120 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 31000 | 33200 | 0.0664 | 14,504 | 1145 | 0.7637 | |
| 121 | Manhattanville University | 31100 | 68500 | 0.5453 | 1,466 | 1145 | 0.8734 | |
| 122 | Florida Southern College | 31300 | 63200 | 0.5048 | 2,626 | 1219 | 0.5909 | |
| 123 | Columbia International University | 31600 | 44800 | 0.2948 | 721 | 1079 | 0.9461 | |
| 124 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 32000 | 41600 | 0.231 | 9,302 | 1125 | 0.9735 | |
| 125 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 32100 | 39500 | 0.1875 | 6,306 | 1214 | 0.9075 | |
| 125 | SUNY College at Plattsburgh | 32100 | 44800 | 0.2835 | 3,856 | 1169 | 0.7518 | |
| 127 | Spring Arbor University | 32400 | 51100 | 0.3658 | 1,091 | 1120 | 0.3733 | |
| 128 | Indiana University-South Bend | 32500 | 46100 | 0.2949 | 4,083 | 1070 | 0.8384 | |
| 129 | Southeastern University | 32700 | 60500 | 0.4592 | 10,351 | 1130 | 0.6165 | |
| 130 | Harding University | 32800 | 47000 | 0.3023 | 3,523 | 1193 | 0.3942 | |
| 130 | Liberty University | 32800 | 43900 | 0.2528 | 52,823 | 1181 | 0.9932 | |
| 132 | Mount Saint Mary College | 33200 | 68400 | 0.5147 | 2,141 | 1090 | 0.8888 | |
| 133 | Wilkes University | 33400 | 61900 | 0.4597 | 1,956 | 1153 | 0.9146 | |
| 134 | University of Saint Joseph | 33500 | 68000 | 0.5077 | 879 | 1174 | 0.7964 | |
| 135 | Ithaca College | 33600 | 72500 | 0.5365 | 4,268 | 1314 | 0.6901 | |
| 135 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 33600 | 46200 | 0.2729 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 137 | Drake University | 33700 | 68500 | 0.5078 | 2,585 | 1226 | 0.6385 | |
| 137 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 139 | Valparaiso University | 34000 | 62700 | 0.4572 | 2,123 | 1247 | 0.8934 | |
| 140 | St. John Fisher University | 34400 | 63700 | 0.4601 | 2,583 | 1210 | 0.664 | |
| 141 | North Greenville University | 34600 | 44800 | 0.2277 | 2,020 | 1164 | 0.6667 | |
| 142 | Gwynedd Mercy University | 34800 | 65100 | 0.4648 | 1,301 | 1115 | 0.8963 | |
| 143 | Barry University | 34900 | 54600 | 0.3607 | 3,232 | 1015 | 0.7721 | |
| 143 | Cedarville University | 34900 | 55100 | 0.3664 | 4,916 | 1247 | 0.6488 | |
| 143 | State University of New York at New Paltz | 34900 | 35100 | 0.0057 | 6,197 | 1260 | 0.6161 | |
| 146 | Adelphi University | 35100 | 63300 | 0.4454 | 5,325 | 1218 | 0.6591 | |
| 146 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | 35100 | 49600 | 0.2921 | 1,809 | 1109 | 0.9484 | |
| 148 | Stevenson University | 35300 | 59900 | 0.4105 | 3,106 | 1100 | 0.7891 | |
| 149 | New York Institute of Technology | 35400 | 83600 | 0.5761 | 3,355 | 1235 | 0.7808 | |
| 150 | Abilene Christian University | 35700 | 60700 | 0.4115 | 3,233 | 1129 | 0.6604 | |
| 151 | University of Maine | 36100 | 45100 | 0.1996 | 591 | 1199 | 0.9684 | |
| 152 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | 36200 | 53300 | 0.3207 | 1,044 | 1095 | 0.7209 | |
| 153 | Andrews University | 36400 | 47100 | 0.227 | 1,312 | 1208 | 0.874 | |
| 153 | University of the Pacific | 36400 | 72100 | 0.4953 | 3,249 | 1298 | 0.7132 | |
| 153 | Warner Pacific University | 36400 | 41600 | 0.1252 | 350 | 945 | 0.5855 | |
| 156 | Towson University | 36500 | 45700 | 0.2013 | 16,264 | 1093 | 0.8198 | |
| 157 | Lawrence Technological University | 36800 | 67800 | 0.457 | 2,579 | 1155 | 0.7403 | |
| 158 | Long Island University | 37200 | 59600 | 0.376 | 11,753 | 1222 | 0.8977 | |
| 159 | Loyola University Chicago | 37500 | 67600 | 0.4455 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 160 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute | 37600 | 38900 | 0.0334 | 1,919 | 1245 | 0.7844 | |
| 161 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2609 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 162 | Seattle University | 37800 | 69800 | 0.4582 | 4,103 | 1256 | 0.7703 | |
| 163 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 164 | Reinhardt University | 38800 | 49300 | 0.2122 | 1,082 | 1070 | 0.6017 | |
| 165 | Arcadia University | 39300 | 71600 | 0.4501 | 2,030 | 1185 | 0.8022 | |
| 166 | SUNY at Purchase College | 39600 | 41300 | 0.0411 | 3,283 | 1294 | 0.7405 | |
| 167 | Pace University | 39700 | 74100 | 0.464 | 8,038 | 1274 | 0.7592 | |
| 168 | Endicott College | 40800 | 63200 | 0.3544 | 3,176 | 1215 | 0.7229 | |
| 169 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 41300 | 41300 | 0 | 3,244 | 1224 | 0.9683 | |
| 170 | CUNY City College | 41500 | 41500 | 0 | 12,982 | 1169 | 0.5997 | |
| 171 | Campbell University | 41600 | 65100 | 0.3611 | 2,699 | 1120 | 0.872 | |
| 172 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 42600 | 55100 | 0.227 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 172 | Southern Oregon University | 42600 | 42600 | 0 | 4,964 | 1125 | 0.9007 | |
| 174 | Georgian Court University | 43000 | 58000 | 0.2587 | 1,478 | 1169 | 0.7052 | |
| 175 | Butler University | 43300 | 64500 | 0.3286 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 176 | Alvernia University | 44900 | 68700 | 0.3465 | 2,050 | 1060 | 0.6232 | |
| 176 | University of the Arts | 44900 | 88300 | 0.4913 | 1,072 | 1050 | 0.782 | |
| 178 | High Point University | 45700 | 70500 | 0.3518 | 5,006 | 1209 | 0.7683 | |
| 179 | Montclair State University | 46300 | 46600 | 0.0064 | 18,712 | 1058 | 0.8789 | |
| 179 | William Jessup University | 46300 | 53100 | 0.128 | 1,056 | 1178 | 0.7682 | |
| 181 | Michigan State University | 47200 | 56200 | 0.1601 | 41,234 | 1223 | 0.848 | |
| 181 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 47200 | 85700 | 0.449 | 5,743 | 1438 | 0.6343 | |
| 183 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | 47300 | 69000 | 0.3146 | 1,871 | 1085 | 0.7627 | |
| 184 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 48600 | 64400 | 0.2454 | 14,657 | 1180 | 0.8368 | |
| 185 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | 50100 | 60300 | 0.1692 | 1,204 | 1040 | 0.788 | |
| 186 | Drexel University | 51100 | 82600 | 0.3812 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 187 | Lynn University | 51500 | 64200 | 0.1979 | 2,861 | 1130 | 0.7347 | |
| 188 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 51700 | 51700 | 0 | 33,572 | 1264 | 0.8529 | |
| 189 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 52400 | 56100 | 0.0661 | 60,710 | 1278 | 0.5732 | |
| 190 | Fordham University | 52600 | 94600 | 0.4442 | 10,307 | 1415 | 0.5628 | |
| 191 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 53700 | 66000 | 0.1864 | 714 | 1271 | 0.4836 | |
| 192 | Miami University-Oxford | 56100 | 56100 | 0 | 16,816 | 1299 | 0.754 | |
| 193 | Maryland Institute College of Art | 60700 | 71200 | 0.1476 | 1,324 | 1196 | 0.7729 | |
| 194 | Indiana University-Bloomington | 60800 | 63000 | 0.035 | 38,093 | 1302 | 0.7821 | |
| 195 | The New School | 65400 | 104000 | 0.3711 | 1,449 | 1268 | 0.8333 | |
| 196 | Elon University | 65900 | 67300 | 0.0208 | 6,452 | 1244 | 0.6635 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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