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 | Northwestern University | 12600 | 87700 | 0.8563 | 8,846 | 1513 | 0.0722 | |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-Commerce | 12600 | 24000 | 0.4749 | 9,666 | 1040 | 0.7498 | |
| 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 | Lincoln University | 13200 | 30900 | 0.572 | 1,545 | 890 | 0.6572 | |
| 11 | Union College | 13500 | 90400 | 0.851 | 2,065 | 1393 | 0.4374 | |
| 12 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 13800 | 25000 | 0.4483 | 3,018 | 920 | 0.9386 | |
| 13 | Texas Tech University | 14000 | 27000 | 0.4813 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 14 | Indiana University-South Bend | 14300 | 27500 | 0.48 | 4,083 | 1070 | 0.8384 | |
| 14 | 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 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 15500 | 24800 | 0.3744 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 18 | Florida State University | 15600 | 23100 | 0.3246 | 32,711 | 1360 | 0.2422 | |
| 19 | Grand Valley State University | 16000 | 25300 | 0.368 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 20 | Middle Tennessee State University | 16400 | 23200 | 0.2928 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 21 | University of Georgia | 17000 | 27100 | 0.373 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 22 | Eastern Illinois University | 17400 | 27700 | 0.3709 | 6,785 | 1020 | 0.6535 | |
| 23 | University of Rochester | 17700 | 93100 | 0.8101 | 6,580 | 1469 | 0.4008 | |
| 23 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 17700 | 17700 | 0 | 18,428 | 1090 | 0.9529 | |
| 25 | University of Maine | 17900 | 29000 | 0.3831 | 591 | 1199 | 0.9684 | |
| 26 | Georgia Southern University | 18000 | 23800 | 0.2441 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 27 | Indiana University-Bloomington | 18400 | 30600 | 0.3971 | 38,093 | 1302 | 0.7821 | |
| 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 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 32 | Towson University | 19500 | 30000 | 0.3495 | 16,264 | 1093 | 0.8198 | |
| 34 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 19800 | 31900 | 0.3787 | 6,306 | 1214 | 0.9075 | |
| 34 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 19800 | 24500 | 0.1915 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 34 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 19800 | 31000 | 0.3619 | 60,710 | 1278 | 0.5732 | |
| 34 | University of Northern Iowa | 19800 | 24000 | 0.1751 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 38 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 39 | Bethany Lutheran College | 20000 | 46400 | 0.5695 | 856 | 1160 | 0.3897 | |
| 40 | Western Michigan University | 20100 | 26500 | 0.2417 | 13,860 | 1104 | 0.846 | |
| 41 | Marian University | 20300 | 46100 | 0.5594 | 1,074 | 1035 | 0.6677 | |
| 41 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 20300 | 33400 | 0.3927 | 3,469 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 43 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 20400 | 49400 | 0.5866 | 2,079 | 1135 | 0.8221 | |
| 44 | Lebanon Valley College | 20700 | 71600 | 0.7111 | 1,720 | 1225 | 0.8377 | |
| 45 | State University of New York at New Paltz | 20800 | 26300 | 0.2094 | 6,197 | 1260 | 0.6161 | |
| 46 | Augsburg University | 21200 | 56400 | 0.6241 | 2,527 | 1065 | 0.8198 | |
| 46 | SUNY at Purchase College | 21200 | 28000 | 0.2424 | 3,283 | 1294 | 0.7405 | |
| 48 | Saint Peter's University | 21300 | 66300 | 0.6785 | 2,101 | 1070 | 0.9053 | |
| 49 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 21900 | 34400 | 0.3633 | 14,783 | 1124 | 0.8096 | |
| 50 | Canisius University | 22000 | 53200 | 0.5861 | 1,724 | 1129 | 0.7224 | |
| 51 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 22300 | 54400 | 0.5902 | 1,778 | 1115 | 0.9519 | |
| 52 | Buena Vista University | 22400 | 59100 | 0.6203 | 810 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 53 | Colorado Christian University | 22700 | 63300 | 0.6412 | 6,730 | 1110 | 0.8328 | |
| 54 | Alma College | 22800 | 70500 | 0.677 | 1,159 | 1085 | 0.57 | |
| 54 | Manchester University | 22800 | 54100 | 0.5778 | 915 | 1044 | 0.913 | |
| 56 | Murray State University | 22900 | 27600 | 0.1707 | 8,281 | 1124 | 0.8568 | |
| 57 | Carlow University | 23100 | 58100 | 0.6029 | 1,355 | 1080 | 0.8696 | |
| 58 | Henderson State University | 23200 | 35900 | 0.3542 | 1,493 | 1075 | 0.8192 | |
| 59 | Western Connecticut State University | 23400 | 30100 | 0.2229 | 3,542 | 1130 | 0.8136 | |
| 60 | University of Charleston | 23700 | 56300 | 0.5794 | 2,087 | 1075 | 0.6458 | |
| 61 | Muskingum University | 23800 | 49600 | 0.5193 | 1,524 | 1020 | 0.8184 | |
| 62 | Oral Roberts University | 23900 | 55600 | 0.5706 | 5,017 | 1139 | 0.989 | |
| 63 | Visible Music College | 24000 | 42900 | 0.4405 | 168 | 0 | 0.2868 | |
| 64 | Tulane University of Louisiana | 24100 | 83600 | 0.712 | 7,283 | 1451 | 0.1398 | |
| 65 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 24300 | 34400 | 0.2923 | 4,174 | 1164 | 0.8298 | |
| 65 | North Central College | 24300 | 62500 | 0.6112 | 2,454 | 1203 | 0.7733 | |
| 67 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 24400 | 26600 | 0.0828 | 3,413 | 1085 | 0.5295 | |
| 68 | Calvin University | 24600 | 53000 | 0.536 | 3,356 | 1214 | 0.7091 | |
| 68 | Miami University-Oxford | 24600 | 27200 | 0.0954 | 16,816 | 1299 | 0.754 | |
| 70 | University of Saint Mary | 24700 | 53700 | 0.5402 | 1,027 | 1045 | 0.8663 | |
| 71 | Northern Michigan University | 24800 | 32900 | 0.2465 | 6,684 | 1100 | 0.8402 | |
| 72 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 25000 | 36600 | 0.3173 | 65,450 | 1203 | 0.8989 | |
| 73 | Dordt University | 25200 | 52300 | 0.518 | 1,695 | 1195 | 0.7116 | |
| 73 | West Texas A & M University | 25200 | 27100 | 0.07 | 6,930 | 1060 | 0.5863 | |
| 75 | Ball State University | 25400 | 25900 | 0.0193 | 15,189 | 1170 | 0.855 | |
| 76 | Eastern Mennonite University | 25600 | 62000 | 0.5872 | 791 | 1269 | 1 | |
| 77 | Michigan State University | 25800 | 28900 | 0.1089 | 41,234 | 1223 | 0.848 | |
| 78 | Northwood University | 25900 | 54500 | 0.5252 | 1,989 | 1075 | 0.839 | |
| 79 | Corban University | 26000 | 57300 | 0.5456 | 785 | 1124 | 0.8974 | |
| 80 | North Central University | 26100 | 43800 | 0.4039 | 865 | 1075 | 0.9082 | |
| 81 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 26200 | 28400 | 0.0776 | 14,504 | 1145 | 0.7637 | |
| 81 | Point Park University | 26200 | 56800 | 0.5391 | 2,337 | 1144 | 0.9691 | |
| 83 | Evangel University | 26300 | 39900 | 0.341 | 1,843 | 1183 | 0.7161 | |
| 83 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 26300 | 48900 | 0.4619 | 5,692 | 1090 | 0.9508 | |
| 83 | University of the Incarnate Word | 26300 | 59900 | 0.5613 | 4,638 | 1035 | 0.9813 | |
| 86 | University of Mount Union | 26400 | 50900 | 0.4805 | 1,927 | 1105 | 0.8013 | |
| 87 | Marywood University | 26600 | 55500 | 0.521 | 1,834 | 1160 | 0.6058 | |
| 88 | Saint Edward's University | 26700 | 71900 | 0.6283 | 2,731 | 1135 | 0.8369 | |
| 89 | Columbia College Chicago | 26800 | 60600 | 0.5582 | 5,422 | 0 | 0.7549 | |
| 89 | St. Francis College | 26800 | 39400 | 0.3202 | 1,934 | 1035 | 0.8153 | |
| 91 | Southwestern College | 26900 | 69700 | 0.6143 | 938 | 1005 | 0.7443 | |
| 92 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 92 | University of North Georgia | 27000 | 35500 | 0.2393 | 18,329 | 1100 | 0.6794 | |
| 92 | Webster University | 27000 | 54300 | 0.5024 | 2,091 | 1105 | 0.9594 | |
| 95 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 96 | Kent State University at Kent | 27400 | 28400 | 0.0352 | 20,841 | 1105 | 0.8634 | |
| 97 | Park University | 27500 | 30800 | 0.1072 | 6,238 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 97 | Wilmington College | 27500 | 48200 | 0.4295 | 924 | 1070 | 0.846 | |
| 99 | Central Washington University | 27600 | 27800 | 0.0072 | 10,033 | 1060 | 0.9061 | |
| 99 | University of Valley Forge | 27600 | 50000 | 0.4477 | 517 | 1059 | 0.612 | |
| 101 | University of South Carolina Aiken | 27700 | 36700 | 0.2452 | 3,289 | 1115 | 0.7857 | |
| 102 | McPherson College | 27800 | 47600 | 0.4163 | 876 | 1065 | 0.7676 | |
| 102 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 27800 | 34200 | 0.1873 | 5,823 | 1150 | 0.8619 | |
| 104 | Florida Atlantic University | 28100 | 39200 | 0.2834 | 24,942 | 1130 | 0.6613 | |
| 105 | Drury University | 28200 | 52900 | 0.4668 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 106 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.322 | 1,817 | 1080 | 0.8078 | |
| 107 | University of Hartford | 28500 | 70100 | 0.5926 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9579 | |
| 108 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 28700 | 78100 | 0.6326 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 109 | Cornerstone University | 29200 | 40800 | 0.2846 | 1,444 | 1124 | 0.7316 | |
| 110 | Messiah University | 29300 | 54100 | 0.4586 | 2,618 | 1241 | 0.7897 | |
| 111 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4086 | 722 | 1170 | 0.9425 | |
| 112 | Hilbert College | 29800 | 54600 | 0.4546 | 939 | 1103 | 0.98 | |
| 113 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 29900 | 31100 | 0.0385 | 20,592 | 1435 | 0.1407 | |
| 114 | Cedar Crest College | 30000 | 66000 | 0.5451 | 886 | 1095 | 0.9913 | |
| 115 | Belmont University | 30200 | 67800 | 0.554 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 115 | Keene State College | 30200 | 40700 | 0.2593 | 2,744 | 1020 | 0.9033 | |
| 115 | Mississippi College | 30200 | 45400 | 0.3352 | 2,724 | 1110 | 0.4928 | |
| 118 | Gannon University | 30400 | 45300 | 0.329 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 119 | Albright College | 30600 | 48700 | 0.3717 | 1,328 | 1050 | 0.8615 | |
| 119 | St Bonaventure University | 30600 | 61000 | 0.4981 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 121 | University of Toledo | 30800 | 42000 | 0.267 | 11,013 | 1159 | 0.9202 | |
| 122 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 123 | Manhattanville University | 31100 | 68500 | 0.5453 | 1,466 | 1145 | 0.8734 | |
| 124 | Florida Southern College | 31300 | 63200 | 0.5048 | 2,626 | 1219 | 0.5909 | |
| 125 | Columbia International University | 31600 | 44800 | 0.2948 | 721 | 1079 | 0.9461 | |
| 126 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 32000 | 41600 | 0.231 | 9,302 | 1125 | 0.9735 | |
| 127 | SUNY College at Plattsburgh | 32100 | 44800 | 0.2835 | 3,856 | 1169 | 0.7518 | |
| 128 | Spring Arbor University | 32400 | 51100 | 0.3658 | 1,091 | 1120 | 0.3733 | |
| 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 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design | 32900 | 41100 | 0.1995 | 1,871 | 1085 | 0.7627 | |
| 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 | University of Saint Joseph | 33500 | 68000 | 0.5077 | 879 | 1174 | 0.7964 | |
| 136 | Ithaca College | 33600 | 72500 | 0.5365 | 4,268 | 1314 | 0.6901 | |
| 136 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 33600 | 46200 | 0.2729 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 138 | Drake University | 33700 | 68500 | 0.5078 | 2,585 | 1226 | 0.6385 | |
| 138 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 140 | Valparaiso University | 34000 | 62700 | 0.4572 | 2,123 | 1247 | 0.8934 | |
| 141 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 34100 | 35100 | 0.0285 | 33,572 | 1264 | 0.8529 | |
| 142 | St. John Fisher University | 34400 | 63700 | 0.4601 | 2,583 | 1210 | 0.664 | |
| 143 | North Greenville University | 34600 | 44800 | 0.2277 | 2,020 | 1164 | 0.6667 | |
| 144 | University of South Florida | 34700 | 34700 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 145 | Gwynedd Mercy University | 34800 | 65100 | 0.4648 | 1,301 | 1115 | 0.8963 | |
| 146 | Barry University | 34900 | 54600 | 0.3607 | 3,232 | 1015 | 0.7721 | |
| 146 | Cedarville University | 34900 | 55100 | 0.3664 | 4,916 | 1247 | 0.6488 | |
| 146 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 34900 | 48400 | 0.2791 | 20,609 | 990 | 0.999 | |
| 149 | Adelphi University | 35100 | 63300 | 0.4454 | 5,325 | 1218 | 0.6591 | |
| 149 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | 35100 | 49600 | 0.2921 | 1,809 | 1109 | 0.9484 | |
| 151 | Stevenson University | 35300 | 59900 | 0.4105 | 3,106 | 1100 | 0.7891 | |
| 152 | New York Institute of Technology | 35400 | 83600 | 0.5761 | 3,355 | 1235 | 0.7808 | |
| 153 | Abilene Christian University | 35700 | 60700 | 0.4115 | 3,233 | 1129 | 0.6604 | |
| 154 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | 36200 | 53300 | 0.3207 | 1,044 | 1095 | 0.7209 | |
| 155 | State University of New York at Cortland | 36300 | 39900 | 0.0903 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 156 | Andrews University | 36400 | 47100 | 0.227 | 1,312 | 1208 | 0.874 | |
| 156 | University of the Pacific | 36400 | 72100 | 0.4953 | 3,249 | 1298 | 0.7132 | |
| 156 | Warner Pacific University | 36400 | 41600 | 0.1252 | 350 | 945 | 0.5855 | |
| 159 | Florida International University | 36500 | 36800 | 0.0081 | 44,904 | 1175 | 0.5466 | |
| 160 | Lawrence Technological University | 36800 | 67800 | 0.457 | 2,579 | 1155 | 0.7403 | |
| 161 | Long Island University | 37200 | 59600 | 0.376 | 11,753 | 1222 | 0.8977 | |
| 162 | Loyola University Chicago | 37500 | 67600 | 0.4455 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 163 | SUNY Polytechnic Institute | 37600 | 38900 | 0.0334 | 1,919 | 1245 | 0.7844 | |
| 163 | University of Connecticut | 37600 | 41800 | 0.1005 | 19,388 | 1324 | 0.5395 | |
| 165 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2609 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 166 | Seattle University | 37800 | 69800 | 0.4582 | 4,103 | 1256 | 0.7703 | |
| 167 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 168 | Washington State University | 38500 | 53900 | 0.2859 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 169 | Reinhardt University | 38800 | 49300 | 0.2122 | 1,082 | 1070 | 0.6017 | |
| 170 | Arcadia University | 39300 | 71600 | 0.4501 | 2,030 | 1185 | 0.8022 | |
| 171 | Pace University | 39700 | 74100 | 0.464 | 8,038 | 1274 | 0.7592 | |
| 172 | Endicott College | 40800 | 63200 | 0.3544 | 3,176 | 1215 | 0.7229 | |
| 173 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 41300 | 41300 | 0 | 3,244 | 1224 | 0.9683 | |
| 174 | CUNY City College | 41500 | 41500 | 0 | 12,982 | 1169 | 0.5997 | |
| 175 | Campbell University | 41600 | 65100 | 0.3611 | 2,699 | 1120 | 0.872 | |
| 176 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 42600 | 55100 | 0.227 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 176 | Southern Oregon University | 42600 | 42600 | 0 | 4,964 | 1125 | 0.9007 | |
| 178 | Georgian Court University | 43000 | 58000 | 0.2587 | 1,478 | 1169 | 0.7052 | |
| 179 | Butler University | 43300 | 64500 | 0.3286 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 180 | Alvernia University | 44900 | 68700 | 0.3465 | 2,050 | 1060 | 0.6232 | |
| 180 | Oregon State University | 44900 | 61900 | 0.2748 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 180 | University of the Arts | 44900 | 88300 | 0.4913 | 1,072 | 1050 | 0.782 | |
| 183 | High Point University | 45700 | 70500 | 0.3518 | 5,006 | 1209 | 0.7683 | |
| 184 | Montclair State University | 46300 | 46600 | 0.0064 | 18,712 | 1058 | 0.8789 | |
| 184 | William Jessup University | 46300 | 53100 | 0.128 | 1,056 | 1178 | 0.7682 | |
| 186 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 47200 | 85700 | 0.449 | 5,743 | 1438 | 0.6343 | |
| 187 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 48600 | 64400 | 0.2454 | 14,657 | 1180 | 0.8368 | |
| 188 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | 50100 | 60300 | 0.1692 | 1,204 | 1040 | 0.788 | |
| 189 | Drexel University | 51100 | 82600 | 0.3812 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 190 | University of Colorado Boulder | 51300 | 56300 | 0.0887 | 32,100 | 1290 | 0.8115 | |
| 191 | Lynn University | 51500 | 64200 | 0.1979 | 2,861 | 1130 | 0.7347 | |
| 192 | Fordham University | 52600 | 94600 | 0.4442 | 10,307 | 1415 | 0.5628 | |
| 193 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 53700 | 66000 | 0.1864 | 714 | 1271 | 0.4836 | |
| 194 | Maryland Institute College of Art | 60700 | 71200 | 0.1476 | 1,324 | 1196 | 0.7729 | |
| 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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