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 | Kentucky State University | 10100 | 17400 | 0.4184 | 1,546 | 925 | 0.9251 | |
| 1 | University of California-Davis | 10100 | 37800 | 0.732 | 32,273 | 1290 | 0.4183 | |
| 3 | Cornell University | 10300 | 92000 | 0.8877 | 16,128 | 1521 | 0.0841 | |
| 4 | Brigham Young University | 10900 | 29000 | 0.6237 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 11300 | 34400 | 0.6706 | 37,140 | 1442 | 0.4237 | |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5739 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 7 | Bacone College | 12500 | 36800 | 0.6605 | 106 | 875 | 0.545 | |
| 8 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 12700 | 37100 | 0.6572 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 9 | Utah State University | 13000 | 30000 | 0.5659 | 25,920 | 1176 | 0.9247 | |
| 10 | The University of Texas at Austin | 13200 | 30700 | 0.5697 | 43,165 | 1335 | 0.2664 | |
| 11 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 13700 | 19400 | 0.2939 | 14,416 | 1205 | 0.8851 | |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 13700 | 32200 | 0.5744 | 39,083 | 1412 | 0.4517 | |
| 13 | Louisiana Tech University | 13800 | 24900 | 0.4451 | 11,071 | 1164 | 0.9073 | |
| 14 | Texas Tech University | 14000 | 27000 | 0.4813 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 15 | University of Houston | 14200 | 23600 | 0.3988 | 39,257 | 1249 | 0.7392 | |
| 16 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 17 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14500 | 41100 | 0.6478 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 18 | Alcorn State University | 16000 | 24400 | 0.3446 | 2,532 | 925 | 0.4533 | |
| 19 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 16600 | 25700 | 0.3541 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 20 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 17200 | 27200 | 0.3671 | 44,170 | 1327 | 0.4979 | |
| 21 | University of Vermont | 18300 | 37800 | 0.5164 | 12,276 | 1379 | 0.653 | |
| 22 | Benedict College | 18900 | 38300 | 0.5071 | 1,694 | 935 | 0.673 | |
| 22 | Texas State University | 18900 | 28900 | 0.3455 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 24 | Kansas State University | 19000 | 31400 | 0.395 | 15,650 | 1164 | 0.8199 | |
| 25 | Gallaudet University | 19200 | 44200 | 0.565 | 919 | 875 | 0.6094 | |
| 26 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 19800 | 24500 | 0.1915 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 27 | Davis & Elkins College | 19900 | 48300 | 0.5878 | 683 | 1025 | 0.5823 | |
| 28 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 20600 | 38100 | 0.4588 | 11,365 | 1216 | 0.8816 | |
| 29 | North Dakota State University | 20900 | 25700 | 0.1861 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 30 | Houston Christian University | 22000 | 56800 | 0.6126 | 2,899 | 1090 | 0.8458 | |
| 30 | South Dakota State University | 22000 | 25200 | 0.1263 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 32 | Bradley University | 22200 | 48300 | 0.5396 | 3,596 | 1174 | 0.7675 | |
| 33 | Columbia College | 22600 | 36800 | 0.3864 | 1,268 | 950 | 0.9614 | |
| 33 | Florida State University | 22600 | 25000 | 0.0962 | 32,711 | 1360 | 0.2422 | |
| 35 | Eastern Kentucky University | 23500 | 38000 | 0.3811 | 12,726 | 1055 | 0.9695 | |
| 35 | Syracuse University | 23500 | 83100 | 0.7172 | 15,958 | 1363 | 0.4611 | |
| 37 | Southern Virginia University | 24300 | 38200 | 0.3641 | 967 | 1070 | 0.9973 | |
| 38 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | 24400 | 37400 | 0.3473 | 7,595 | 1075 | 0.9226 | |
| 39 | Stephens College | 24700 | 58600 | 0.5781 | 354 | 1185 | 0.9185 | |
| 40 | Rockford University | 24900 | 59000 | 0.5771 | 968 | 1045 | 0.5704 | |
| 41 | Illinois State University | 25000 | 35200 | 0.2909 | 19,107 | 1115 | 0.8815 | |
| 42 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 25800 | 36500 | 0.2928 | 14,783 | 1124 | 0.8096 | |
| 43 | Iowa State University | 26100 | 42800 | 0.3889 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 44 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 26300 | 48900 | 0.4619 | 5,692 | 1090 | 0.9508 | |
| 45 | Texas Woman's University | 26400 | 41300 | 0.3608 | 10,034 | 1055 | 0.9613 | |
| 46 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26700 | 0.0075 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 46 | University of Arizona | 26500 | 35200 | 0.247 | 45,025 | 1212 | 0.8614 | |
| 46 | University of Mount Union | 26500 | 50900 | 0.4802 | 1,927 | 1105 | 0.8013 | |
| 49 | Lamar University | 26700 | 37700 | 0.2915 | 8,206 | 1045 | 0.857 | |
| 49 | University of Arkansas | 26700 | 30800 | 0.1328 | 28,859 | 1179 | 0.7431 | |
| 51 | California State University-San Bernardino | 26800 | 38000 | 0.2945 | 14,993 | 920 | 0.9318 | |
| 52 | Indiana State University | 26900 | 30900 | 0.1296 | 6,224 | 1140 | 0.8077 | |
| 52 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine | 26900 | 35600 | 0.2442 | 1,236 | 1203 | 0.9811 | |
| 54 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 27300 | 29500 | 0.0741 | 6,124 | 1159 | 0.8747 | |
| 55 | Southern Utah University | 27400 | 35600 | 0.2301 | 13,126 | 1140 | 0.8179 | |
| 56 | University of North Texas | 27600 | 37400 | 0.2622 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 57 | Seattle Pacific University | 27700 | 62600 | 0.5576 | 1,776 | 1188 | 0.8339 | |
| 58 | California State University-Long Beach | 28000 | 38400 | 0.2712 | 35,843 | 1135 | 0.4628 | |
| 59 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | 28100 | 45700 | 0.3852 | 3,361 | 1160 | 0.7887 | |
| 60 | California State University-San Marcos | 28300 | 38400 | 0.2628 | 14,977 | 970 | 0.951 | |
| 61 | Connecticut College | 28400 | 83300 | 0.6595 | 1,990 | 1287 | 0.3704 | |
| 61 | Mitchell College | 28400 | 65900 | 0.5687 | 500 | 817 | 0.7336 | |
| 63 | Oregon State University | 28900 | 36700 | 0.2145 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 64 | Westminster College | 29500 | 57500 | 0.4866 | 1,136 | 1190 | 0.9256 | |
| 65 | California State University-East Bay | 29900 | 43000 | 0.3044 | 10,562 | 940 | 0.9681 | |
| 65 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 29900 | 34000 | 0.1205 | 6,910 | 1053 | 0.9734 | |
| 67 | Kent State University at Kent | 30000 | 37500 | 0.2 | 20,841 | 1105 | 0.8634 | |
| 68 | Sonoma State University | 30200 | 40200 | 0.2489 | 5,412 | 1095 | 0.9473 | |
| 69 | Southern Wesleyan University | 30500 | 46200 | 0.3395 | 887 | 1090 | 1 | |
| 70 | Oklahoma Christian University | 31000 | 45000 | 0.31 | 2,012 | 1159 | 0.9707 | |
| 71 | University of Rhode Island | 31300 | 46700 | 0.3298 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 72 | State University of New York at Oswego | 31400 | 38300 | 0.1799 | 5,517 | 1174 | 0.8057 | |
| 73 | Samford University | 31800 | 65200 | 0.5122 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 74 | Southern Nazarene University | 32100 | 48400 | 0.3363 | 1,465 | 1055 | 0.7703 | |
| 74 | SUNY College at Plattsburgh | 32100 | 44800 | 0.2835 | 3,856 | 1169 | 0.7518 | |
| 76 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 32200 | 39200 | 0.1788 | 12,498 | 1010 | 0.8896 | |
| 77 | Franciscan University of Steubenville | 32700 | 44700 | 0.2684 | 2,978 | 1222 | 0.7223 | |
| 78 | Liberty University | 32800 | 43900 | 0.2528 | 52,823 | 1181 | 0.9932 | |
| 79 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto | 32900 | 44100 | 0.2539 | 581 | 1129 | 0.9821 | |
| 80 | Tarleton State University | 33300 | 33300 | 0 | 15,130 | 0 | 0.5256 | |
| 81 | Anderson University | 33600 | 52400 | 0.3588 | 3,405 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 82 | Hope International University | 34200 | 56700 | 0.3971 | 564 | 1070 | 0.3298 | |
| 83 | Nova Southeastern University | 34300 | 56300 | 0.3905 | 7,307 | 1165 | 0.7324 | |
| 84 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 85 | University of Nevada-Reno | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 18,895 | 1134 | 0.7371 | |
| 86 | Abilene Christian University | 35700 | 60700 | 0.4115 | 3,233 | 1129 | 0.6604 | |
| 86 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 35700 | 43500 | 0.1794 | 13,179 | 1110 | 0.8883 | |
| 88 | University of Maine | 36100 | 45100 | 0.1996 | 591 | 1199 | 0.9684 | |
| 89 | Mississippi State University | 36300 | 50500 | 0.2811 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 90 | Warner Pacific University | 36400 | 41600 | 0.1247 | 350 | 945 | 0.5855 | |
| 91 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 37400 | 62000 | 0.3968 | 31,035 | 1366 | 0.5499 | |
| 92 | University of Central Oklahoma | 37600 | 38500 | 0.0234 | 10,454 | 1095 | 0.8176 | |
| 93 | Lesley University | 37700 | 54600 | 0.3093 | 1,342 | 1140 | 0.9442 | |
| 93 | University of Connecticut | 37700 | 41800 | 0.0981 | 19,388 | 1324 | 0.5395 | |
| 95 | Washington State University | 38500 | 53900 | 0.2855 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 96 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 38600 | 44600 | 0.1345 | 22,351 | 1159 | 0.7504 | |
| 97 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 38900 | 52900 | 0.2645 | 30,564 | 1298 | 0.416 | |
| 98 | University of California-San Diego | 40300 | 61100 | 0.3405 | 34,955 | 1375 | 0.2677 | |
| 98 | University of Georgia | 40300 | 46000 | 0.1242 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 100 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 40500 | 40500 | 0 | 4,047 | 1219 | 0.976 | |
| 100 | SUNY Oneonta | 40500 | 45300 | 0.1059 | 4,681 | 1190 | 0.6959 | |
| 100 | Temple University | 40500 | 56100 | 0.278 | 21,428 | 1245 | 0.8045 | |
| 103 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | 41500 | 45200 | 0.0819 | 2,371 | 1189 | 0.9808 | |
| 104 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 42400 | 42400 | 0 | 14,019 | 1159 | 0.7781 | |
| 105 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 106 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 42600 | 55100 | 0.227 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 107 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 43500 | 50300 | 0.1352 | 34,242 | 1273 | 0.7333 | |
| 107 | Merrimack College | 43500 | 78800 | 0.4478 | 4,199 | 1115 | 0.7361 | |
| 109 | Montclair State University | 46300 | 46600 | 0.0064 | 18,712 | 1058 | 0.8789 | |
| 110 | The University of Alabama | 48800 | 48800 | 0 | 34,389 | 1233 | 0.7665 | |
| 111 | George Mason University | 49200 | 49200 | 0 | 28,331 | 1268 | 0.8748 | |
| 112 | Binghamton University | 50600 | 52800 | 0.0414 | 14,669 | 1417 | 0.3861 | |
| 113 | University of Missouri-Columbia | 54000 | 59200 | 0.0876 | 24,457 | 1256 | 0.7847 | |
| 114 | Howard University | 58400 | 61600 | 0.052 | 11,519 | 1208 | 0.4134 | |
| 115 | Berea College | 70100 | 70100 | 0 | 1,527 | 1235 | 0.1934 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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