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 | Brigham Young University | 8100 | 22300 | 0.6382 | 34,354 | 1374 | 0.6862 | |
| 2 | Lamar University | 9100 | 22900 | 0.6019 | 8,387 | 1050 | 0.8353 | |
| 3 | Kentucky State University | 9500 | 27400 | 0.6532 | 1,793 | 865 | 0.9608 | |
| 4 | Berea College | 9600 | 69400 | 0.8617 | 1,529 | 1235 | 0.1567 | |
| 5 | Indiana State University | 10100 | 25900 | 0.611 | 6,352 | 1020 | 0.9157 | |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 10200 | 41300 | 0.7533 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 7 | University of Nevada-Reno | 10300 | 45800 | 0.7759 | 20,204 | 1134 | 0.8313 | |
| 8 | Southern Utah University | 10500 | 51400 | 0.7957 | 13,176 | 1140 | 0.9998 | |
| 9 | Eastern Kentucky University | 11100 | 28000 | 0.6029 | 13,448 | 1110 | 0.9683 | |
| 10 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 11600 | 87500 | 0.8673 | 14,249 | 1119 | 0.7761 | |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 12400 | 31100 | 0.6022 | 39,193 | 1418 | 0.4081 | |
| 12 | University of Idaho | 13000 | 27800 | 0.5344 | 9,656 | 1119 | 0.7476 | |
| 13 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 13100 | 19400 | 0.3248 | 14,865 | 1210 | 0.9113 | |
| 14 | Louisiana Tech University | 13300 | 42900 | 0.6899 | 11,071 | 1189 | 0.9073 | |
| 14 | Northern Illinois University | 13300 | 32200 | 0.5857 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 16 | University of Georgia | 13500 | 27200 | 0.503 | 32,824 | 1382 | 0.3425 | |
| 17 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 13900 | 26800 | 0.482 | 4,789 | 1115 | 0.6671 | |
| 18 | California State University-San Bernardino | 14100 | 32700 | 0.5686 | 15,948 | 990 | 0.943 | |
| 18 | University of Arizona | 14100 | 32100 | 0.5606 | 43,294 | 1233 | 0.8351 | |
| 18 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 14100 | 31000 | 0.5458 | 13,432 | 1225 | 0.8701 | |
| 21 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | 14400 | 38200 | 0.6223 | 7,501 | 1075 | 0.9467 | |
| 22 | California State University-San Marcos | 14600 | 24700 | 0.4097 | 15,770 | 1040 | 0.9513 | |
| 23 | Sonoma State University | 14800 | 41200 | 0.6408 | 4,449 | 1050 | 0.9841 | |
| 24 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 14900 | 33900 | 0.5603 | 7,402 | 1060 | 0.9684 | |
| 25 | Kansas State University | 15900 | 26400 | 0.3953 | 16,555 | 1164 | 0.875 | |
| 25 | University of North Texas | 15900 | 26200 | 0.3938 | 34,414 | 1114 | 0.7089 | |
| 27 | Alcorn State University | 16000 | 22200 | 0.2787 | 2,469 | 925 | 0.3675 | |
| 27 | Greensboro College | 16000 | 38300 | 0.5817 | 899 | 1005 | 0.7014 | |
| 29 | California State University-Long Beach | 16600 | 25800 | 0.3567 | 36,056 | 1135 | 0.4543 | |
| 30 | Georgia Southern University | 16800 | 20100 | 0.1638 | 25,595 | 1065 | 0.695 | |
| 31 | Connecticut College | 17000 | 93000 | 0.8169 | 1,953 | 1421 | 0.3923 | |
| 32 | Montclair State University | 17100 | 36000 | 0.5252 | 19,048 | 1058 | 0.894 | |
| 33 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto | 17300 | 44000 | 0.6064 | 586 | 1132 | 0.9577 | |
| 34 | University of Arkansas | 17800 | 28400 | 0.3726 | 29,252 | 1179 | 0.7388 | |
| 35 | Texas State University | 18200 | 26100 | 0.3026 | 39,353 | 1100 | 0.9118 | |
| 36 | University of Rhode Island | 18500 | 33900 | 0.4544 | 14,466 | 1148 | 0.7456 | |
| 37 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 18700 | 48900 | 0.6172 | 5,274 | 1103 | 0.9513 | |
| 38 | Columbia College | 18800 | 60700 | 0.6898 | 1,566 | 950 | 0.966 | |
| 39 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 18900 | 54000 | 0.6497 | 3,991 | 1030 | 0.9654 | |
| 40 | Texas Woman's University | 19000 | 28100 | 0.3243 | 9,962 | 1035 | 0.9658 | |
| 41 | Stephens College | 19200 | 70100 | 0.726 | 392 | 1045 | 0.7709 | |
| 42 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine | 19500 | 40900 | 0.5238 | 1,078 | 1193 | 0.9646 | |
| 43 | University of Vermont | 19600 | 40200 | 0.5111 | 12,159 | 1379 | 0.7304 | |
| 44 | State University of New York at Oswego | 19900 | 40200 | 0.5051 | 5,293 | 1180 | 0.7989 | |
| 45 | South Dakota State University | 20300 | 25200 | 0.1941 | 10,883 | 1120 | 0.9618 | |
| 46 | Syracuse University | 20500 | 83600 | 0.7548 | 16,149 | 1363 | 0.4879 | |
| 47 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 20700 | 30600 | 0.3258 | 43,633 | 1327 | 0.4343 | |
| 47 | Stockton University | 20700 | 46100 | 0.5511 | 7,583 | 1135 | 0.901 | |
| 49 | Southern Virginia University | 20900 | 53200 | 0.6076 | 936 | 1094 | 0.9659 | |
| 50 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 21300 | 57200 | 0.628 | 3,825 | 1175 | 0.7841 | |
| 51 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona | 21800 | 47900 | 0.5444 | 2,280 | 1189 | 0.9675 | |
| 52 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 22000 | 25900 | 0.1506 | 6,227 | 1159 | 0.9171 | |
| 52 | Utah State University | 22000 | 39000 | 0.4358 | 26,629 | 1176 | 0.9212 | |
| 54 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 22300 | 34200 | 0.3483 | 15,273 | 1124 | 0.8089 | |
| 55 | Florida State University | 22400 | 32600 | 0.313 | 34,271 | 1360 | 0.2383 | |
| 55 | Rockford University | 22400 | 80100 | 0.7205 | 983 | 975 | 0.9289 | |
| 57 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 22500 | 22500 | 0 | 20,786 | 1209 | 0.8689 | |
| 58 | Bradley University | 22600 | 59500 | 0.6194 | 3,258 | 1223 | 0.7459 | |
| 59 | Seattle Pacific University | 23000 | 98900 | 0.7678 | 1,657 | 1180 | 0.9301 | |
| 60 | University of Houston | 23600 | 28400 | 0.1692 | 40,366 | 1249 | 0.7577 | |
| 61 | SUNY Oneonta | 24400 | 55300 | 0.5593 | 4,815 | 1234 | 0.7696 | |
| 62 | University of Central Oklahoma | 24700 | 34000 | 0.2735 | 10,777 | 1075 | 0.7812 | |
| 63 | Temple University | 24900 | 36100 | 0.3105 | 21,031 | 1135 | 0.8622 | |
| 64 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | 25400 | 44800 | 0.4327 | 3,604 | 1209 | 0.9761 | |
| 64 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 25400 | 62800 | 0.5954 | 13,039 | 1010 | 0.894 | |
| 66 | Abilene Christian University | 25500 | 55000 | 0.5367 | 5,101 | 1189 | 0.6615 | |
| 67 | Binghamton University | 25700 | 32700 | 0.2159 | 14,559 | 1415 | 0.3731 | |
| 68 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 26100 | 49600 | 0.4735 | 4,047 | 1219 | 0.976 | |
| 69 | Houston Christian University | 26200 | 60500 | 0.5672 | 3,277 | 1090 | 0.8645 | |
| 70 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 26400 | 40600 | 0.3495 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 71 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 26600 | 27900 | 0.0465 | 21,138 | 1134 | 0.9039 | |
| 72 | University of Mount Union | 27100 | 56300 | 0.5194 | 2,207 | 1089 | 0.782 | |
| 73 | Kent State University at Kent | 27600 | 37500 | 0.2639 | 21,144 | 1105 | 0.7603 | |
| 73 | North Dakota State University | 27600 | 30400 | 0.092 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 75 | University of Utah | 28600 | 32000 | 0.1061 | 29,335 | 1222 | 0.9015 | |
| 76 | Iowa State University | 28800 | 45200 | 0.3626 | 26,346 | 1207 | 0.8793 | |
| 77 | University of Connecticut | 29200 | 56600 | 0.4843 | 20,056 | 1329 | 0.5239 | |
| 78 | Mississippi State University | 30000 | 34400 | 0.1276 | 19,093 | 1214 | 0.8363 | |
| 79 | George Mason University | 30800 | 35700 | 0.1371 | 28,862 | 1268 | 0.8647 | |
| 79 | Oklahoma Christian University | 30800 | 45000 | 0.3147 | 2,098 | 1129 | 0.9654 | |
| 79 | University of Maine | 30800 | 43100 | 0.2855 | 9,182 | 1205 | 0.9562 | |
| 82 | Southern Wesleyan University | 31300 | 47100 | 0.3372 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 83 | Baylor University | 31900 | 70400 | 0.5471 | 14,183 | 1321 | 0.5222 | |
| 84 | Anderson University | 32200 | 54700 | 0.4116 | 3,724 | 1209 | 0.5491 | |
| 85 | Liberty University | 32400 | 44700 | 0.275 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 85 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 32400 | 38400 | 0.1562 | 23,003 | 1159 | 0.7367 | |
| 87 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 32500 | 54400 | 0.4025 | 35,248 | 1273 | 0.6939 | |
| 88 | Franciscan University of Steubenville | 32700 | 44700 | 0.2684 | 3,219 | 1226 | 0.5836 | |
| 89 | Bridgewater College | 33100 | 42500 | 0.2213 | 1,412 | 1174 | 0.903 | |
| 90 | Samford University | 34600 | 93800 | 0.6312 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 91 | Westminster College | 35000 | 59000 | 0.407 | 1,110 | 1149 | 0.9167 | |
| 92 | Texas Tech University | 35800 | 42100 | 0.1495 | 34,021 | 1200 | 0.6906 | |
| 93 | California State University-East Bay | 37300 | 45100 | 0.1731 | 9,909 | 940 | 0.9739 | |
| 94 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 37400 | 66700 | 0.4394 | 31,536 | 1366 | 0.5457 | |
| 95 | Washington State University | 37700 | 53600 | 0.2967 | 21,400 | 1125 | 0.861 | |
| 96 | Southern Nazarene University | 37900 | 48400 | 0.2167 | 1,473 | 0 | 1 | |
| 97 | Hope International University | 38200 | 58600 | 0.3481 | 649 | 1027 | 0.6253 | |
| 97 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 38200 | 54400 | 0.2978 | 32,041 | 1302 | 0.4358 | |
| 99 | Oakwood University | 38400 | 43300 | 0.1131 | 1,184 | 1005 | 0.4563 | |
| 100 | University of Wyoming | 39900 | 45300 | 0.1191 | 8,138 | 1179 | 0.9695 | |
| 101 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 42500 | 63300 | 0.3285 | 10,900 | 1222 | 0.8914 | |
| 102 | Lesley University | 42600 | 57500 | 0.2592 | 1,230 | 1115 | 0.9687 | |
| 103 | Merrimack College | 43400 | 78800 | 0.4492 | 4,123 | 1115 | 0.6927 | |
| 104 | Illinois State University | 43700 | 49100 | 0.1099 | 19,513 | 1120 | 0.8555 | |
| 105 | Oregon State University | 44800 | 61900 | 0.2758 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 106 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 49700 | 64700 | 0.2319 | 46,627 | 1378 | 0.492 | |
| 107 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 54900 | 68800 | 0.2022 | 38,572 | 1406 | 0.3659 | |
| 108 | Howard University | 55000 | 88500 | 0.3787 | 11,519 | 1208 | 0.4134 | |
| 109 | University of California-San Diego | 55700 | 79600 | 0.3001 | 35,442 | 1375 | 0.2856 | |
| 110 | The University of Alabama | 58500 | 58500 | 0 | 35,621 | 1284 | 0.7117 | |
| 111 | University of Missouri-Columbia | 59200 | 61600 | 0.0389 | 25,141 | 1256 | 0.7613 | |
| 112 | University of California-Davis | 68300 | 69900 | 0.0229 | 31,695 | 1290 | 0.4435 |
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.