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 | Washington University in St Louis | 9300 | 102300 | 0.9091 | 8,220 | 1513 | 0.1206 | |
| 2 | University of Richmond | 9400 | 88400 | 0.8938 | 3,055 | 1484 | 0.222 | |
| 3 | Stephen F Austin State University | 10100 | 27800 | 0.6356 | 9,129 | 1075 | 0.9399 | |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 11700 | 27800 | 0.5771 | 20,885 | 1420 | 0.1534 | |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University | 11800 | 28600 | 0.5879 | 6,952 | 995 | 0.9075 | |
| 6 | Lamar University | 12400 | 22900 | 0.458 | 8,184 | 1050 | 0.8641 | |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 12700 | 19300 | 0.342 | 10,084 | 1055 | 0.8572 | |
| 8 | University of Michigan-Flint | 13000 | 46300 | 0.719 | 5,011 | 1109 | 0.7046 | |
| 9 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 13500 | 19400 | 0.304 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 9 | Trinity University | 13500 | 69600 | 0.8064 | 2,518 | 1423 | 0.2592 | |
| 11 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 11 | University of Delaware | 13600 | 34500 | 0.606 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 13 | Texas Woman's University | 14100 | 23200 | 0.3916 | 10,039 | 1035 | 0.9612 | |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 14100 | 19600 | 0.2805 | 10,632 | 1075 | 0.8859 | |
| 15 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 14200 | 22900 | 0.381 | 6,045 | 1193 | 0.8938 | |
| 16 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 11,348 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 17 | Central Michigan University | 14400 | 37800 | 0.6183 | 10,193 | 1095 | 0.8982 | |
| 17 | Dickinson State University | 14400 | 25000 | 0.4259 | 1,339 | 990 | 0.3702 | |
| 19 | Georgia Southwestern State University | 14700 | 27400 | 0.464 | 3,024 | 1000 | 0.7517 | |
| 20 | University of Central Oklahoma | 15500 | 28700 | 0.46 | 10,777 | 1075 | 0.7812 | |
| 21 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 29800 | 0.4782 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8609 | |
| 21 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15600 | 31000 | 0.4964 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 21 | Trinity Washington University | 15600 | 45900 | 0.6595 | 1,658 | 0 | 0.9952 | |
| 24 | Ball State University | 15700 | 22400 | 0.2995 | 15,189 | 1170 | 0.855 | |
| 24 | Western Michigan University | 15700 | 31200 | 0.4963 | 13,027 | 1115 | 0.846 | |
| 26 | Oakland University | 16000 | 28200 | 0.4329 | 12,587 | 1130 | 0.8784 | |
| 27 | Emporia State University | 16100 | 22900 | 0.2971 | 2,396 | 1075 | 0.9771 | |
| 27 | Portland State University | 16100 | 26100 | 0.3818 | 15,414 | 1094 | 0.9087 | |
| 29 | Grove City College | 16400 | 39700 | 0.5876 | 2,341 | 1266 | 0.7232 | |
| 29 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 16400 | 28200 | 0.4179 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 31 | Ferris State University | 17000 | 31000 | 0.4523 | 8,991 | 1015 | 0.9139 | |
| 31 | Sam Houston State University | 17000 | 27000 | 0.3705 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 33 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 17200 | 25700 | 0.3307 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 34 | Salem State University | 17500 | 28500 | 0.3859 | 4,867 | 1075 | 0.9588 | |
| 35 | Avila University | 17700 | 64100 | 0.7236 | 1,331 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 35 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 37 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | 17800 | 38700 | 0.5395 | 3,781 | 1100 | 0.7568 | |
| 38 | University of St Francis | 18200 | 57200 | 0.6811 | 1,343 | 1145 | 0.6529 | |
| 39 | Carlow University | 19500 | 57800 | 0.6627 | 1,355 | 1065 | 0.8695 | |
| 39 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | 19500 | 30400 | 0.3584 | 2,881 | 1040 | 0.8901 | |
| 41 | Illinois College | 19700 | 55200 | 0.6423 | 937 | 1059 | 0.7819 | |
| 42 | La Sierra University | 19800 | 65900 | 0.6992 | 1,226 | 1025 | 0.915 | |
| 42 | Wichita State University | 19800 | 29800 | 0.3372 | 13,313 | 1073 | 0.9395 | |
| 44 | Youngstown State University | 20000 | 34000 | 0.4118 | 9,400 | 1115 | 0.8445 | |
| 45 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 20100 | 32300 | 0.3775 | 15,375 | 1103 | 0.866 | |
| 46 | Lindenwood University | 20200 | 35800 | 0.4361 | 4,663 | 1209 | 0.5684 | |
| 47 | Bellevue University | 20300 | 36400 | 0.4434 | 11,037 | 0 | 0 | |
| 48 | Stetson University | 20700 | 79100 | 0.7387 | 2,349 | 1179 | 0.716 | |
| 48 | University of Dubuque | 20700 | 60700 | 0.6595 | 1,440 | 1090 | 0.8863 | |
| 50 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | 20800 | 57800 | 0.6408 | 1,932 | 1193 | 0.9278 | |
| 50 | Western Illinois University | 20800 | 31000 | 0.329 | 4,525 | 1015 | 0.7118 | |
| 52 | University of Memphis | 20900 | 29600 | 0.2942 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 52 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 20900 | 27600 | 0.2431 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8698 | |
| 52 | University of Northern Iowa | 20900 | 24000 | 0.1312 | 7,711 | 1129 | 0.9274 | |
| 55 | North Central College | 21100 | 63700 | 0.6692 | 2,454 | 1203 | 0.7733 | |
| 56 | Culver-Stockton College | 21300 | 50600 | 0.5789 | 861 | 1025 | 0.991 | |
| 56 | Northern Michigan University | 21300 | 33100 | 0.3565 | 6,684 | 1100 | 0.8402 | |
| 58 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 21500 | 48900 | 0.5599 | 5,692 | 1124 | 0.9508 | |
| 59 | Le Moyne College | 21900 | 58100 | 0.6226 | 2,529 | 1255 | 0.8298 | |
| 60 | Grand Valley State University | 22100 | 35900 | 0.3849 | 19,002 | 1084 | 0.8302 | |
| 61 | University of Illinois Chicago | 22200 | 30100 | 0.2629 | 22,495 | 1252 | 0.7735 | |
| 61 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.467 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 63 | Winona State University | 22300 | 29500 | 0.2455 | 5,317 | 1115 | 0.7549 | |
| 64 | Brenau University | 22800 | 51700 | 0.5587 | 1,273 | 1060 | 0.8778 | |
| 64 | Juniata College | 22800 | 73800 | 0.6909 | 1,242 | 1229 | 0.7891 | |
| 66 | Faulkner University | 23100 | 40600 | 0.4315 | 1,758 | 1025 | 0.7307 | |
| 66 | University of Southern Mississippi | 23100 | 23100 | 0 | 10,193 | 1181 | 0.9912 | |
| 68 | Concordia University-Chicago | 23200 | 54900 | 0.5769 | 1,368 | 1100 | 0.9279 | |
| 68 | Houghton University | 23200 | 44300 | 0.4763 | 1,162 | 1277 | 0.8866 | |
| 70 | Florida International University | 23700 | 23700 | 0 | 45,193 | 1175 | 0.5466 | |
| 71 | Saint Norbert College | 23800 | 63800 | 0.6267 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 72 | Calvin University | 23900 | 53500 | 0.5532 | 3,356 | 1222 | 0.7091 | |
| 73 | Indiana State University | 24200 | 32400 | 0.2532 | 6,224 | 1020 | 0.8077 | |
| 73 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | 24200 | 56000 | 0.568 | 1,359 | 1109 | 0.8415 | |
| 73 | Saint Ambrose University | 24200 | 55400 | 0.5628 | 1,939 | 1085 | 0.7733 | |
| 73 | Walsh University | 24200 | 46400 | 0.4786 | 1,523 | 1159 | 0.7074 | |
| 77 | Maryville College | 24500 | 58400 | 0.581 | 1,132 | 1167 | 0.6092 | |
| 77 | Park University | 24500 | 31300 | 0.2176 | 4,657 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 77 | Tennessee Wesleyan University | 24500 | 45300 | 0.4593 | 918 | 1075 | 0.6885 | |
| 80 | Lewis University | 24700 | 57700 | 0.5718 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7129 | |
| 81 | Temple University | 24800 | 36100 | 0.3132 | 21,457 | 1135 | 0.8041 | |
| 82 | Point Park University | 25200 | 57000 | 0.5582 | 2,337 | 1140 | 0.9691 | |
| 83 | Saint Leo University | 25400 | 50000 | 0.4918 | 7,516 | 1110 | 0.784 | |
| 84 | Tiffin University | 25600 | 48000 | 0.4671 | 2,842 | 980 | 0.8005 | |
| 85 | Michigan State University | 25800 | 28900 | 0.1089 | 41,234 | 1279 | 0.848 | |
| 86 | Westminster College | 26000 | 57600 | 0.5486 | 1,137 | 1149 | 0.9256 | |
| 87 | Dordt University | 26200 | 52500 | 0.5007 | 1,716 | 1205 | 0.6847 | |
| 87 | Iowa State University | 26200 | 42800 | 0.3881 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 89 | Columbia College | 26400 | 46900 | 0.4372 | 5,207 | 1145 | 0.4714 | |
| 90 | Geneva College | 26500 | 50300 | 0.4737 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 90 | University of Mount Union | 26500 | 50900 | 0.4799 | 2,207 | 1089 | 0.782 | |
| 92 | University of Idaho | 27000 | 45200 | 0.4023 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 92 | University of the Incarnate Word | 27000 | 61400 | 0.5604 | 4,638 | 1030 | 0.9814 | |
| 94 | University of Arizona | 27100 | 38100 | 0.2888 | 44,848 | 1233 | 0.8614 | |
| 95 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 27300 | 31100 | 0.1238 | 8,426 | 1235 | 0.8875 | |
| 95 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 27300 | 36500 | 0.2522 | 7,505 | 1073 | 0.9633 | |
| 97 | Cornell College | 27500 | 74800 | 0.6323 | 1,094 | 1243 | 0.799 | |
| 98 | Colorado Christian University | 28000 | 64000 | 0.5624 | 8,200 | 1110 | 0.9764 | |
| 98 | Thomas College | 28000 | 55800 | 0.4979 | 1,526 | 905 | 0.963 | |
| 100 | Lourdes University | 28200 | 40900 | 0.3116 | 759 | 1035 | 0.7413 | |
| 101 | Weber State University | 28300 | 33900 | 0.1651 | 31,672 | 0 | 0 | |
| 102 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | 28400 | 46000 | 0.3828 | 3,424 | 1209 | 0.7887 | |
| 103 | Roosevelt University | 28600 | 47600 | 0.4005 | 2,868 | 1049 | 0.9716 | |
| 103 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 32300 | 0.1145 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 105 | Wayland Baptist University | 28700 | 37300 | 0.2308 | 2,087 | 1010 | 0.5596 | |
| 106 | Regis University | 29200 | 67200 | 0.5651 | 2,689 | 1222 | 0.8646 | |
| 107 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 29400 | 56200 | 0.4776 | 765 | 1020 | 0.6617 | |
| 108 | William Penn University | 29600 | 48000 | 0.3841 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 109 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4089 | 722 | 1180 | 0.9425 | |
| 110 | University of Toledo | 29800 | 42000 | 0.2895 | 11,013 | 1229 | 0.9202 | |
| 111 | Kent State University at Kent | 30000 | 37500 | 0.2 | 20,841 | 1105 | 0.8634 | |
| 112 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 30800 | 77600 | 0.6029 | 5,044 | 1274 | 0.8883 | |
| 113 | University of North Dakota | 31100 | 33700 | 0.0785 | 11,033 | 1150 | 0.769 | |
| 114 | Baylor University | 31900 | 70300 | 0.546 | 14,915 | 1321 | 0.5128 | |
| 115 | McKendree University | 32000 | 52200 | 0.3872 | 1,757 | 1098 | 0.7172 | |
| 116 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 32200 | 40900 | 0.2127 | 4,047 | 1219 | 0.976 | |
| 117 | Central Baptist College | 32300 | 35900 | 0.1017 | 547 | 1035 | 0.6346 | |
| 117 | Marquette University | 32300 | 66500 | 0.5142 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 119 | Grand View University | 32400 | 58100 | 0.4416 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 120 | University of Scranton | 32500 | 78700 | 0.5874 | 3,613 | 1250 | 0.8123 | |
| 121 | State University of New York at Oswego | 33000 | 40200 | 0.1792 | 5,517 | 1180 | 0.8055 | |
| 122 | Auburn University at Montgomery | 33300 | 34800 | 0.0432 | 3,325 | 1085 | 0.9157 | |
| 122 | Tarleton State University | 33300 | 33300 | 0 | 15,254 | 1080 | 0.8955 | |
| 124 | Immaculata University | 33700 | 47900 | 0.2967 | 1,652 | 1245 | 0.8576 | |
| 125 | John Carroll University | 33800 | 73100 | 0.5379 | 2,339 | 1292 | 0.809 | |
| 125 | Rhode Island College | 33800 | 45100 | 0.2505 | 5,154 | 995 | 0.9182 | |
| 127 | Fisher College | 33900 | 65300 | 0.4807 | 1,536 | 961 | 0.7068 | |
| 128 | Meredith College | 34000 | 64200 | 0.4706 | 1,206 | 1237 | 0.7418 | |
| 128 | Thomas Jefferson University | 34000 | 68100 | 0.501 | 3,772 | 1255 | 0.8097 | |
| 130 | Ottawa University-Surprise | 34100 | 67500 | 0.4951 | 837 | 995 | 0.7815 | |
| 131 | DeSales University | 34200 | 68500 | 0.5006 | 2,166 | 1185 | 0.7709 | |
| 131 | University of St Thomas | 34200 | 70300 | 0.5138 | 6,270 | 1299 | 0.8536 | |
| 133 | Charleston Southern University | 34300 | 48400 | 0.2921 | 3,126 | 1060 | 0.9646 | |
| 134 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 34500 | 34500 | 0 | 10,202 | 1140 | 0.8109 | |
| 135 | Southern New Hampshire University | 34700 | 44300 | 0.2166 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 136 | Seton Hill University | 35200 | 65000 | 0.4584 | 1,501 | 1134 | 0.7953 | |
| 137 | Mount Mercy University | 35500 | 61200 | 0.4206 | 1,139 | 1110 | 0.8252 | |
| 138 | Baldwin Wallace University | 35600 | 66100 | 0.4616 | 2,862 | 1203 | 0.757 | |
| 139 | Davenport University | 36000 | 44400 | 0.1892 | 3,741 | 0 | 0.9784 | |
| 140 | Goldey-Beacom College | 37200 | 40200 | 0.0746 | 697 | 0 | 0.8451 | |
| 141 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | 37300 | 57000 | 0.3454 | 755 | 1163 | 0.6925 | |
| 142 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 38600 | 53100 | 0.2729 | 30,564 | 1302 | 0.416 | |
| 143 | Western New England University | 38700 | 69200 | 0.4409 | 2,616 | 1199 | 0.8348 | |
| 144 | Alvernia University | 38800 | 69400 | 0.4408 | 2,192 | 1195 | 0.5806 | |
| 144 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 38800 | 46600 | 0.1673 | 799 | 865 | 0.6974 | |
| 146 | Concordia University Texas | 39300 | 45800 | 0.1418 | 1,188 | 990 | 0.9125 | |
| 146 | Xavier University | 39300 | 68100 | 0.4232 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8641 | |
| 148 | Nichols College | 39600 | 59600 | 0.3359 | 1,163 | 1135 | 0.8084 | |
| 149 | University of Wyoming | 40100 | 45300 | 0.1137 | 8,130 | 1179 | 0.9688 | |
| 150 | Johnson & Wales University-Providence | 40500 | 66000 | 0.3866 | 3,908 | 1050 | 0.8841 | |
| 151 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 40600 | 48500 | 0.1628 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 152 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 40700 | 53600 | 0.2408 | 46,815 | 1378 | 0.6057 | |
| 152 | Pace University | 40700 | 74800 | 0.4558 | 8,038 | 1260 | 0.7592 | |
| 154 | Loyola University Chicago | 41000 | 70600 | 0.4192 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 155 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 41200 | 42300 | 0.026 | 11,959 | 1260 | 0.8818 | |
| 156 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | 41400 | 57000 | 0.2738 | 2,401 | 1209 | 0.782 | |
| 157 | Oglethorpe University | 41900 | 68600 | 0.3887 | 1,396 | 1216 | 0.8845 | |
| 157 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 41900 | 53200 | 0.2124 | 5,731 | 1174 | 0.9064 | |
| 159 | Anderson University | 42200 | 53600 | 0.2127 | 3,683 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 160 | University of Mount Olive | 42300 | 50400 | 0.1617 | 1,944 | 1075 | 0.7575 | |
| 161 | Bryant University | 42500 | 75900 | 0.4398 | 3,200 | 1265 | 0.6546 | |
| 162 | Merrimack College | 43500 | 78800 | 0.4474 | 4,102 | 1115 | 0.7002 | |
| 163 | Rutgers University-Camden | 44700 | 60700 | 0.2635 | 3,857 | 1168 | 0.6629 | |
| 164 | Quinnipiac University | 44800 | 79200 | 0.4343 | 6,557 | 1245 | 0.7215 | |
| 165 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 47100 | 59700 | 0.2117 | 37,985 | 1390 | 0.5815 | |
| 166 | Menlo College | 48600 | 86800 | 0.4397 | 764 | 1045 | 0.6847 | |
| 167 | Mercer University | 48900 | 63700 | 0.2324 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 168 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 53300 | 61000 | 0.127 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 169 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | 53400 | 63600 | 0.1597 | 1,204 | 1040 | 0.788 | |
| 170 | Rowan University | 53600 | 53600 | 0 | 16,100 | 1219 | 0.7766 | |
| 171 | Elon University | 56400 | 68900 | 0.1815 | 6,452 | 1215 | 0.6635 | |
| 172 | Miami University-Oxford | 57400 | 57400 | 0 | 16,816 | 1299 | 0.754 | |
| 173 | Mercyhurst University | 60900 | 68000 | 0.1044 | 2,274 | 1090 | 0.8102 | |
| 174 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 61000 | 63200 | 0.0348 | 40,684 | 1331 | 0.3915 | |
| 175 | St. John Fisher University | 62500 | 62500 | 0 | 2,571 | 1215 | 0.664 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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