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 Michigan-Flint | 5000 | 43700 | 0.8861 | 5,534 | 1079 | 0.6734 | |
| 2 | University of Richmond | 7000 | 92700 | 0.9241 | 3,052 | 1472 | 0.2224 | |
| 3 | Washington University in St. Louis | 7600 | 102300 | 0.9256 | 8,153 | 1512 | 0.1192 | |
| 4 | Trinity Washington University | 8500 | 63000 | 0.8648 | 1,658 | 0 | 0.9947 | |
| 5 | Portland State University | 9500 | 26100 | 0.6364 | 14,932 | 1174 | 0.8586 | |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 10200 | 41500 | 0.7543 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 7 | University of St Francis | 10700 | 83800 | 0.8723 | 1,416 | 1030 | 0.6528 | |
| 8 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 11100 | 32800 | 0.6612 | 46,627 | 1366 | 0.492 | |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 11600 | 27800 | 0.5819 | 22,007 | 1427 | 0.1672 | |
| 10 | Eastern Washington University | 11800 | 28600 | 0.5879 | 7,640 | 1045 | 0.8526 | |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 11800 | 19300 | 0.3886 | 10,743 | 1075 | 0.9598 | |
| 12 | University of West Florida | 12000 | 22200 | 0.459 | 9,971 | 1120 | 0.5822 | |
| 13 | Northern Illinois University | 13300 | 32100 | 0.5856 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 14 | Lewis University | 13400 | 57700 | 0.7675 | 4,914 | 1127 | 0.6916 | |
| 15 | Trinity University | 13500 | 67000 | 0.7982 | 2,423 | 1408 | 0.2488 | |
| 16 | University of North Alabama | 13700 | 28200 | 0.5145 | 8,078 | 1124 | 0.7054 | |
| 16 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 13700 | 61700 | 0.7774 | 39,193 | 1418 | 0.4081 | |
| 18 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 14000 | 25600 | 0.4523 | 10,396 | 1125 | 0.7162 | |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 14000 | 19600 | 0.2856 | 10,995 | 1090 | 0.7476 | |
| 20 | Youngstown State University | 14100 | 28400 | 0.5033 | 9,687 | 1120 | 0.9145 | |
| 21 | Salem State University | 14200 | 38300 | 0.6288 | 4,867 | 1075 | 0.9588 | |
| 21 | Texas Woman's University | 14200 | 23200 | 0.3873 | 9,962 | 1010 | 0.9658 | |
| 23 | Georgia Southwestern State University | 14300 | 54000 | 0.7354 | 3,024 | 1000 | 0.7517 | |
| 24 | University of Memphis | 14400 | 26400 | 0.4554 | 15,538 | 1080 | 0.7878 | |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 14600 | 23900 | 0.389 | 6,045 | 1193 | 0.8938 | |
| 26 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 14700 | 19400 | 0.2422 | 23,007 | 1281 | 0.6909 | |
| 27 | Dickinson State University | 14800 | 23400 | 0.3668 | 1,298 | 1025 | 0.5939 | |
| 27 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 14800 | 57100 | 0.7404 | 15,735 | 1069 | 0.8797 | |
| 29 | Stephen F Austin State University | 15100 | 23400 | 0.3543 | 9,905 | 1055 | 0.8339 | |
| 30 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 15200 | 26000 | 0.4149 | 21,138 | 1134 | 0.9039 | |
| 30 | Northern Michigan University | 15200 | 33100 | 0.5408 | 6,650 | 1100 | 0.8505 | |
| 32 | Avila University | 15400 | 81100 | 0.81 | 1,538 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 32 | Central Michigan University | 15400 | 38700 | 0.6019 | 10,238 | 1099 | 0.9104 | |
| 34 | Ursuline College | 15500 | 83000 | 0.8135 | 677 | 1115 | 0.7479 | |
| 35 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 38800 | 0.5992 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8613 | |
| 36 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 15900 | 24700 | 0.3557 | 8,329 | 1209 | 0.385 | |
| 37 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 16300 | 23400 | 0.3038 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 38 | Indiana State University | 16400 | 32400 | 0.494 | 6,352 | 1015 | 0.9157 | |
| 39 | Emporia State University | 16600 | 30900 | 0.463 | 2,396 | 1075 | 0.9771 | |
| 40 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 16900 | 26600 | 0.365 | 7,747 | 1073 | 0.9617 | |
| 41 | Sam Houston State University | 17000 | 27100 | 0.3726 | 17,822 | 1035 | 0.9372 | |
| 41 | Winona State University | 17000 | 23000 | 0.2596 | 5,317 | 1115 | 0.7549 | |
| 43 | Weber State University | 17100 | 20300 | 0.1579 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 44 | University of Miami | 17400 | 96300 | 0.8194 | 13,241 | 1408 | 0.1761 | |
| 45 | University of Arkansas | 17800 | 28500 | 0.3779 | 29,252 | 1179 | 0.7388 | |
| 46 | North Central College | 18200 | 64300 | 0.7168 | 2,567 | 1203 | 0.8377 | |
| 46 | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | 18200 | 37500 | 0.5147 | 3,758 | 0 | 0.7236 | |
| 48 | Bellevue University | 18300 | 41000 | 0.5537 | 11,037 | 0 | 1 | |
| 49 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 18700 | 48900 | 0.6172 | 5,274 | 1103 | 0.9513 | |
| 50 | Lindenwood University | 19300 | 36000 | 0.4645 | 4,422 | 1193 | 0.5996 | |
| 51 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 19500 | 30600 | 0.3626 | 7,425 | 1074 | 0.9147 | |
| 52 | Carlow University | 19700 | 53900 | 0.6343 | 2,303 | 1084 | 0.8768 | |
| 52 | Illinois College | 19700 | 55200 | 0.6438 | 1,008 | 1059 | 0.7494 | |
| 54 | State University of New York at Oswego | 19800 | 40200 | 0.5076 | 5,293 | 1179 | 0.7989 | |
| 55 | Iowa State University | 19900 | 24200 | 0.1788 | 26,346 | 1212 | 0.8793 | |
| 56 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | 20000 | 55300 | 0.6381 | 2,881 | 1040 | 0.89 | |
| 57 | Regis University | 20100 | 67400 | 0.7017 | 2,505 | 1225 | 0.8461 | |
| 58 | Grove City College | 20500 | 39700 | 0.4842 | 2,247 | 1248 | 0.667 | |
| 58 | Lake Erie College | 20500 | 81700 | 0.7492 | 941 | 1075 | 0.7036 | |
| 60 | Saint Leo University | 20600 | 50000 | 0.5878 | 7,519 | 1110 | 0.7877 | |
| 60 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | 20600 | 57800 | 0.6432 | 1,109 | 1175 | 0.9088 | |
| 60 | University of Wyoming | 20600 | 27900 | 0.2642 | 8,138 | 1163 | 0.9695 | |
| 63 | La Sierra University | 20800 | 51200 | 0.5943 | 1,266 | 1124 | 0.9069 | |
| 64 | Ferris State University | 21000 | 31000 | 0.3231 | 8,980 | 1015 | 0.8237 | |
| 64 | Tarleton State University | 21000 | 23000 | 0.087 | 17,556 | 1090 | 0.5386 | |
| 66 | Daemen University | 21300 | 56700 | 0.6241 | 1,656 | 1050 | 0.7375 | |
| 67 | Western Illinois University | 21400 | 31800 | 0.3257 | 4,525 | 1000 | 0.7118 | |
| 68 | University of Northern Iowa | 21500 | 24800 | 0.1327 | 7,800 | 1115 | 0.9313 | |
| 69 | Grand Canyon University | 21700 | 34000 | 0.3613 | 75,936 | 1075 | 0.7891 | |
| 70 | Stetson University | 21800 | 81100 | 0.7315 | 2,414 | 1089 | 0.7167 | |
| 71 | Grand Valley State University | 21900 | 36200 | 0.3949 | 19,154 | 1074 | 0.9271 | |
| 72 | University of the Incarnate Word | 22000 | 58000 | 0.6205 | 4,651 | 1010 | 0.9947 | |
| 73 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4671 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 74 | Faulkner University | 22500 | 60900 | 0.631 | 1,758 | 1025 | 0.7307 | |
| 74 | Meredith College | 22500 | 67400 | 0.666 | 1,212 | 1239 | 0.7506 | |
| 74 | Park University | 22500 | 31300 | 0.2816 | 4,657 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 77 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | 22600 | 56000 | 0.5966 | 1,592 | 1109 | 0.8415 | |
| 78 | Houghton University | 22700 | 51300 | 0.5576 | 958 | 1277 | 0.89 | |
| 79 | University of Southern Mississippi | 22800 | 23100 | 0.013 | 10,371 | 1181 | 0.926 | |
| 80 | Calvin University | 22900 | 55500 | 0.5871 | 3,359 | 1232 | 0.6791 | |
| 81 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | 23200 | 44800 | 0.4818 | 3,604 | 1069 | 0.9761 | |
| 82 | Point Park University | 23300 | 54300 | 0.5707 | 2,498 | 1144 | 0.984 | |
| 83 | Lamar University | 23500 | 37700 | 0.3765 | 8,387 | 1040 | 0.8353 | |
| 84 | Columbia College | 23600 | 40200 | 0.413 | 876 | 1025 | 0.8878 | |
| 85 | Florida International University | 23700 | 23700 | 0 | 46,249 | 1180 | 0.6085 | |
| 86 | Campbellsville University | 24200 | 45100 | 0.4631 | 6,848 | 1075 | 0.7974 | |
| 87 | Maryville College | 24400 | 58400 | 0.5833 | 1,144 | 1140 | 0.6885 | |
| 88 | Tennessee Wesleyan University | 24500 | 45300 | 0.4593 | 918 | 1075 | 0.6885 | |
| 89 | Temple University | 24800 | 36100 | 0.3132 | 21,031 | 1172 | 0.8622 | |
| 90 | Tiffin University | 25000 | 48000 | 0.4796 | 2,842 | 985 | 0.8007 | |
| 91 | Kent State University at Kent | 25200 | 28400 | 0.1155 | 21,144 | 1104 | 0.7603 | |
| 92 | Le Moyne College | 25300 | 58200 | 0.5656 | 2,494 | 1250 | 0.6782 | |
| 93 | Ball State University | 25400 | 25400 | 0 | 15,950 | 1185 | 0.8625 | |
| 94 | Westminster College | 25800 | 57600 | 0.552 | 1,110 | 1145 | 0.9167 | |
| 95 | Dordt University | 26000 | 52500 | 0.5045 | 1,716 | 1205 | 0.6847 | |
| 96 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 26100 | 49600 | 0.4735 | 4,047 | 1219 | 0.976 | |
| 97 | Saint Norbert College | 26200 | 63000 | 0.5837 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 98 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 26300 | 43400 | 0.3937 | 11,959 | 1260 | 0.8818 | |
| 99 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4754 | 1,299 | 1167 | 0.9556 | |
| 100 | Oakland University | 26700 | 39600 | 0.3258 | 12,770 | 1039 | 0.8897 | |
| 100 | Wayland Baptist University | 26700 | 36500 | 0.2683 | 1,894 | 1045 | 0.5477 | |
| 102 | University of Mount Union | 27100 | 56300 | 0.5183 | 2,207 | 1089 | 0.782 | |
| 102 | William Peace University | 27100 | 50200 | 0.461 | 778 | 1150 | 0.8633 | |
| 104 | Cornell College | 27400 | 74800 | 0.6336 | 1,094 | 1243 | 0.799 | |
| 105 | University of Central Oklahoma | 27600 | 33800 | 0.1833 | 10,777 | 1075 | 0.7812 | |
| 106 | Thomas College | 27900 | 55800 | 0.5003 | 1,526 | 905 | 0.963 | |
| 107 | Marquette University | 28000 | 63800 | 0.5612 | 8,206 | 1304 | 0.7802 | |
| 108 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 28400 | 69700 | 0.5925 | 765 | 1020 | 0.6617 | |
| 109 | Roosevelt University | 28500 | 47600 | 0.4017 | 2,868 | 1049 | 0.9716 | |
| 110 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 36500 | 0.2167 | 11,691 | 1074 | 0.7722 | |
| 111 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 29000 | 32000 | 0.0949 | 8,706 | 1230 | 0.8906 | |
| 112 | Alvernia University | 29100 | 69400 | 0.5805 | 2,192 | 1195 | 0.5806 | |
| 113 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 29300 | 112100 | 0.7385 | 4,999 | 1258 | 0.9296 | |
| 114 | William Penn University | 29400 | 48000 | 0.3869 | 1,366 | 1035 | 0.7311 | |
| 115 | Southern Adventist University | 29700 | 46900 | 0.3666 | 2,946 | 1142 | 0.7163 | |
| 116 | Thomas Jefferson University | 29800 | 70000 | 0.5738 | 3,772 | 1255 | 0.8098 | |
| 117 | University of Toledo | 30700 | 42000 | 0.2689 | 10,726 | 1134 | 0.8889 | |
| 118 | Brenau University | 30800 | 53000 | 0.4193 | 1,336 | 1105 | 0.9317 | |
| 119 | University of North Dakota | 31000 | 33700 | 0.0825 | 11,837 | 1189 | 0.8157 | |
| 120 | Ottawa University-Surprise | 31200 | 89100 | 0.6496 | 837 | 995 | 0.7815 | |
| 120 | Western Michigan University | 31200 | 31200 | 0 | 13,714 | 1089 | 0.9121 | |
| 122 | DeSales University | 31500 | 100800 | 0.6874 | 2,172 | 1185 | 0.7709 | |
| 123 | Friends University | 31600 | 58000 | 0.4563 | 1,084 | 1020 | 0.5174 | |
| 124 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31800 | 50000 | 0.3653 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 125 | Elon University | 32000 | 69900 | 0.5426 | 6,191 | 1283 | 0.6326 | |
| 126 | Anderson University | 32300 | 54700 | 0.4098 | 3,724 | 1209 | 0.5491 | |
| 126 | Grand View University | 32300 | 58100 | 0.4439 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 128 | University of Scranton | 32400 | 78700 | 0.5879 | 3,689 | 1245 | 0.8006 | |
| 129 | McKendree University | 32500 | 52900 | 0.3847 | 1,757 | 1098 | 0.7172 | |
| 130 | University of Illinois Chicago | 32700 | 51300 | 0.3625 | 24,260 | 1174 | 0.7576 | |
| 131 | Wichita State University | 32800 | 42200 | 0.2226 | 14,906 | 1065 | 0.7224 | |
| 132 | Seton Hill University | 33100 | 63700 | 0.4805 | 1,502 | 1134 | 0.7953 | |
| 133 | Rutgers University-Camden | 33300 | 40100 | 0.1696 | 3,857 | 1168 | 0.6629 | |
| 134 | Adrian College | 33500 | 70200 | 0.5227 | 1,675 | 1045 | 0.7257 | |
| 134 | Baylor University | 33500 | 70400 | 0.5244 | 14,183 | 1302 | 0.5222 | |
| 136 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 33600 | 38200 | 0.1199 | 42,565 | 1339 | 0.7887 | |
| 137 | Siena University | 33700 | 66300 | 0.4917 | 3,149 | 1301 | 0.8464 | |
| 138 | Fisher College | 33800 | 65300 | 0.4818 | 1,544 | 961 | 0.8263 | |
| 138 | Pace University | 33800 | 75700 | 0.5538 | 5,520 | 1273 | 0.7827 | |
| 140 | Charleston Southern University | 34200 | 48400 | 0.2949 | 3,126 | 1060 | 0.9646 | |
| 141 | University of Idaho | 34800 | 48700 | 0.2854 | 9,656 | 1104 | 0.7476 | |
| 142 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 35000 | 46400 | 0.2454 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 143 | Southern New Hampshire University | 35300 | 64600 | 0.4536 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 144 | Mount Mercy University | 35400 | 61200 | 0.4216 | 1,139 | 1110 | 0.8248 | |
| 145 | John Carroll University | 35600 | 73100 | 0.5133 | 2,408 | 1285 | 0.7732 | |
| 146 | Western New England University | 35700 | 70600 | 0.4941 | 2,616 | 1199 | 0.8348 | |
| 147 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 36400 | 54000 | 0.326 | 32,041 | 1324 | 0.4358 | |
| 148 | Rowan University | 36500 | 53600 | 0.3189 | 17,157 | 1204 | 0.7654 | |
| 149 | Davenport University | 37000 | 44400 | 0.1665 | 12,066 | 0 | 0.9781 | |
| 150 | Goldey-Beacom College | 37100 | 40200 | 0.0779 | 701 | 0 | 0.8451 | |
| 151 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | 37200 | 53600 | 0.3061 | 755 | 1163 | 0.6925 | |
| 152 | University of St Thomas | 38000 | 74800 | 0.492 | 6,270 | 1299 | 0.8548 | |
| 153 | University of Dubuque | 38200 | 65900 | 0.4213 | 1,395 | 1074 | 0.8731 | |
| 154 | Reinhardt University | 38700 | 49300 | 0.2138 | 1,129 | 1070 | 0.6154 | |
| 155 | Loyola University Chicago | 38800 | 73100 | 0.469 | 12,640 | 1262 | 0.751 | |
| 156 | Baldwin Wallace University | 39000 | 69800 | 0.4415 | 2,532 | 1210 | 0.7739 | |
| 157 | Nichols College | 39600 | 59600 | 0.3359 | 1,163 | 1135 | 0.8084 | |
| 158 | Immaculata University | 40000 | 48600 | 0.177 | 1,889 | 1264 | 0.8656 | |
| 158 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 40000 | 59200 | 0.3241 | 5,986 | 1110 | 0.8916 | |
| 160 | Johnson & Wales University-Providence | 40400 | 66000 | 0.3875 | 3,908 | 1050 | 0.8844 | |
| 161 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | 41200 | 58700 | 0.2983 | 2,401 | 1209 | 0.7819 | |
| 162 | Oglethorpe University | 41800 | 68600 | 0.3907 | 1,338 | 1205 | 0.898 | |
| 163 | University of Mount Olive | 42100 | 50400 | 0.1644 | 1,944 | 1075 | 0.7575 | |
| 164 | Bryant University | 42500 | 78500 | 0.4587 | 3,511 | 1255 | 0.6484 | |
| 165 | Auburn University at Montgomery | 42800 | 47200 | 0.0933 | 3,650 | 1070 | 0.9854 | |
| 166 | Central Christian College of Kansas | 42900 | 45200 | 0.0506 | 454 | 1020 | 0.528 | |
| 167 | Florida Institute of Technology | 43500 | 68700 | 0.3678 | 4,279 | 1234 | 0.5796 | |
| 167 | Merrimack College | 43500 | 78800 | 0.4478 | 4,123 | 1124 | 0.6927 | |
| 169 | Colorado Christian University | 45600 | 63600 | 0.2832 | 8,200 | 1110 | 1 | |
| 170 | Mercer University | 45700 | 65400 | 0.3014 | 4,719 | 1263 | 0.643 | |
| 171 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 47400 | 61500 | 0.229 | 37,985 | 1390 | 0.5815 | |
| 172 | University of Delaware | 47700 | 62400 | 0.2365 | 19,287 | 1302 | 0.6924 | |
| 173 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 49100 | 67600 | 0.2737 | 40,996 | 1399 | 0.4175 | |
| 174 | Michigan State University | 49200 | 56200 | 0.1245 | 41,415 | 1212 | 0.8324 | |
| 175 | Quinnipiac University | 49300 | 79700 | 0.3816 | 6,610 | 1250 | 0.7031 | |
| 176 | Menlo College | 52700 | 91000 | 0.4209 | 764 | 1045 | 0.6847 | |
| 177 | Tulane University of Louisiana | 54100 | 96100 | 0.4369 | 6,839 | 1469 | 0.1446 | |
| 178 | Miami University-Oxford | 57400 | 57400 | 0 | 16,405 | 1284 | 0.74 | |
| 179 | Mercyhurst University | 61200 | 68000 | 0.1 | 2,214 | 1203 | 0.775 |
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.