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 | Northwest Indian College | 5300 | 16400 | 0.6766 | 636 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Grace Christian University | 11100 | 42100 | 0.737 | 928 | 1075 | 0.9916 | |
| 3 | Gordon State College | 12300 | 25100 | 0.5101 | 3,179 | 1015 | 0.859 | |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 5 | East Texas A&M University | 13200 | 30000 | 0.5601 | 9,992 | 1045 | 0.9224 | |
| 6 | Arkansas Baptist College | 13500 | 24000 | 0.437 | 342 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 8 | Lincoln University | 14200 | 32600 | 0.5638 | 1,545 | 890 | 0.6572 | |
| 9 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 11,348 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 10 | Stephen F Austin State University | 14700 | 23400 | 0.3714 | 9,129 | 1075 | 0.9399 | |
| 11 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 14800 | 31600 | 0.5323 | 6,907 | 1060 | 0.974 | |
| 12 | Northeastern University | 15000 | 89900 | 0.8331 | 17,432 | 1490 | 0.0522 | |
| 12 | Urshan University | 15000 | 19600 | 0.2352 | 474 | 990 | 0.8378 | |
| 14 | Troy University | 15400 | 26700 | 0.4231 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 15 | Valley City State University | 15900 | 23800 | 0.3303 | 1,651 | 1055 | 0.9907 | |
| 16 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 16000 | 25000 | 0.3601 | 2,953 | 975 | 0.8445 | |
| 17 | Dakota Wesleyan University | 16200 | 46400 | 0.6514 | 771 | 1085 | 0.7338 | |
| 18 | Waynesburg University | 16600 | 45000 | 0.6306 | 1,030 | 1093 | 0.8982 | |
| 19 | Lindsey Wilson College | 17300 | 47100 | 0.633 | 1,722 | 0 | 0 | |
| 20 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 17600 | 27400 | 0.3575 | 27,132 | 1099 | 0.9617 | |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 17800 | 22200 | 0.1986 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.865 | |
| 22 | Bethel University | 18000 | 35300 | 0.4896 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 23 | Northeastern University Oakland | 18100 | 90000 | 0.7991 | 464 | 1469 | 0.1665 | |
| 24 | Central Washington University | 18400 | 22700 | 0.1892 | 10,317 | 1045 | 0.9062 | |
| 24 | Southwestern Christian University | 18400 | 26800 | 0.3139 | 380 | 975 | 0.6206 | |
| 26 | California State University-Fullerton | 18500 | 20600 | 0.1023 | 38,760 | 1090 | 0.9052 | |
| 27 | Simpson College | 18600 | 60500 | 0.6923 | 1,235 | 1430 | 0.8622 | |
| 27 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.4281 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 29 | Quincy University | 18900 | 57900 | 0.6733 | 1,072 | 1115 | 0.5093 | |
| 30 | Carson-Newman University | 19500 | 51900 | 0.6245 | 1,596 | 1110 | 0.9045 | |
| 31 | Lee University | 19600 | 37400 | 0.4762 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 31 | Olivet Nazarene University | 19600 | 61600 | 0.6823 | 2,711 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 33 | Bethel University | 19800 | 54500 | 0.6368 | 1,065 | 1030 | 0.9766 | |
| 34 | Bellevue University | 20200 | 36400 | 0.4449 | 11,037 | 0 | 0 | |
| 35 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20600 | 23200 | 0.1121 | 20,444 | 1209 | 0.8499 | |
| 36 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 20900 | 24900 | 0.1606 | 5,823 | 1115 | 0.8619 | |
| 37 | Anna Maria College | 21100 | 54200 | 0.611 | 916 | 885 | 0.503 | |
| 38 | East Central University | 21800 | 36200 | 0.3976 | 2,644 | 1055 | 0.5815 | |
| 39 | Texas Southern University | 22100 | 25500 | 0.1335 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 40 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.467 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 41 | Nelson University | 22300 | 55500 | 0.5982 | 1,479 | 990 | 0.8902 | |
| 42 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 22400 | 53000 | 0.5768 | 1,472 | 1075 | 0.8459 | |
| 43 | Buena Vista University | 22500 | 59100 | 0.6191 | 1,436 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 44 | Murray State University | 23000 | 27600 | 0.1671 | 7,851 | 1115 | 0.8568 | |
| 44 | University of the Cumberlands | 23000 | 26400 | 0.1272 | 7,612 | 1025 | 0.9881 | |
| 46 | East Tennessee State University | 23500 | 30600 | 0.2318 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 46 | North Central University | 23500 | 43900 | 0.4649 | 759 | 1075 | 0.9898 | |
| 46 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23500 | 45800 | 0.4873 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 49 | Midland University | 23800 | 65300 | 0.6355 | 1,309 | 1045 | 0.6612 | |
| 49 | Saint Norbert College | 23800 | 63800 | 0.6267 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 51 | Fitchburg State University | 24100 | 33700 | 0.2849 | 3,027 | 1145 | 0.8693 | |
| 52 | Judson University | 24200 | 49100 | 0.5063 | 718 | 1015 | 0.4759 | |
| 53 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24300 | 55200 | 0.5606 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 54 | Calumet College of Saint Joseph | 24500 | 41500 | 0.41 | 530 | 895 | 0.4 | |
| 55 | Elmira College | 24800 | 60600 | 0.5907 | 745 | 1250 | 0.7696 | |
| 56 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 25100 | 31900 | 0.2132 | 981 | 1140 | 0.7493 | |
| 57 | Doane University | 25300 | 71000 | 0.644 | 1,315 | 1125 | 0.9801 | |
| 57 | Saint Leo University | 25300 | 50000 | 0.4938 | 7,516 | 1110 | 0.784 | |
| 59 | Shorter University | 25700 | 36500 | 0.2955 | 1,203 | 1110 | 0.9646 | |
| 60 | Columbia College | 26400 | 46900 | 0.4371 | 5,207 | 1145 | 0.4714 | |
| 61 | Geneva College | 26500 | 50300 | 0.4728 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 62 | William Woods University | 26900 | 58400 | 0.539 | 1,342 | 1140 | 0.7096 | |
| 62 | Wingate University | 26900 | 65000 | 0.5864 | 2,673 | 1100 | 0.9113 | |
| 64 | University of Arizona | 27100 | 38100 | 0.2888 | 44,848 | 1233 | 0.8614 | |
| 65 | Kennesaw State University | 27400 | 27400 | 0 | 42,760 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 65 | University of North Georgia | 27400 | 38600 | 0.2905 | 18,322 | 1100 | 0.6794 | |
| 67 | Chestnut Hill College | 28100 | 60100 | 0.5323 | 868 | 995 | 0.7446 | |
| 68 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3222 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 68 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 28300 | 48800 | 0.4197 | 1,793 | 1174 | 0.5589 | |
| 70 | Wayland Baptist University | 28700 | 37300 | 0.2308 | 2,087 | 1010 | 0.5596 | |
| 71 | New England College | 28800 | 65800 | 0.5624 | 1,032 | 930 | 0.9213 | |
| 72 | University of North Texas | 28900 | 37400 | 0.2271 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 73 | William Penn University | 29600 | 48000 | 0.3832 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 74 | Hilbert College | 29900 | 57100 | 0.4764 | 931 | 1080 | 0.972 | |
| 75 | Mercy University | 30100 | 44500 | 0.3237 | 6,774 | 1135 | 0.8584 | |
| 76 | Mount Saint Mary College | 31400 | 68600 | 0.5423 | 2,141 | 1153 | 0.8888 | |
| 77 | Southern Wesleyan University | 31500 | 47100 | 0.331 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 78 | Columbia International University | 31700 | 44800 | 0.2926 | 965 | 1079 | 0.9447 | |
| 78 | Missouri Baptist University | 31700 | 53800 | 0.4107 | 4,958 | 843 | 0.686 | |
| 80 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31900 | 50000 | 0.3617 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 81 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 32000 | 45700 | 0.3 | 7,062 | 965 | 0.928 | |
| 82 | Grand View University | 32500 | 58100 | 0.4408 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 82 | University of Scranton | 32500 | 78700 | 0.5869 | 3,613 | 1250 | 0.8123 | |
| 84 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 33100 | 45300 | 0.2696 | 4,526 | 0 | 0 | |
| 85 | Liberty University | 33200 | 44600 | 0.2556 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 86 | Lander University | 33400 | 37700 | 0.1142 | 3,776 | 1055 | 0.8131 | |
| 87 | California Baptist University | 33600 | 65600 | 0.4878 | 8,417 | 1070 | 0.8488 | |
| 87 | Emmanuel College | 33600 | 71400 | 0.5294 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 89 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 55300 | 0.3907 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 89 | George Washington University | 33700 | 81800 | 0.5881 | 11,677 | 1430 | 0.4709 | |
| 89 | Nova Southeastern University | 33700 | 56100 | 0.3992 | 7,311 | 1165 | 0.7321 | |
| 89 | Touro University | 33700 | 42000 | 0.1974 | 4,872 | 1322 | 0.6083 | |
| 89 | University of Bridgeport | 33700 | 60500 | 0.4431 | 1,570 | 1000 | 0.8302 | |
| 94 | Franklin Pierce University | 33800 | 68300 | 0.5048 | 997 | 1174 | 0.9347 | |
| 95 | Fisher College | 33900 | 65300 | 0.4803 | 1,536 | 961 | 0.7068 | |
| 96 | LeTourneau University | 34000 | 54800 | 0.3798 | 3,187 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 96 | Meredith College | 34000 | 64200 | 0.4706 | 1,206 | 1237 | 0.7418 | |
| 98 | Ottawa University-Surprise | 34100 | 67500 | 0.4951 | 837 | 995 | 0.7815 | |
| 99 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 10,172 | 1110 | 0.5298 | |
| 99 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 34400 | 41600 | 0.1731 | 9,302 | 1125 | 0.9735 | |
| 101 | Washburn University | 34600 | 38400 | 0.0989 | 5,331 | 1095 | 0.9551 | |
| 102 | Southern New Hampshire University | 34700 | 44300 | 0.2166 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 102 | University of Oregon | 34700 | 40200 | 0.1372 | 20,622 | 1250 | 0.883 | |
| 104 | University of South Florida | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 105 | University of Northern Colorado | 36200 | 39100 | 0.0742 | 6,480 | 1085 | 0.8585 | |
| 106 | Lesley University | 36800 | 54700 | 0.3274 | 1,229 | 1115 | 0.9687 | |
| 107 | Bluefield University | 37200 | 43200 | 0.1389 | 627 | 995 | 0.5931 | |
| 107 | Hardin-Simmons University | 37200 | 49700 | 0.2514 | 1,291 | 1110 | 0.9 | |
| 109 | Goldey-Beacom College | 37300 | 40200 | 0.0734 | 697 | 0 | 0.8451 | |
| 110 | Queens University of Charlotte | 38100 | 68200 | 0.4411 | 1,225 | 1208 | 0.6208 | |
| 111 | Loyola University Chicago | 41000 | 70600 | 0.4192 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 111 | Ohio Christian University | 41000 | 43100 | 0.0488 | 1,288 | 890 | 0.3797 | |
| 113 | Montreat College | 42000 | 58100 | 0.2773 | 781 | 1164 | 0.692 | |
| 113 | Western Washington University | 42000 | 51500 | 0.1846 | 13,752 | 1272 | 0.9325 | |
| 115 | Anderson University | 42200 | 53600 | 0.2127 | 3,683 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 116 | University of Mount Olive | 42300 | 50400 | 0.1608 | 1,944 | 1075 | 0.7575 | |
| 117 | Central Christian College of Kansas | 43100 | 45200 | 0.0466 | 454 | 1020 | 0.5271 | |
| 118 | Spelman College | 44100 | 49200 | 0.1037 | 3,417 | 1218 | 0.2487 | |
| 119 | Lees-McRae College | 44600 | 58700 | 0.2402 | 873 | 1140 | 0.7678 | |
| 120 | Mercer University | 45300 | 65400 | 0.3078 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 121 | Towson University | 45500 | 46400 | 0.0194 | 16,264 | 1098 | 0.8197 | |
| 122 | University of Delaware | 48400 | 61300 | 0.211 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 123 | Beacon College | 48800 | 81800 | 0.4033 | 531 | 0 | 0.4347 | |
| 124 | Elon University | 56400 | 68900 | 0.1815 | 6,452 | 1215 | 0.6635 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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