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 | Northeastern University Professional Programs | 3700 | 53000 | 0.9299 | 2,525 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Northwest Indian College | 10600 | 15500 | 0.3167 | 696 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5744 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 4 | Grace Christian University | 12600 | 30700 | 0.5898 | 891 | 995 | 0.9931 | |
| 5 | Arkansas Baptist College | 13700 | 24400 | 0.4385 | 373 | 0 | 0.5774 | |
| 5 | University of South Florida | 13700 | 17100 | 0.1987 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 7 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 13800 | 25000 | 0.4483 | 3,018 | 920 | 0.9386 | |
| 7 | Western Washington University | 13800 | 31600 | 0.5637 | 13,752 | 1218 | 0.9325 | |
| 9 | East Central University | 14100 | 18500 | 0.2382 | 2,644 | 1055 | 0.5815 | |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14500 | 41100 | 0.6478 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 11 | Urshan College | 14700 | 20700 | 0.2897 | 514 | 1040 | 0.8387 | |
| 12 | University of North Texas | 14900 | 25400 | 0.4141 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 13 | Lindsey Wilson College | 15300 | 47600 | 0.6779 | 1,738 | 1035 | 0 | |
| 14 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15400 | 28100 | 0.452 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 15 | Northeastern University | 16100 | 89900 | 0.8213 | 22,695 | 1490 | 0.0522 | |
| 15 | University of Arizona | 16100 | 30900 | 0.4797 | 45,025 | 1212 | 0.8614 | |
| 17 | Waynesburg University | 16700 | 45000 | 0.6299 | 1,088 | 1099 | 0.9169 | |
| 18 | Central Washington University | 17100 | 22700 | 0.2464 | 10,033 | 1060 | 0.9061 | |
| 19 | University of Mary | 17700 | 32600 | 0.4576 | 2,650 | 1189 | 0.7825 | |
| 20 | Simpson College | 18400 | 59400 | 0.6904 | 1,140 | 1430 | 0.8888 | |
| 21 | Quincy University | 18500 | 63000 | 0.7067 | 1,072 | 1115 | 0.5093 | |
| 22 | Texas Southern University | 19000 | 42400 | 0.5514 | 6,619 | 920 | 0.9335 | |
| 23 | Gallaudet University | 19200 | 44200 | 0.565 | 919 | 875 | 0.6094 | |
| 23 | Lincoln University | 19200 | 36300 | 0.4716 | 1,545 | 890 | 0.6572 | |
| 25 | Gordon State College | 19900 | 24900 | 0.2007 | 3,129 | 950 | 0.8678 | |
| 26 | Carson-Newman University | 20100 | 51700 | 0.6111 | 1,606 | 1110 | 0.9045 | |
| 27 | Southwestern Christian University | 20600 | 26600 | 0.2254 | 351 | 930 | 0.8034 | |
| 28 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | 20700 | 57800 | 0.6418 | 1,083 | 1205 | 0.9278 | |
| 29 | Wayland Baptist University | 20900 | 37300 | 0.4401 | 2,087 | 925 | 0.5596 | |
| 30 | Anna Maria College | 21900 | 54200 | 0.5964 | 995 | 985 | 0.896 | |
| 30 | University of the Cumberlands | 21900 | 26400 | 0.1689 | 6,091 | 1110 | 0.7139 | |
| 32 | Canisius University | 22000 | 53200 | 0.5861 | 1,724 | 1129 | 0.7224 | |
| 33 | Grand View University | 22100 | 52500 | 0.5778 | 1,483 | 1035 | 0.9843 | |
| 33 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 22100 | 22200 | 0.0045 | 11,874 | 1082 | 0.8377 | |
| 35 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4666 | 2,504 | 1045 | 0.9338 | |
| 36 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 22300 | 54400 | 0.5902 | 1,778 | 1115 | 0.9519 | |
| 37 | Buena Vista University | 22400 | 59100 | 0.6203 | 810 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 38 | Saint Norbert College | 22600 | 62300 | 0.6373 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 39 | Murray State University | 22900 | 27600 | 0.1707 | 8,281 | 1124 | 0.8568 | |
| 40 | Bethel University | 23300 | 49200 | 0.5264 | 1,107 | 1029 | 0.9868 | |
| 41 | Saint Leo University | 23400 | 50000 | 0.5318 | 7,603 | 1085 | 0.721 | |
| 42 | Bellevue University | 23500 | 25700 | 0.0858 | 11,096 | 0 | 0.995 | |
| 42 | Syracuse University | 23500 | 83100 | 0.7172 | 15,958 | 1363 | 0.4611 | |
| 44 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 23800 | 24500 | 0.0285 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 45 | Malone University | 23900 | 55800 | 0.5717 | 992 | 1075 | 0.7586 | |
| 45 | William Woods University | 23900 | 60700 | 0.6064 | 1,097 | 1140 | 0.7449 | |
| 47 | Dominican University | 24000 | 56000 | 0.5708 | 2,690 | 1035 | 0.9032 | |
| 47 | Fontbonne University | 24000 | 50200 | 0.5221 | 650 | 1090 | 0.9503 | |
| 49 | Calumet College of Saint Joseph | 24200 | 42000 | 0.4236 | 560 | 915 | 0.5728 | |
| 49 | Judson University | 24200 | 49100 | 0.5076 | 793 | 1049 | 0.624 | |
| 49 | Meredith College | 24200 | 65900 | 0.6327 | 1,206 | 1237 | 0.7418 | |
| 49 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24200 | 55200 | 0.5617 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 53 | Elmira College | 24700 | 50000 | 0.5063 | 745 | 1250 | 0.7696 | |
| 53 | Midland University | 24700 | 63000 | 0.6076 | 1,333 | 1079 | 0.6692 | |
| 55 | Touro University | 25000 | 60200 | 0.5846 | 5,098 | 1366 | 0.6196 | |
| 56 | Westminster College | 25100 | 53800 | 0.5339 | 593 | 1160 | 0.7758 | |
| 57 | California State University-Fullerton | 25500 | 41400 | 0.3841 | 38,597 | 0 | 0.9052 | |
| 57 | Texas A&M University-Commerce | 25500 | 37400 | 0.3186 | 9,666 | 1040 | 0.7498 | |
| 59 | Shorter University | 25700 | 36500 | 0.2952 | 1,322 | 1090 | 0.9693 | |
| 60 | Bethel University | 25900 | 35300 | 0.2667 | 2,719 | 1171 | 0.9717 | |
| 61 | Doane University | 26000 | 62800 | 0.5861 | 1,323 | 1125 | 0.9801 | |
| 61 | Fitchburg State University | 26000 | 31300 | 0.1694 | 3,027 | 1150 | 0.8693 | |
| 61 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 26000 | 34600 | 0.2485 | 4,264 | 1130 | 0.7423 | |
| 61 | Valley City State University | 26000 | 28200 | 0.0781 | 1,651 | 1055 | 0.9907 | |
| 65 | North Central University | 26100 | 43800 | 0.4039 | 865 | 1075 | 0.9082 | |
| 66 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 26200 | 31800 | 0.1762 | 27,082 | 1099 | 0.8459 | |
| 66 | Warren Wilson College | 26200 | 57000 | 0.5399 | 742 | 1289 | 0.7771 | |
| 68 | Earlham College | 26400 | 75800 | 0.6521 | 696 | 1233 | 0.7311 | |
| 68 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4748 | 1,147 | 1110 | 0.8035 | |
| 70 | Wingate University | 26800 | 65000 | 0.5879 | 2,673 | 1100 | 0.9113 | |
| 71 | Columbia College | 26900 | 41300 | 0.349 | 876 | 1025 | 0.8878 | |
| 72 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 72 | University of North Georgia | 27000 | 35500 | 0.2393 | 18,329 | 1100 | 0.6794 | |
| 74 | Troy University | 27400 | 32600 | 0.1594 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 75 | McPherson College | 27800 | 47600 | 0.4163 | 876 | 1065 | 0.7676 | |
| 76 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 27900 | 54800 | 0.4907 | 936 | 980 | 0.8003 | |
| 77 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.322 | 1,817 | 1080 | 0.8078 | |
| 78 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 28400 | 33700 | 0.1547 | 981 | 1140 | 0.7493 | |
| 79 | Chestnut Hill College | 28700 | 74900 | 0.6169 | 972 | 995 | 0.7913 | |
| 79 | Mercy University | 28700 | 44500 | 0.3552 | 6,775 | 1074 | 0.8584 | |
| 81 | Rivier University | 29000 | 57700 | 0.4973 | 1,335 | 1060 | 0.8176 | |
| 82 | William Penn University | 29500 | 48000 | 0.3853 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 83 | Hilbert College | 29800 | 54600 | 0.4546 | 939 | 1103 | 0.98 | |
| 83 | New England College | 29800 | 64600 | 0.539 | 1,032 | 930 | 0.9213 | |
| 85 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 29900 | 34000 | 0.1205 | 6,910 | 1053 | 0.9734 | |
| 85 | Le Moyne College | 29900 | 53700 | 0.4433 | 2,563 | 1240 | 0.7529 | |
| 85 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 29900 | 51100 | 0.4151 | 1,477 | 1075 | 0.8068 | |
| 88 | Lander University | 30200 | 37000 | 0.1839 | 3,669 | 1060 | 0.6792 | |
| 89 | Franklin Pierce University | 30300 | 68300 | 0.5563 | 1,058 | 1095 | 0.9083 | |
| 90 | Southern Wesleyan University | 30500 | 46200 | 0.34 | 887 | 1090 | 1 | |
| 91 | East Tennessee State University | 30700 | 30700 | 0 | 10,633 | 1124 | 0.8706 | |
| 92 | Fisher College | 30900 | 62300 | 0.5042 | 1,384 | 961 | 0.7075 | |
| 93 | Columbia International University | 31600 | 44800 | 0.2948 | 721 | 1079 | 0.9461 | |
| 93 | Missouri Baptist University | 31600 | 53800 | 0.4126 | 4,958 | 843 | 0.686 | |
| 95 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31800 | 50000 | 0.3637 | 898 | 1044 | 0.7614 | |
| 96 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 32000 | 41600 | 0.231 | 9,302 | 1125 | 0.9735 | |
| 97 | University of Bridgeport | 32300 | 60500 | 0.4663 | 1,479 | 1065 | 0.6431 | |
| 98 | Southern New Hampshire University | 32400 | 47600 | 0.3192 | 159,653 | 965 | 0.9612 | |
| 98 | Spring Arbor University | 32400 | 51100 | 0.3658 | 1,091 | 1120 | 0.3733 | |
| 98 | University of Scranton | 32400 | 78700 | 0.5881 | 3,613 | 1220 | 0.812 | |
| 101 | Southeastern University | 32700 | 60500 | 0.4592 | 10,351 | 1130 | 0.6165 | |
| 102 | Liberty University | 32800 | 43900 | 0.2528 | 52,823 | 1181 | 0.9932 | |
| 103 | University of Oregon | 33100 | 38600 | 0.1424 | 20,622 | 1250 | 0.883 | |
| 104 | Mount Saint Mary College | 33200 | 68400 | 0.5147 | 2,141 | 1090 | 0.8888 | |
| 105 | Hardin-Simmons University | 33300 | 49700 | 0.33 | 1,283 | 1080 | 0.9653 | |
| 106 | Anderson University | 33600 | 52400 | 0.3588 | 3,405 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 107 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 107 | George Washington University | 33700 | 81800 | 0.5882 | 11,677 | 1421 | 0.4709 | |
| 107 | Stephen F Austin State University | 33700 | 42800 | 0.2126 | 9,129 | 1060 | 0.7445 | |
| 110 | Beacon College | 33800 | 75800 | 0.5537 | 531 | 0 | 0.1677 | |
| 111 | Emmanuel College | 34000 | 68300 | 0.5024 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 111 | LeTourneau University | 34000 | 54600 | 0.3772 | 3,184 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 113 | Nova Southeastern University | 34300 | 56300 | 0.3905 | 7,307 | 1165 | 0.7324 | |
| 114 | California Baptist University | 35100 | 65200 | 0.4616 | 8,417 | 1069 | 0.8535 | |
| 114 | City University of Seattle | 35100 | 45400 | 0.227 | 1,180 | 0 | 0.9025 | |
| 114 | Goldey-Beacom College | 35100 | 38100 | 0.0802 | 702 | 0 | 0.7653 | |
| 117 | Seton Hill University | 35800 | 63800 | 0.4386 | 1,597 | 1150 | 0.7579 | |
| 118 | Ottawa University-Surprise | 36200 | 56500 | 0.3594 | 768 | 980 | 0.3988 | |
| 119 | Mercer University | 36400 | 60500 | 0.3984 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 120 | Towson University | 36500 | 45700 | 0.2013 | 16,264 | 1093 | 0.8198 | |
| 121 | University of Northern Colorado | 36900 | 38900 | 0.0514 | 6,480 | 1085 | 0.9363 | |
| 122 | Bluefield University | 37200 | 43200 | 0.1389 | 694 | 995 | 0.6272 | |
| 123 | Loyola University Chicago | 37500 | 67600 | 0.4455 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 124 | Lesley University | 37700 | 54600 | 0.3093 | 1,342 | 1140 | 0.9442 | |
| 125 | Queens University of Charlotte | 37800 | 68200 | 0.4455 | 1,225 | 1235 | 0.5651 | |
| 126 | Montreat College | 38800 | 55000 | 0.2948 | 759 | 1055 | 0.6555 | |
| 127 | Ohio Christian University | 40100 | 42300 | 0.0521 | 1,340 | 890 | 0.399 | |
| 128 | York College of Pennsylvania | 41400 | 41400 | 0 | 3,308 | 1135 | 0.942 | |
| 129 | Central Christian College of Kansas | 43000 | 45200 | 0.0488 | 437 | 1020 | 0.957 | |
| 130 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 43700 | 43700 | 0 | 11,554 | 1100 | 0.5516 | |
| 131 | Lees-McRae College | 44500 | 58700 | 0.242 | 873 | 1140 | 0.7685 | |
| 132 | University of Delaware | 47200 | 53200 | 0.1127 | 19,119 | 1303 | 0.6356 | |
| 133 | Spelman College | 47400 | 49600 | 0.0445 | 2,712 | 1218 | 0.2487 | |
| 134 | University of Mount Olive | 48200 | 50400 | 0.0438 | 1,937 | 945 | 0.7775 | |
| 135 | Elon University | 65900 | 67300 | 0.0208 | 6,452 | 1244 | 0.6635 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (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.