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 | Stephen F Austin State University | 10100 | 27800 | 0.6356 | 9,129 | 1075 | 0.9399 | |
| 3 | East Central University | 10700 | 24700 | 0.5673 | 2,644 | 1055 | 0.5815 | |
| 4 | Grace Christian University | 11100 | 42100 | 0.737 | 928 | 1075 | 0.9916 | |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 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 | Northeastern University | 15000 | 89900 | 0.8331 | 17,432 | 1490 | 0.0522 | |
| 10 | Urshan University | 15000 | 19600 | 0.2352 | 474 | 990 | 0.8378 | |
| 12 | Lander University | 15200 | 24600 | 0.3814 | 3,776 | 1055 | 0.8131 | |
| 13 | Fitchburg State University | 15600 | 33700 | 0.5372 | 3,027 | 1145 | 0.8693 | |
| 14 | University of North Texas | 15800 | 26100 | 0.3953 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 15 | Dakota Wesleyan University | 16200 | 46400 | 0.6514 | 771 | 1085 | 0.7338 | |
| 16 | Waynesburg University | 16600 | 45000 | 0.6305 | 1,030 | 1093 | 0.8982 | |
| 17 | Lindsey Wilson College | 17300 | 47100 | 0.633 | 1,722 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | Northeastern University Oakland | 17500 | 90000 | 0.8057 | 464 | 1469 | 0.1665 | |
| 19 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 17600 | 27400 | 0.3575 | 27,132 | 1099 | 0.9617 | |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 17800 | 22200 | 0.1986 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.865 | |
| 21 | Bethel University | 18000 | 35300 | 0.4896 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 22 | Southwestern Christian University | 18400 | 26800 | 0.3139 | 380 | 975 | 0.6206 | |
| 23 | East Tennessee State University | 18500 | 26100 | 0.2907 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 24 | Simpson College | 18600 | 60500 | 0.6923 | 1,235 | 1430 | 0.8622 | |
| 24 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.428 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 26 | Quincy University | 18900 | 57900 | 0.6733 | 1,072 | 1115 | 0.5093 | |
| 27 | University of Northern Colorado | 19000 | 30500 | 0.377 | 6,480 | 1085 | 0.8585 | |
| 28 | Carson-Newman University | 19500 | 51900 | 0.6245 | 1,596 | 1110 | 0.9045 | |
| 29 | Lee University | 19600 | 37400 | 0.4762 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 29 | Olivet Nazarene University | 19600 | 61600 | 0.6819 | 2,711 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 29 | University of Arizona | 19600 | 30900 | 0.3663 | 44,848 | 1233 | 0.8614 | |
| 32 | Bethel University | 19800 | 54500 | 0.6363 | 1,065 | 1030 | 0.9766 | |
| 33 | Bellevue University | 20200 | 36400 | 0.4442 | 11,037 | 0 | 0 | |
| 34 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20400 | 23200 | 0.1207 | 20,444 | 1209 | 0.8499 | |
| 35 | Anna Maria College | 21100 | 54200 | 0.6109 | 916 | 885 | 0.503 | |
| 36 | Gordon State College | 22200 | 35300 | 0.3714 | 3,179 | 1015 | 0.859 | |
| 36 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.467 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 38 | Nelson University | 22300 | 55500 | 0.5982 | 1,479 | 990 | 0.8902 | |
| 39 | Buena Vista University | 22400 | 59100 | 0.6212 | 1,436 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 39 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 22400 | 53000 | 0.5768 | 1,472 | 1075 | 0.8459 | |
| 41 | Murray State University | 22800 | 27600 | 0.1734 | 7,851 | 1115 | 0.8568 | |
| 41 | University of the Cumberlands | 22800 | 26400 | 0.1339 | 7,612 | 1025 | 0.9881 | |
| 43 | Central Washington University | 23400 | 27900 | 0.1615 | 10,317 | 1045 | 0.9062 | |
| 43 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23400 | 45800 | 0.4895 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 45 | North Central University | 23500 | 43900 | 0.4649 | 759 | 1075 | 0.9898 | |
| 46 | Midland University | 23800 | 65300 | 0.6351 | 1,309 | 1045 | 0.6612 | |
| 46 | Saint Norbert College | 23800 | 63800 | 0.6267 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 48 | Judson University | 24100 | 49100 | 0.5086 | 718 | 1015 | 0.4759 | |
| 49 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24200 | 55200 | 0.5626 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 50 | Calumet College of Saint Joseph | 24500 | 41500 | 0.41 | 530 | 895 | 0.4 | |
| 51 | Elmira College | 24800 | 60600 | 0.5907 | 745 | 1250 | 0.7696 | |
| 52 | Doane University | 25300 | 71000 | 0.644 | 1,315 | 1125 | 0.9801 | |
| 52 | Saint Leo University | 25300 | 50000 | 0.4938 | 7,516 | 1110 | 0.784 | |
| 54 | Shorter University | 25700 | 36500 | 0.2955 | 1,203 | 1110 | 0.9646 | |
| 55 | Columbia College | 26400 | 46900 | 0.4372 | 5,207 | 1145 | 0.4714 | |
| 55 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4753 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 57 | Wingate University | 26700 | 65000 | 0.5891 | 2,673 | 1100 | 0.9113 | |
| 58 | Troy University | 26900 | 34700 | 0.2248 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 58 | William Woods University | 26900 | 58400 | 0.539 | 1,342 | 1140 | 0.7096 | |
| 60 | Valley City State University | 27100 | 29300 | 0.0777 | 1,651 | 1055 | 0.9907 | |
| 61 | Kennesaw State University | 27400 | 27400 | 0 | 42,760 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 61 | University of North Georgia | 27400 | 38600 | 0.2905 | 18,322 | 1100 | 0.6794 | |
| 63 | Chestnut Hill College | 28100 | 60100 | 0.5323 | 868 | 995 | 0.7446 | |
| 64 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3222 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 64 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 28300 | 48800 | 0.4197 | 1,793 | 1174 | 0.5589 | |
| 66 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 28400 | 33700 | 0.1569 | 981 | 1140 | 0.7493 | |
| 67 | Wayland Baptist University | 28700 | 37300 | 0.2308 | 2,087 | 1010 | 0.5596 | |
| 68 | New England College | 28800 | 65800 | 0.5624 | 1,032 | 930 | 0.9213 | |
| 69 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 29400 | 34000 | 0.1352 | 6,907 | 1060 | 0.974 | |
| 69 | East Texas A&M University | 29400 | 36500 | 0.1945 | 9,992 | 1045 | 0.9224 | |
| 71 | William Penn University | 29500 | 48000 | 0.3868 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 72 | Hilbert College | 29900 | 57100 | 0.4764 | 931 | 1080 | 0.972 | |
| 73 | Mercy University | 30100 | 44500 | 0.3237 | 6,774 | 1135 | 0.8584 | |
| 74 | Mount Saint Mary College | 31400 | 68600 | 0.5423 | 2,141 | 1153 | 0.8888 | |
| 74 | Southern Wesleyan University | 31400 | 47100 | 0.3347 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 76 | Columbia International University | 31500 | 44800 | 0.2965 | 965 | 1079 | 0.9447 | |
| 76 | Missouri Baptist University | 31500 | 53800 | 0.414 | 4,958 | 843 | 0.686 | |
| 78 | Grand View University | 31800 | 58100 | 0.4525 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 78 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31800 | 50000 | 0.3652 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 80 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 32000 | 45700 | 0.3 | 7,062 | 965 | 0.928 | |
| 81 | University of Scranton | 32300 | 78700 | 0.5891 | 3,613 | 1250 | 0.8123 | |
| 82 | University of Oregon | 33000 | 38600 | 0.1444 | 20,622 | 1250 | 0.883 | |
| 83 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 33100 | 45300 | 0.2696 | 4,526 | 0 | 0 | |
| 84 | Liberty University | 33200 | 44600 | 0.2556 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 84 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 33200 | 37200 | 0.1075 | 5,823 | 1115 | 0.8619 | |
| 86 | California Baptist University | 33400 | 65600 | 0.4908 | 8,417 | 1070 | 0.8488 | |
| 87 | Emmanuel College | 33600 | 71400 | 0.5294 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 87 | Franklin Pierce University | 33600 | 68300 | 0.5077 | 997 | 1174 | 0.9347 | |
| 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 | University of Bridgeport | 33700 | 60500 | 0.4431 | 1,570 | 1000 | 0.8302 | |
| 93 | Fisher College | 33800 | 65300 | 0.4818 | 1,536 | 961 | 0.7068 | |
| 94 | LeTourneau University | 33900 | 54800 | 0.3817 | 3,187 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 94 | Meredith College | 33900 | 64200 | 0.4721 | 1,206 | 1237 | 0.7418 | |
| 96 | Ottawa University-Surprise | 34100 | 67500 | 0.4951 | 837 | 995 | 0.7815 | |
| 97 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 10,172 | 1110 | 0.5298 | |
| 98 | Texas Southern University | 34500 | 42500 | 0.1883 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 98 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 34500 | 41600 | 0.1706 | 9,302 | 1125 | 0.9735 | |
| 100 | Washburn University | 34600 | 38400 | 0.0989 | 5,331 | 1095 | 0.9551 | |
| 101 | Southern New Hampshire University | 34700 | 44300 | 0.2166 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 102 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 34800 | 37600 | 0.0739 | 2,953 | 975 | 0.8445 | |
| 103 | University of South Florida | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 104 | Hardin-Simmons University | 35700 | 49700 | 0.2816 | 1,291 | 1110 | 0.9 | |
| 104 | Touro University | 35700 | 42000 | 0.1498 | 4,872 | 1322 | 0.6083 | |
| 106 | Lesley University | 36800 | 54700 | 0.3274 | 1,229 | 1115 | 0.9687 | |
| 107 | Goldey-Beacom College | 37100 | 40200 | 0.0778 | 697 | 0 | 0.8451 | |
| 108 | Bluefield University | 37200 | 43200 | 0.1389 | 627 | 995 | 0.5931 | |
| 109 | Queens University of Charlotte | 38100 | 68200 | 0.4411 | 1,225 | 1208 | 0.6208 | |
| 110 | California State University-Fullerton | 39200 | 41500 | 0.055 | 38,760 | 1090 | 0.9052 | |
| 111 | Ohio Christian University | 40000 | 42300 | 0.0539 | 1,288 | 890 | 0.3797 | |
| 112 | Loyola University Chicago | 41000 | 70600 | 0.4192 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 113 | Montreat College | 41800 | 58100 | 0.2803 | 781 | 1164 | 0.692 | |
| 113 | Western Washington University | 41800 | 51500 | 0.1885 | 13,752 | 1272 | 0.9325 | |
| 115 | University of Mount Olive | 42100 | 50400 | 0.1643 | 1,944 | 1075 | 0.7575 | |
| 116 | Anderson University | 42200 | 53600 | 0.2127 | 3,683 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 117 | Central Christian College of Kansas | 42900 | 45200 | 0.0505 | 454 | 1020 | 0.5271 | |
| 118 | Spelman College | 44100 | 49200 | 0.1032 | 3,417 | 1218 | 0.2487 | |
| 119 | Lees-McRae College | 44400 | 58700 | 0.2432 | 873 | 1140 | 0.7678 | |
| 120 | Towson University | 45500 | 46400 | 0.0194 | 16,264 | 1098 | 0.8197 | |
| 121 | University of Delaware | 48400 | 61300 | 0.211 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 122 | Beacon College | 48800 | 81800 | 0.4033 | 531 | 0 | 0.4347 | |
| 123 | Mercer University | 48900 | 63700 | 0.2324 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 124 | Elon University | 56300 | 68900 | 0.183 | 6,452 | 1215 | 0.6635 |
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.