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Middle Class Affordability Rankings™ - State of Illinois

Most Affordable Colleges for Illinois Residents for 2027

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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:

  • Number of people in family: 4
  • Number of students in college: 1
  • Total income: $80,000
  • Total assets: $50,000
Illinois
Rank Institution Typical Net Price Sticker Price % Savings Undergraduates Est. Median SAT Acceptance Rate Save
1 University of Chicago 4100 95500 0.9575 7,519 1535 0.0456
#1

#1 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$95,500

% Savings

96%

Undergraduates

7,519

Est. Median SAT

1,535

Acceptance Rate

4.6 %

2 Northwestern University 6500 90200 0.9278 9,060 1533 0.0769
#2

#2 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

Sticker Price

$90,200

% Savings

93%

Undergraduates

9,060

Est. Median SAT

1,533

Acceptance Rate

7.7 %

3 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 6900 41600 0.8335 38,572 1455 0.3659
#3

#3 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL

Sticker Price

$41,600

% Savings

83%

Undergraduates

38,572

Est. Median SAT

1,455

Acceptance Rate

36.6 %

4 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 10100 41500 0.7567 8,945 1099 0.975
#4

#4 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL

Sticker Price

$41,500

% Savings

76%

Undergraduates

8,945

Est. Median SAT

1,099

Acceptance Rate

97.5 %

5 Saint Xavier University 10200 57000 0.8208 3,100 1050 0.843
#5

#5 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$57,000

% Savings

82%

Undergraduates

3,100

Est. Median SAT

1,050

Acceptance Rate

84.3 %

6 University of St Francis 10700 83800 0.8721 1,416 1030 0.6528
#6

#6 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of St Francis
Joliet, IL

Sticker Price

$83,800

% Savings

87%

Undergraduates

1,416

Est. Median SAT

1,030

Acceptance Rate

65.3 %

7 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 11100 28300 0.6059 8,421 1054 0.9444
#7

#7 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL

Sticker Price

$28,300

% Savings

61%

Undergraduates

8,421

Est. Median SAT

1,054

Acceptance Rate

94.4 %

8 Governors State University 11400 33100 0.6558 2,616 774 0.565
#8

#8 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Governors State University
University Park, IL

Sticker Price

$33,100

% Savings

66%

Undergraduates

2,616

Est. Median SAT

774

Acceptance Rate

56.5 %

9 Eastern Illinois University 11900 24300 0.5125 6,731 1020 0.7073
#9

#9 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL

Sticker Price

$24,300

% Savings

51%

Undergraduates

6,731

Est. Median SAT

1,020

Acceptance Rate

70.7 %

10 University of Illinois Chicago 12100 30200 0.5993 24,260 1174 0.7576
#10

#10 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$30,200

% Savings

60%

Undergraduates

24,260

Est. Median SAT

1,174

Acceptance Rate

75.8 %

11 Northern Illinois University 13300 32100 0.5856 12,118 1070 0.7164
#11

#11 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL

Sticker Price

$32,100

% Savings

59%

Undergraduates

12,118

Est. Median SAT

1,070

Acceptance Rate

71.6 %

12 Lewis University 13400 57700 0.7675 4,914 1127 0.6916
#12

#12 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Sticker Price

$57,700

% Savings

77%

Undergraduates

4,914

Est. Median SAT

1,127

Acceptance Rate

69.2 %

13 University of Illinois Springfield 14800 30400 0.5133 2,337 1079 0.8316
#13

#13 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, IL

Sticker Price

$30,400

% Savings

51%

Undergraduates

2,337

Est. Median SAT

1,079

Acceptance Rate

83.2 %

14 Eureka College 15200 64900 0.7653 527 1020 0.85
#14

#14 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Eureka College
Eureka, IL

Sticker Price

$64,900

% Savings

77%

Undergraduates

527

Est. Median SAT

1,020

Acceptance Rate

85.0 %

15 Illinois Institute of Technology 15600 74500 0.7903 3,190 1317 0.6187
#15

#15 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$74,500

% Savings

79%

Undergraduates

3,190

Est. Median SAT

1,317

Acceptance Rate

61.9 %

16 Aurora University 15700 71600 0.7807 4,230 1030 0.8204
#16

#16 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Sticker Price

$71,600

% Savings

78%

Undergraduates

4,230

Est. Median SAT

1,030

Acceptance Rate

82.0 %

17 Greenville University 15800 43900 0.6401 986 1033 0.9766
#17

#17 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Greenville University
Greenville, IL

Sticker Price

$43,900

% Savings

64%

Undergraduates

986

Est. Median SAT

1,033

Acceptance Rate

97.7 %

18 Blackburn College 17300 48800 0.645 522 1020 0.6319
#18

#18 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Blackburn College
Carlinville, IL

Sticker Price

$48,800

% Savings

65%

Undergraduates

522

Est. Median SAT

1,020

Acceptance Rate

63.2 %

19 Quincy University 18100 80600 0.7749 1,096 1115 0.551
#19

#19 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Quincy University
Quincy, IL

Sticker Price

$80,600

% Savings

77%

Undergraduates

1,096

Est. Median SAT

1,115

Acceptance Rate

55.1 %

20 North Central College 18300 64400 0.7164 2,567 1203 0.8377
#20

#20 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

North Central College
Naperville, IL

Sticker Price

$64,400

% Savings

72%

Undergraduates

2,567

Est. Median SAT

1,203

Acceptance Rate

83.8 %

21 Olivet Nazarene University 18800 79300 0.7634 2,704 1104 0.5586
#21

#21 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL

Sticker Price

$79,300

% Savings

76%

Undergraduates

2,704

Est. Median SAT

1,104

Acceptance Rate

55.9 %

22 Wheaton College 19000 68000 0.7209 2,181 1357 0.8491
#22

#22 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL

Sticker Price

$68,000

% Savings

72%

Undergraduates

2,181

Est. Median SAT

1,357

Acceptance Rate

84.9 %

23 Illinois College 19500 55200 0.6471 1,008 1059 0.7494
#23

#23 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL

Sticker Price

$55,200

% Savings

65%

Undergraduates

1,008

Est. Median SAT

1,059

Acceptance Rate

74.9 %

24 Bradley University 20400 59500 0.6564 3,258 1174 0.7459
#24

#24 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Bradley University
Peoria, IL

Sticker Price

$59,500

% Savings

66%

Undergraduates

3,258

Est. Median SAT

1,174

Acceptance Rate

74.6 %

25 Western Illinois University 21200 31800 0.3345 4,525 1000 0.7118
#25

#25 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL

Sticker Price

$31,800

% Savings

33%

Undergraduates

4,525

Est. Median SAT

1,000

Acceptance Rate

71.2 %

26 Hebrew Theological College 21300 56500 0.6235 182 1090 0.5714
#26

#26 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Hebrew Theological College
Skokie, IL

Sticker Price

$56,500

% Savings

62%

Undergraduates

182

Est. Median SAT

1,090

Acceptance Rate

57.1 %

27 Rockford University 22400 80100 0.7205 983 975 0.9289
#27

#27 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Rockford University
Rockford, IL

Sticker Price

$80,100

% Savings

72%

Undergraduates

983

Est. Median SAT

975

Acceptance Rate

92.9 %

28 Columbia College Chicago 22500 63200 0.6443 4,346 0 0.738
#28

#28 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$63,200

% Savings

64%

Undergraduates

4,346

Est. Median SAT

--

Acceptance Rate

73.8 %

29 Concordia University-Chicago 23000 78600 0.7073 1,295 1100 0.9298
#29

#29 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Concordia University-Chicago
River Forest, IL

Sticker Price

$78,600

% Savings

71%

Undergraduates

1,295

Est. Median SAT

1,100

Acceptance Rate

93.0 %

30 Millikin University 23100 43700 0.4709 1,427 1065 0.765
#30

#30 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Millikin University
Decatur, IL

Sticker Price

$43,700

% Savings

47%

Undergraduates

1,427

Est. Median SAT

1,065

Acceptance Rate

76.5 %

31 Monmouth College 23600 63400 0.6282 713 1120 0.9085
#31

#31 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Monmouth College
Monmouth, IL

Sticker Price

$63,400

% Savings

63%

Undergraduates

713

Est. Median SAT

1,120

Acceptance Rate

90.9 %

32 Dominican University 23800 56000 0.5754 2,642 1005 0.8879
#32

#32 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Dominican University
River Forest, IL

Sticker Price

$56,000

% Savings

58%

Undergraduates

2,642

Est. Median SAT

1,005

Acceptance Rate

88.8 %

33 Elmhurst University 24000 67000 0.642 3,170 1133 0.7501
#33

#33 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL

Sticker Price

$67,000

% Savings

64%

Undergraduates

3,170

Est. Median SAT

1,133

Acceptance Rate

75.0 %

33 Judson University 24000 49100 0.5122 697 1010 0.8905
#33

#33 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Judson University
Elgin, IL

Sticker Price

$49,100

% Savings

51%

Undergraduates

697

Est. Median SAT

1,010

Acceptance Rate

89.1 %

35 Augustana College 24500 72800 0.6628 2,536 1157 0.6628
#35

#35 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Augustana College
Rock Island, IL

Sticker Price

$72,800

% Savings

66%

Undergraduates

2,536

Est. Median SAT

1,157

Acceptance Rate

66.3 %

36 Lake Forest College 24700 75400 0.6725 1,786 1304 0.5363
#36

#36 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

Sticker Price

$75,400

% Savings

67%

Undergraduates

1,786

Est. Median SAT

1,304

Acceptance Rate

53.6 %

37 Illinois State University 24800 36400 0.3193 19,513 1115 0.8555
#37

#37 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

Sticker Price

$36,400

% Savings

32%

Undergraduates

19,513

Est. Median SAT

1,115

Acceptance Rate

85.6 %

38 North Park University 25900 55200 0.5308 1,825 1075 0.6949
#38

#38 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

North Park University
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$55,200

% Savings

53%

Undergraduates

1,825

Est. Median SAT

1,075

Acceptance Rate

69.5 %

39 Benedictine University 26500 48900 0.4581 2,082 1124 0.9576
#39

#39 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Benedictine University
Lisle, IL

Sticker Price

$48,900

% Savings

46%

Undergraduates

2,082

Est. Median SAT

1,124

Acceptance Rate

95.8 %

40 Chicago State University 27200 37800 0.2811 1,501 885 0.4326
#40

#40 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Chicago State University
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$37,800

% Savings

28%

Undergraduates

1,501

Est. Median SAT

885

Acceptance Rate

43.3 %

41 Illinois Wesleyan University 28000 73800 0.6209 1,683 1223 0.4854
#41

#41 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL

Sticker Price

$73,800

% Savings

62%

Undergraduates

1,683

Est. Median SAT

1,223

Acceptance Rate

48.5 %

42 Knox College 28100 68900 0.5917 1,108 1274 0.772
#42

#42 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Knox College
Galesburg, IL

Sticker Price

$68,900

% Savings

59%

Undergraduates

1,108

Est. Median SAT

1,274

Acceptance Rate

77.2 %

43 Roosevelt University 28400 47600 0.4043 2,868 1049 0.9716
#43

#43 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$47,600

% Savings

40%

Undergraduates

2,868

Est. Median SAT

1,049

Acceptance Rate

97.2 %

44 McKendree University 32300 52900 0.39 1,757 1098 0.7172
#44

#44 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

McKendree University
Lebanon, IL

Sticker Price

$52,900

% Savings

39%

Undergraduates

1,757

Est. Median SAT

1,098

Acceptance Rate

71.7 %

45 DePaul University 34100 69400 0.5083 14,338 1258 0.878
#45

#45 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

DePaul University
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$69,400

% Savings

51%

Undergraduates

14,338

Est. Median SAT

1,258

Acceptance Rate

87.8 %

46 Loyola University Chicago 38900 73200 0.4687 12,640 1262 0.751
#46

#46 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$73,200

% Savings

47%

Undergraduates

12,640

Est. Median SAT

1,262

Acceptance Rate

75.1 %

47 School of the Art Institute of Chicago 61900 87500 0.293 2,806 1160 0.7747
#47

#47 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Sticker Price

$87,500

% Savings

29%

Undergraduates

2,806

Est. Median SAT

1,160

Acceptance Rate

77.5 %

School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

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