Middle Class Affordability Rankings™ - State of Illinois

Most Affordable Colleges for Illinois Residents for 2026

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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

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Illinois

Rank	Institution	Typical Net Price	Sticker Price	% Savings	Undergraduates	Est. Median SAT	Acceptance Rate	Save
1	University of Chicago	4000	95000	0.9582	7,519	1535	0.0448	#1 #1 Middle Class Affordability Rankings University of Chicago Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $4,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $95,000 % Savings 96% Undergraduates 7,519 Est. Median SAT 1,535 Acceptance Rate 4.5 %
2	Millikin University	7000	43700	0.8396	1,496	1020	0.6668	#2 #2 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Millikin University Decatur, IL Typical Net Price $7,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $43,700 % Savings 84% Undergraduates 1,496 Est. Median SAT 1,020 Acceptance Rate 66.7 %
3	Governors State University	11000	35200	0.6875	2,573	774	0.4827	#3 #3 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Governors State University University Park, IL Typical Net Price $11,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $35,200 % Savings 69% Undergraduates 2,573 Est. Median SAT 774 Acceptance Rate 48.3 %
4	Hebrew Theological College	11200	48500	0.7692	197	1090	0.92	#4 #4 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Hebrew Theological College Skokie, IL Typical Net Price $11,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $48,500 % Savings 77% Undergraduates 197 Est. Median SAT 1,090 Acceptance Rate 92.0 %
5	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	12200	41900	0.7083	37,140	1442	0.4237	#5 #5 Middle Class Affordability Rankings University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Typical Net Price $12,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $41,900 % Savings 71% Undergraduates 37,140 Est. Median SAT 1,442 Acceptance Rate 42.4 %
6	Saint Xavier University	12600	53300	0.7625	3,039	1125	0.8575	#6 #6 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $12,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $53,300 % Savings 76% Undergraduates 3,039 Est. Median SAT 1,125 Acceptance Rate 85.8 %
7	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville	12700	34600	0.6336	8,975	1065	0.9721	#7 #7 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL Typical Net Price $12,700 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $34,600 % Savings 63% Undergraduates 8,975 Est. Median SAT 1,065 Acceptance Rate 97.2 %
8	Eastern Illinois University	13000	24300	0.4645	6,785	990	0.6535	#8 #8 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL Typical Net Price $13,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $24,300 % Savings 46% Undergraduates 6,785 Est. Median SAT 990 Acceptance Rate 65.4 %
9	Northern Illinois University	13200	29000	0.5435	11,349	1070	0.6979	#9 #9 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Typical Net Price $13,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $29,000 % Savings 54% Undergraduates 11,349 Est. Median SAT 1,070 Acceptance Rate 69.8 %
10	University of Illinois Chicago	14000	30400	0.5387	22,495	1252	0.7735	#10 #10 Middle Class Affordability Rankings University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $14,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $30,400 % Savings 54% Undergraduates 22,495 Est. Median SAT 1,252 Acceptance Rate 77.4 %
11	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	14300	28100	0.4911	8,553	1054	0.8688	#11 #11 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL Typical Net Price $14,300 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $28,100 % Savings 49% Undergraduates 8,553 Est. Median SAT 1,054 Acceptance Rate 86.9 %
12	University of Illinois Springfield	14600	29800	0.5104	2,309	1099	0.8588	#12 #12 Middle Class Affordability Rankings University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, IL Typical Net Price $14,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $29,800 % Savings 51% Undergraduates 2,309 Est. Median SAT 1,099 Acceptance Rate 85.9 %
13	University of St Francis	15600	71700	0.7818	1,338	1030	0.653	#13 #13 Middle Class Affordability Rankings University of St Francis Joliet, IL Typical Net Price $15,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $71,700 % Savings 78% Undergraduates 1,338 Est. Median SAT 1,030 Acceptance Rate 65.3 %
14	Lewis University	16400	57700	0.7155	4,326	1099	0.7128	#14 #14 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Lewis University Romeoville, IL Typical Net Price $16,400 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $57,700 % Savings 72% Undergraduates 4,326 Est. Median SAT 1,099 Acceptance Rate 71.3 %
15	Aurora University	17500	40900	0.5729	4,107	1045	0.8085	#15 #15 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Aurora University Aurora, IL Typical Net Price $17,500 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $40,900 % Savings 57% Undergraduates 4,107 Est. Median SAT 1,045 Acceptance Rate 80.9 %
16	North Park University	17700	53200	0.6672	1,876	1110	0.7284	#16 #16 Middle Class Affordability Rankings North Park University Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $17,700 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $53,200 % Savings 67% Undergraduates 1,876 Est. Median SAT 1,110 Acceptance Rate 72.8 %
17	Quincy University	18000	68100	0.7351	1,072	1115	0.5093	#17 #17 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Quincy University Quincy, IL Typical Net Price $18,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $68,100 % Savings 74% Undergraduates 1,072 Est. Median SAT 1,115 Acceptance Rate 50.9 %
18	Wheaton College	19400	84800	0.7712	2,119	1351	0.8998	#18 #18 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Typical Net Price $19,400 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $84,800 % Savings 77% Undergraduates 2,119 Est. Median SAT 1,351 Acceptance Rate 90.0 %
19	Illinois Institute of Technology	19700	75200	0.7382	3,135	1299	0.5493	#19 #19 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $19,700 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $75,200 % Savings 74% Undergraduates 3,135 Est. Median SAT 1,299 Acceptance Rate 54.9 %
20	Illinois College	19800	55200	0.642	940	1054	0.7819	#20 #20 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Illinois College Jacksonville, IL Typical Net Price $19,800 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $55,200 % Savings 64% Undergraduates 940 Est. Median SAT 1,054 Acceptance Rate 78.2 %
21	Bradley University	20100	48500	0.5849	3,596	1174	0.7675	#21 #21 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Bradley University Peoria, IL Typical Net Price $20,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $48,500 % Savings 58% Undergraduates 3,596 Est. Median SAT 1,174 Acceptance Rate 76.8 %
21	Greenville University	20100	43900	0.543	986	1010	0.9766	#21 #21 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Greenville University Greenville, IL Typical Net Price $20,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $43,900 % Savings 54% Undergraduates 986 Est. Median SAT 1,010 Acceptance Rate 97.7 %
23	Olivet Nazarene University	20300	71400	0.7159	2,704	1104	0.5586	#23 #23 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL Typical Net Price $20,300 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $71,400 % Savings 72% Undergraduates 2,704 Est. Median SAT 1,104 Acceptance Rate 55.9 %
24	Western Illinois University	20800	31000	0.3286	4,525	1000	0.7118	#24 #24 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Typical Net Price $20,800 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $31,000 % Savings 33% Undergraduates 4,525 Est. Median SAT 1,000 Acceptance Rate 71.2 %
25	Blackburn College	20900	53700	0.6107	389	1020	0.8014	#25 #25 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Blackburn College Carlinville, IL Typical Net Price $20,900 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $53,700 % Savings 61% Undergraduates 389 Est. Median SAT 1,020 Acceptance Rate 80.1 %
26	North Central College	21000	63700	0.6708	2,454	1203	0.7733	#26 #26 Middle Class Affordability Rankings North Central College Naperville, IL Typical Net Price $21,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $63,700 % Savings 67% Undergraduates 2,454 Est. Median SAT 1,203 Acceptance Rate 77.3 %
27	Elmhurst University	21500	67000	0.6794	3,170	1148	0.7357	#27 #27 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Elmhurst University Elmhurst, IL Typical Net Price $21,500 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $67,000 % Savings 68% Undergraduates 3,170 Est. Median SAT 1,148 Acceptance Rate 73.6 %
28	Lake Forest College	21600	75400	0.714	1,814	1323	0.5681	#28 #28 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL Typical Net Price $21,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $75,400 % Savings 71% Undergraduates 1,814 Est. Median SAT 1,323 Acceptance Rate 56.8 %
28	Trinity Christian College	21600	40500	0.4653	827	1155	0.8865	#28 #28 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Trinity Christian College Palos Heights, IL Typical Net Price $21,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $40,500 % Savings 47% Undergraduates 827 Est. Median SAT 1,155 Acceptance Rate 88.7 %
30	Rockford University	21800	68200	0.6809	968	980	0.5704	#30 #30 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Rockford University Rockford, IL Typical Net Price $21,800 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $68,200 % Savings 68% Undergraduates 968 Est. Median SAT 980 Acceptance Rate 57.0 %
31	Trinity International University-Illinois	22100	57600	0.6169	140	1100	0.9318	#31 #31 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Trinity International University-Illinois Deerfield, IL Typical Net Price $22,100 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $57,600 % Savings 62% Undergraduates 140 Est. Median SAT 1,100 Acceptance Rate 93.2 %
32	Northwestern University	22200	88100	0.7483	9,060	1533	0.0769	#32 #32 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Northwestern University Evanston, IL Typical Net Price $22,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $88,100 % Savings 75% Undergraduates 9,060 Est. Median SAT 1,533 Acceptance Rate 7.7 %
33	Concordia University-Chicago	23200	67800	0.658	1,327	1100	0.9279	#33 #33 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Concordia University-Chicago River Forest, IL Typical Net Price $23,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $67,800 % Savings 66% Undergraduates 1,327 Est. Median SAT 1,100 Acceptance Rate 92.8 %
33	Monmouth College	23200	61400	0.6218	727	1130	0.866	#33 #33 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Monmouth College Monmouth, IL Typical Net Price $23,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $61,400 % Savings 62% Undergraduates 727 Est. Median SAT 1,130 Acceptance Rate 86.6 %
35	Columbia College Chicago	23500	63200	0.6285	5,422	0	0.7549	#35 #35 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $23,500 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $63,200 % Savings 63% Undergraduates 5,422 Est. Median SAT -- Acceptance Rate 75.5 %
36	Dominican University	24000	56000	0.5713	2,690	1060	0.9032	#36 #36 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Dominican University River Forest, IL Typical Net Price $24,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $56,000 % Savings 57% Undergraduates 2,690 Est. Median SAT 1,060 Acceptance Rate 90.3 %
37	Eureka College	24200	56400	0.5702	527	1020	0.85	#37 #37 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Eureka College Eureka, IL Typical Net Price $24,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $56,400 % Savings 57% Undergraduates 527 Est. Median SAT 1,020 Acceptance Rate 85.0 %
37	Judson University	24200	49100	0.5067	793	985	0.6233	#37 #37 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Judson University Elgin, IL Typical Net Price $24,200 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $49,100 % Savings 51% Undergraduates 793 Est. Median SAT 985 Acceptance Rate 62.3 %
39	Augustana College	24800	72800	0.6587	2,522	1163	0.6277	#39 #39 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Augustana College Rock Island, IL Typical Net Price $24,800 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $72,800 % Savings 66% Undergraduates 2,522 Est. Median SAT 1,163 Acceptance Rate 62.8 %
40	Illinois State University	25000	35200	0.2894	19,107	1115	0.8815	#40 #40 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Illinois State University Normal, IL Typical Net Price $25,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $35,200 % Savings 29% Undergraduates 19,107 Est. Median SAT 1,115 Acceptance Rate 88.2 %
41	Benedictine University	26500	48900	0.4581	1,972	1150	0.9523	#41 #41 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Benedictine University Lisle, IL Typical Net Price $26,500 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $48,900 % Savings 46% Undergraduates 1,972 Est. Median SAT 1,150 Acceptance Rate 95.2 %
42	Knox College	28600	68900	0.5846	1,136	1287	0.7079	#42 #42 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Knox College Galesburg, IL Typical Net Price $28,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $68,900 % Savings 58% Undergraduates 1,136 Est. Median SAT 1,287 Acceptance Rate 70.8 %
42	Roosevelt University	28600	47600	0.4003	2,605	995	0.9427	#42 #42 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $28,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $47,600 % Savings 40% Undergraduates 2,605 Est. Median SAT 995 Acceptance Rate 94.3 %
44	Illinois Wesleyan University	29600	73800	0.5995	1,582	1256	0.3931	#44 #44 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL Typical Net Price $29,600 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $73,800 % Savings 60% Undergraduates 1,582 Est. Median SAT 1,256 Acceptance Rate 39.3 %
45	Chicago State University	31000	37600	0.1763	1,495	885	0.4052	#45 #45 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Chicago State University Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $31,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $37,600 % Savings 18% Undergraduates 1,495 Est. Median SAT 885 Acceptance Rate 40.5 %
46	DePaul University	32000	67100	0.5231	14,188	1218	0.7589	#46 #46 Middle Class Affordability Rankings DePaul University Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $32,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $67,100 % Savings 52% Undergraduates 14,188 Est. Median SAT 1,218 Acceptance Rate 75.9 %
46	McKendree University	32000	52200	0.3869	1,605	1098	0.6388	#46 #46 Middle Class Affordability Rankings McKendree University Lebanon, IL Typical Net Price $32,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $52,200 % Savings 39% Undergraduates 1,605 Est. Median SAT 1,098 Acceptance Rate 63.9 %
48	Loyola University Chicago	34000	68100	0.5008	12,538	1303	0.816	#48 #48 Middle Class Affordability Rankings Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $34,000 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $68,100 % Savings 50% Undergraduates 12,538 Est. Median SAT 1,303 Acceptance Rate 81.6 %
49	School of the Art Institute of Chicago	57700	81700	0.2942	2,762	1160	0.7642	#49 #49 Middle Class Affordability Rankings School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL Typical Net Price $57,700 • Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Sticker Price $81,700 % Savings 29% Undergraduates 2,762 Est. Median SAT 1,160 Acceptance Rate 76.4 %