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 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | 10800 | 21100 | 0.4888 | 7,753 | 1140 | 0.9245 | |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 11100 | 28100 | 0.6048 | 8,421 | 1054 | 0.9444 | |
| 3 | California State University-Fresno | 11500 | 19600 | 0.4121 | 21,954 | 995 | 0.9526 | |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago | 12200 | 30200 | 0.5964 | 24,260 | 1174 | 0.7576 | |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 12400 | 31100 | 0.6022 | 39,193 | 1418 | 0.4081 | |
| 6 | Kean University | 13100 | 39200 | 0.6658 | 11,932 | 1040 | 0.7811 | |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan University | 14200 | 33900 | 0.5805 | 10,034 | 1055 | 0.7772 | |
| 7 | San Francisco State University | 14200 | 47700 | 0.7025 | 19,444 | 1035 | 0.9644 | |
| 7 | Valdosta State University | 14200 | 29700 | 0.5215 | 7,199 | 1005 | 0.7769 | |
| 10 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | 14300 | 26300 | 0.4559 | 4,056 | 1090 | 0.4151 | |
| 11 | University of Memphis | 14400 | 26400 | 0.4554 | 15,538 | 1080 | 0.7878 | |
| 12 | Central Michigan University | 14600 | 37400 | 0.6102 | 10,238 | 1099 | 0.9104 | |
| 13 | Stephen F Austin State University | 15100 | 23400 | 0.3543 | 9,905 | 1055 | 0.8339 | |
| 14 | Pittsburg State University | 15200 | 23900 | 0.3634 | 4,561 | 1055 | 0.5487 | |
| 15 | Florida State University | 15600 | 23000 | 0.322 | 34,271 | 1369 | 0.2383 | |
| 16 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 15800 | 28500 | 0.4463 | 7,425 | 1074 | 0.9147 | |
| 17 | University of North Texas | 15900 | 26200 | 0.3938 | 34,414 | 1094 | 0.7089 | |
| 18 | Texas Tech University | 16400 | 27900 | 0.4116 | 34,021 | 1195 | 0.6906 | |
| 19 | California State University-Long Beach | 16600 | 25800 | 0.3567 | 36,056 | 1135 | 0.4543 | |
| 19 | Morgan State University | 16600 | 30700 | 0.4588 | 9,027 | 965 | 0.8223 | |
| 19 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 16600 | 26500 | 0.3756 | 23,003 | 1164 | 0.7367 | |
| 22 | Sam Houston State University | 17000 | 27100 | 0.3726 | 17,822 | 1035 | 0.9372 | |
| 23 | Weber State University | 17100 | 20300 | 0.1579 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 24 | East Tennessee State University | 17200 | 28000 | 0.3857 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 25 | University of Kentucky | 17500 | 37300 | 0.5317 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 26 | Carson-Newman University | 17800 | 51900 | 0.6573 | 1,912 | 1075 | 0.6381 | |
| 27 | San Jose State University | 18200 | 41100 | 0.5567 | 29,890 | 1135 | 0.8039 | |
| 27 | Texas State University | 18200 | 26100 | 0.3026 | 39,353 | 1080 | 0.9118 | |
| 29 | University of Central Oklahoma | 18500 | 31100 | 0.4056 | 10,777 | 1075 | 0.7812 | |
| 30 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 18700 | 48900 | 0.6172 | 5,274 | 1103 | 0.9513 | |
| 30 | Olivet Nazarene University | 18700 | 79300 | 0.7637 | 2,704 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 32 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 20000 | 45100 | 0.5568 | 31,536 | 1366 | 0.5457 | |
| 33 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 20300 | 57800 | 0.6485 | 5,196 | 1050 | 0.8422 | |
| 34 | University of Northern Iowa | 20400 | 24800 | 0.1775 | 7,800 | 1115 | 0.9313 | |
| 34 | Western Carolina University | 20400 | 21600 | 0.0555 | 10,268 | 1140 | 0.7076 | |
| 36 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 20700 | 30600 | 0.3258 | 43,633 | 1342 | 0.4343 | |
| 36 | Washington State University | 20700 | 35900 | 0.4229 | 21,400 | 1131 | 0.861 | |
| 38 | Ferris State University | 20900 | 31000 | 0.3263 | 8,980 | 1015 | 0.8237 | |
| 39 | University of Florida | 21700 | 22500 | 0.0355 | 37,283 | 1406 | 0.2033 | |
| 40 | South Dakota State University | 21800 | 25200 | 0.1346 | 10,883 | 1115 | 0.9618 | |
| 41 | University of the Incarnate Word | 22000 | 60000 | 0.6333 | 4,651 | 1010 | 0.9947 | |
| 41 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 22000 | 25900 | 0.1506 | 6,227 | 1184 | 0.9171 | |
| 43 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 22200 | 77500 | 0.7133 | 7,880 | 0 | 0.6701 | |
| 44 | California State University-Northridge | 22400 | 36500 | 0.3858 | 32,846 | 1005 | 0.9176 | |
| 45 | Columbia College Chicago | 22500 | 63200 | 0.6443 | 4,346 | 0 | 0.738 | |
| 45 | Park University | 22500 | 31300 | 0.2816 | 4,657 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 47 | Seattle Pacific University | 22900 | 98900 | 0.7688 | 1,657 | 1174 | 0.9301 | |
| 48 | Northern Arizona University | 23900 | 47300 | 0.4958 | 22,203 | 1129 | 0.8961 | |
| 49 | University of Central Missouri | 24200 | 35800 | 0.3254 | 10,397 | 1055 | 0.7439 | |
| 50 | Abilene Christian University | 24600 | 55000 | 0.553 | 5,101 | 1149 | 0.6615 | |
| 51 | Judson University | 24800 | 51000 | 0.5145 | 697 | 1010 | 0.8905 | |
| 52 | Ball State University | 25400 | 26200 | 0.0305 | 15,950 | 1185 | 0.8625 | |
| 53 | Southeast Missouri State University | 25700 | 28600 | 0.1011 | 7,926 | 1070 | 0.6897 | |
| 54 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 26000 | 28400 | 0.0842 | 14,834 | 1149 | 0.7803 | |
| 55 | George Fox University | 26400 | 92800 | 0.7157 | 3,530 | 1168 | 0.9282 | |
| 56 | Meredith College | 27300 | 67400 | 0.5948 | 1,212 | 1239 | 0.7506 | |
| 57 | North Dakota State University | 27600 | 30400 | 0.092 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 58 | Columbus College of Art & Design | 27700 | 61600 | 0.5504 | 885 | 1080 | 0.6766 | |
| 58 | Mississippi Christian University | 27700 | 45100 | 0.386 | 2,583 | 1222 | 0.8416 | |
| 58 | University of Bridgeport | 27700 | 65800 | 0.5791 | 1,570 | 1000 | 0.8302 | |
| 61 | Winthrop University | 28200 | 38600 | 0.2692 | 4,289 | 1130 | 0.8281 | |
| 62 | Iowa State University | 28800 | 45200 | 0.3626 | 26,346 | 1212 | 0.8793 | |
| 62 | Oregon State University | 28800 | 36700 | 0.216 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 64 | Brenau University | 29900 | 53000 | 0.4363 | 1,336 | 1105 | 0.9317 | |
| 65 | Lawrence Technological University | 30000 | 99100 | 0.6976 | 2,661 | 1149 | 0.8101 | |
| 66 | Salem College | 30100 | 55300 | 0.4548 | 464 | 1080 | 0.789 | |
| 67 | Marymount University | 30600 | 99100 | 0.6911 | 2,503 | 1095 | 0.9316 | |
| 68 | Oklahoma Christian University | 30800 | 45000 | 0.3147 | 2,098 | 1129 | 0.9654 | |
| 68 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 30800 | 78300 | 0.6067 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 70 | Suffolk University | 31000 | 83500 | 0.6288 | 4,247 | 1209 | 0.8228 | |
| 71 | Kent State University at Kent | 31100 | 37500 | 0.1706 | 21,144 | 1104 | 0.7603 | |
| 72 | Chaminade University of Honolulu | 31900 | 78800 | 0.5952 | 1,732 | 1108 | 0.9117 | |
| 73 | Liberty University | 32400 | 44700 | 0.275 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 74 | California State University-Sacramento | 32900 | 33400 | 0.015 | 28,619 | 1015 | 0.9357 | |
| 75 | Belmont University | 33200 | 72300 | 0.5399 | 7,174 | 1273 | 0.9367 | |
| 76 | Adrian College | 33400 | 70200 | 0.5242 | 1,675 | 1045 | 0.7257 | |
| 76 | Harding University | 33400 | 47800 | 0.3012 | 3,536 | 1184 | 0.7052 | |
| 78 | Baylor University | 33500 | 70400 | 0.5244 | 14,183 | 1302 | 0.5222 | |
| 78 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 33500 | 38200 | 0.1228 | 42,565 | 1339 | 0.7887 | |
| 80 | Middle Tennessee State University | 33700 | 48300 | 0.3024 | 18,042 | 1140 | 0.6909 | |
| 81 | College for Creative Studies | 33800 | 108300 | 0.6876 | 1,376 | 1100 | 0.9194 | |
| 82 | Western Michigan University | 34000 | 36400 | 0.0664 | 13,714 | 1089 | 0.9121 | |
| 83 | George Washington University | 34400 | 81800 | 0.5796 | 11,495 | 1436 | 0.4713 | |
| 84 | Samford University | 34600 | 93800 | 0.6312 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 85 | California Baptist University | 34700 | 69800 | 0.5026 | 8,707 | 1024 | 0.8139 | |
| 86 | Auburn University | 35300 | 35300 | 0 | 27,907 | 1324 | 0.4593 | |
| 87 | Bay Path University | 35600 | 57500 | 0.381 | 1,178 | 1110 | 0.8514 | |
| 88 | Converse University | 36100 | 51300 | 0.2962 | 1,182 | 1129 | 0.6787 | |
| 89 | New England Institute of Technology | 36300 | 89400 | 0.5938 | 1,718 | 1030 | 0.6673 | |
| 90 | East Carolina University | 36800 | 42700 | 0.1381 | 21,693 | 1065 | 0.9003 | |
| 91 | University of Central Arkansas | 37900 | 40200 | 0.0595 | 8,238 | 1110 | 0.9157 | |
| 92 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 38800 | 38800 | 0 | 14,865 | 1175 | 0.9113 | |
| 93 | Drexel University | 39600 | 86400 | 0.5417 | 12,318 | 1354 | 0.699 | |
| 94 | Cleveland Institute of Art | 40400 | 67800 | 0.404 | 545 | 1176 | 0.6135 | |
| 95 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | 42000 | 43400 | 0.0322 | 9,827 | 1329 | 0.6737 | |
| 96 | Marist University | 43100 | 110500 | 0.61 | 5,644 | 1279 | 0.5599 | |
| 97 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 43300 | 53400 | 0.1893 | 21,469 | 1167 | 0.9061 | |
| 98 | Illinois State University | 43700 | 49100 | 0.1099 | 19,513 | 1115 | 0.8555 | |
| 99 | Wentworth Institute of Technology | 44000 | 71800 | 0.3872 | 4,182 | 1317 | 0.8783 | |
| 100 | Texas Christian University | 44300 | 87400 | 0.4933 | 11,152 | 1268 | 0.4809 | |
| 101 | Appalachian State University | 44500 | 46500 | 0.043 | 19,732 | 1174 | 0.9388 | |
| 102 | High Point University | 45200 | 72900 | 0.3797 | 5,135 | 1263 | 0.7531 | |
| 103 | University of New Haven | 46300 | 73500 | 0.3699 | 4,969 | 1219 | 0.5589 | |
| 104 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 47200 | 57200 | 0.1748 | 32,545 | 1129 | 0.799 | |
| 105 | Michigan State University | 49200 | 56200 | 0.1245 | 41,415 | 1212 | 0.8324 | |
| 106 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 49400 | 58800 | 0.1599 | 25,054 | 1225 | 0.7762 | |
| 107 | Moore College of Art and Design | 49800 | 114300 | 0.5643 | 535 | 1292 | 0.5646 | |
| 108 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 49900 | 64700 | 0.2288 | 46,627 | 1366 | 0.492 | |
| 109 | The University of Texas at Austin | 50300 | 59100 | 0.1488 | 44,314 | 1356 | 0.2222 | |
| 110 | Queens University of Charlotte | 52000 | 73000 | 0.2879 | 1,210 | 1244 | 0.805 | |
| 111 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 53200 | 53300 | 0.0019 | 34,447 | 1273 | 0.8804 | |
| 112 | The New School | 56400 | 94500 | 0.4033 | 7,171 | 1268 | 0.2393 | |
| 113 | The University of Alabama | 57500 | 58500 | 0.0171 | 35,621 | 1238 | 0.7117 | |
| 114 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 58700 | 62300 | 0.0578 | 8,513 | 1160 | 0.9261 | |
| 115 | Mercyhurst University | 66000 | 68000 | 0.0294 | 2,214 | 1203 | 0.775 | |
| 116 | Pratt Institute-Main | 70400 | 91900 | 0.234 | 3,734 | 1249 | 0.8638 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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