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 California-Los Angeles | 0 | 68600 | 1 | 33,471 | 1399 | 0.0897 | |
| 1 | University of Connecticut | 0 | 33200 | 1 | 19,388 | 1324 | 0.5395 | |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 4900 | 86800 | 0.9433 | 4,576 | 1535 | 0.0485 | |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins University | 6700 | 88600 | 0.9243 | 6,356 | 1543 | 0.0644 | |
| 5 | California Institute of Technology | 8000 | 90300 | 0.9112 | 987 | 1557 | 0.0257 | |
| 6 | Washington University in St Louis | 9400 | 96200 | 0.9026 | 8,220 | 1513 | 0.1206 | |
| 7 | University of California-Davis | 10100 | 37800 | 0.732 | 32,273 | 1290 | 0.4183 | |
| 8 | Columbia University in the City of New York | 10200 | 94100 | 0.8919 | 9,157 | 1535 | 0.0386 | |
| 9 | Cornell University | 10400 | 92000 | 0.8866 | 16,128 | 1521 | 0.0841 | |
| 10 | Northern Arizona University | 10900 | 25400 | 0.5699 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 11 | Eastern Washington University | 11500 | 30900 | 0.6273 | 6,951 | 1055 | 0.9437 | |
| 11 | University of Pennsylvania | 11500 | 93000 | 0.8765 | 10,013 | 1528 | 0.054 | |
| 13 | Dalton State College | 12100 | 18900 | 0.3605 | 4,902 | 1020 | 0.4343 | |
| 14 | Northern Illinois University | 12400 | 29000 | 0.5718 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 15 | Brigham Young University | 12500 | 29000 | 0.5686 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 16 | Northwestern University | 12600 | 87700 | 0.8563 | 8,846 | 1513 | 0.0722 | |
| 16 | University of Central Florida | 12600 | 23600 | 0.4661 | 59,649 | 1280 | 0.4471 | |
| 18 | University of West Florida | 13000 | 21500 | 0.3948 | 9,661 | 1120 | 0.5687 | |
| 19 | Florida Gulf Coast University | 13500 | 20300 | 0.3342 | 14,243 | 1125 | 0.7675 | |
| 20 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 13600 | 24400 | 0.4431 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 20 | University of Delaware | 13600 | 32500 | 0.5809 | 19,119 | 1303 | 0.6356 | |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 13700 | 32200 | 0.5744 | 39,083 | 1412 | 0.4517 | |
| 23 | Louisiana Tech University | 13800 | 24900 | 0.4451 | 11,071 | 1164 | 0.9073 | |
| 23 | Northeastern State University | 13800 | 20800 | 0.336 | 5,085 | 1035 | 0.9935 | |
| 25 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 13900 | 25000 | 0.4431 | 3,018 | 920 | 0.9386 | |
| 26 | Texas Tech University | 14000 | 27000 | 0.4813 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 27 | Case Western Reserve University | 14200 | 80400 | 0.8229 | 6,528 | 1485 | 0.3778 | |
| 27 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 14200 | 27800 | 0.4903 | 6,270 | 1140 | 0.8726 | |
| 29 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 30 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14400 | 41100 | 0.6502 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 31 | Stanford University | 14800 | 71300 | 0.792 | 7,904 | 1535 | 0.0361 | |
| 32 | Central Michigan University | 15200 | 40600 | 0.6257 | 10,219 | 1095 | 0.8982 | |
| 33 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15300 | 28100 | 0.4555 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 34 | University of North Texas | 15500 | 25400 | 0.3904 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 35 | North Carolina State University | 15600 | 27500 | 0.4331 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 36 | University of California-Riverside | 15900 | 36500 | 0.564 | 22,599 | 1199 | 0.7685 | |
| 37 | Lehigh University | 16200 | 85700 | 0.8114 | 5,911 | 1436 | 0.2593 | |
| 38 | Carnegie Mellon University | 16400 | 87300 | 0.8119 | 7,824 | 1528 | 0.1166 | |
| 39 | Appalachian State University | 16600 | 19500 | 0.1485 | 19,560 | 1159 | 0.9014 | |
| 40 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | 16700 | 78300 | 0.7868 | 17,901 | 1470 | 0.1681 | |
| 41 | Georgia Military College | 16900 | 31800 | 0.468 | 6,575 | 0 | 0 | |
| 41 | Middle Tennessee State University | 16900 | 23200 | 0.2713 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 43 | Winona State University | 17000 | 23000 | 0.259 | 5,277 | 1115 | 0.6848 | |
| 44 | Albany State University | 17200 | 29200 | 0.4112 | 6,018 | 865 | 0.9714 | |
| 45 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 17400 | 24700 | 0.2981 | 8,765 | 1209 | 0.8799 | |
| 46 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 17700 | 17700 | 0 | 18,428 | 1090 | 0.9529 | |
| 47 | Georgia Southern University | 17800 | 23800 | 0.2525 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 48 | SUNY College at Plattsburgh | 18000 | 32100 | 0.4399 | 3,856 | 1169 | 0.7518 | |
| 49 | University of Arkansas | 18200 | 27700 | 0.3419 | 28,859 | 1179 | 0.7431 | |
| 50 | North Carolina Wesleyan University | 18300 | 56400 | 0.6761 | 1,215 | 980 | 0.7795 | |
| 51 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4817 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 52 | Missouri Southern State University | 18800 | 24800 | 0.2415 | 3,881 | 1074 | 0.9706 | |
| 53 | Kansas State University | 19000 | 31400 | 0.395 | 15,650 | 1164 | 0.8199 | |
| 54 | Youngstown State University | 19300 | 29300 | 0.3409 | 8,436 | 1065 | 0.8066 | |
| 55 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 19400 | 27000 | 0.2819 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 56 | San Jose State University | 19700 | 29900 | 0.3409 | 28,008 | 0 | 0.8461 | |
| 57 | Iowa State University | 20100 | 24200 | 0.1704 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 58 | Piedmont University | 20200 | 47200 | 0.572 | 1,159 | 1130 | 0.9328 | |
| 59 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 20300 | 36200 | 0.4386 | 36,588 | 1367 | 0.6535 | |
| 60 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 20500 | 31000 | 0.3383 | 60,710 | 1278 | 0.5732 | |
| 60 | Western Michigan University | 20500 | 31200 | 0.3426 | 13,860 | 1104 | 0.846 | |
| 62 | West Virginia University | 20700 | 28800 | 0.2815 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 63 | The University of Texas at Austin | 20800 | 26900 | 0.2267 | 43,165 | 1335 | 0.2664 | |
| 64 | University of Northern Iowa | 20900 | 24000 | 0.128 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 64 | Wayland Baptist University | 20900 | 37300 | 0.4401 | 2,087 | 925 | 0.5596 | |
| 64 | Western Illinois University | 20900 | 31000 | 0.3266 | 5,025 | 990 | 0.7496 | |
| 67 | Rutgers University-Newark | 21000 | 38900 | 0.4603 | 7,417 | 1159 | 0.7873 | |
| 67 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 21000 | 28500 | 0.2635 | 12,382 | 1242 | 0.8842 | |
| 69 | University of St Francis | 21200 | 56000 | 0.6224 | 1,338 | 1030 | 0.653 | |
| 70 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 22200 | 34400 | 0.3546 | 14,783 | 1140 | 0.8096 | |
| 70 | Bradley University | 22200 | 48300 | 0.5396 | 3,596 | 1174 | 0.7675 | |
| 72 | Colorado Christian University | 22700 | 63300 | 0.6412 | 6,730 | 1110 | 0.8328 | |
| 72 | Lewis University | 22700 | 57000 | 0.6019 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 72 | University of Memphis | 22700 | 30000 | 0.2437 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 75 | Murray State University | 23000 | 27600 | 0.166 | 8,281 | 1124 | 0.8568 | |
| 76 | Grove City College | 23100 | 37200 | 0.3791 | 2,341 | 1256 | 0.7232 | |
| 77 | Fort Valley State University | 23500 | 38900 | 0.3956 | 2,558 | 940 | 0.628 | |
| 78 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 23600 | 25700 | 0.0817 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 78 | Syracuse University | 23600 | 83100 | 0.716 | 15,958 | 1363 | 0.4611 | |
| 80 | Illinois Institute of Technology | 23900 | 71600 | 0.6664 | 3,135 | 1299 | 0.5493 | |
| 81 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 24100 | 39200 | 0.3853 | 28,674 | 980 | 0.9401 | |
| 82 | University of Central Arkansas | 24400 | 29500 | 0.1719 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 83 | Calvin University | 24600 | 53000 | 0.536 | 3,356 | 1214 | 0.7091 | |
| 83 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 24600 | 26600 | 0.0779 | 3,413 | 1085 | 0.5295 | |
| 85 | Elmhurst University | 24800 | 67000 | 0.6301 | 3,170 | 1148 | 0.7357 | |
| 85 | Tiffin University | 24800 | 48000 | 0.4838 | 2,666 | 990 | 0.7977 | |
| 87 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 25000 | 36600 | 0.3173 | 65,450 | 1203 | 0.8989 | |
| 88 | New Jersey City University | 25100 | 39800 | 0.3697 | 4,209 | 1015 | 0.8918 | |
| 88 | Tuskegee University | 25100 | 42100 | 0.4042 | 2,400 | 1030 | 0.3143 | |
| 90 | Bellevue University | 25200 | 25700 | 0.0194 | 11,096 | 0 | 0.995 | |
| 91 | Temple University | 25400 | 36300 | 0.3005 | 21,428 | 1245 | 0.8045 | |
| 92 | University of Kansas | 25600 | 37600 | 0.3207 | 22,085 | 1176 | 0.9348 | |
| 93 | Michigan State University | 25800 | 28900 | 0.1089 | 41,234 | 1223 | 0.848 | |
| 94 | Missouri Western State University | 25900 | 39300 | 0.3417 | 3,494 | 1015 | 0.9996 | |
| 95 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | 26100 | 32800 | 0.204 | 4,421 | 1099 | 0.8555 | |
| 95 | University of Evansville | 26100 | 64700 | 0.5965 | 1,742 | 1207 | 0.7813 | |
| 97 | Clayton State University | 26400 | 34900 | 0.2438 | 5,301 | 980 | 0.7056 | |
| 98 | Marietta College | 26500 | 62300 | 0.5741 | 1,023 | 1075 | 0.7929 | |
| 98 | University of Arizona | 26500 | 35200 | 0.247 | 45,025 | 1212 | 0.8614 | |
| 100 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 26700 | 28800 | 0.072 | 6,124 | 1159 | 0.8747 | |
| 101 | Oakland University | 26800 | 39800 | 0.3268 | 12,587 | 1050 | 0.8784 | |
| 102 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 103 | Central Washington University | 27600 | 27800 | 0.0072 | 10,033 | 1060 | 0.9061 | |
| 103 | Park University | 27600 | 30800 | 0.104 | 6,238 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 103 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 27600 | 27600 | 0 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 106 | John Carroll University | 27700 | 72100 | 0.6159 | 2,339 | 1292 | 0.809 | |
| 106 | Michigan Technological University | 27700 | 34700 | 0.2018 | 6,022 | 1256 | 0.8353 | |
| 106 | Weber State University | 27700 | 33300 | 0.1682 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 109 | Alabama A & M University | 28100 | 42800 | 0.3433 | 5,845 | 940 | 0.6622 | |
| 110 | Grand Valley State University | 28200 | 35700 | 0.2101 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 111 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 28500 | 41900 | 0.3197 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 112 | Clarkson University | 28900 | 78000 | 0.6296 | 2,296 | 1302 | 0.7736 | |
| 112 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 28900 | 39700 | 0.2722 | 4,478 | 1065 | 0.8132 | |
| 114 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 29900 | 31100 | 0.0385 | 20,592 | 1435 | 0.1407 | |
| 114 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 29900 | 52900 | 0.435 | 37,140 | 1442 | 0.4237 | |
| 116 | University of South Alabama | 30000 | 35000 | 0.1429 | 9,241 | 1140 | 0.7096 | |
| 117 | Gannon University | 30400 | 45300 | 0.329 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 118 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 30500 | 78100 | 0.6096 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 119 | Alfred University | 30600 | 67100 | 0.5437 | 1,474 | 1214 | 0.7384 | |
| 119 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 30600 | 31100 | 0.0161 | 19,701 | 1214 | 0.8749 | |
| 121 | East Tennessee State University | 30700 | 30700 | 0 | 10,633 | 1124 | 0.8706 | |
| 122 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 30900 | 42400 | 0.2713 | 21,947 | 1335 | 0.3122 | |
| 122 | University of Houston | 30900 | 35200 | 0.1223 | 39,257 | 1249 | 0.7392 | |
| 122 | University of Toledo | 30900 | 42000 | 0.2639 | 11,013 | 1159 | 0.9202 | |
| 125 | Southeastern Louisiana University | 31100 | 43700 | 0.2884 | 13,206 | 1125 | 0.9387 | |
| 126 | Point University | 31200 | 43800 | 0.2877 | 2,617 | 975 | 0.6751 | |
| 127 | Portland State University | 31300 | 43000 | 0.2715 | 15,960 | 1176 | 0.9091 | |
| 127 | University of Rhode Island | 31300 | 46700 | 0.3298 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 129 | Adrian College | 31700 | 67500 | 0.53 | 1,678 | 1060 | 0.6843 | |
| 130 | University of North Florida | 31800 | 37900 | 0.161 | 13,735 | 1150 | 0.5324 | |
| 131 | Sam Houston State University | 32100 | 39900 | 0.1955 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 132 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | 32400 | 39900 | 0.1879 | 9,967 | 1080 | 0.9475 | |
| 133 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 32600 | 38500 | 0.1533 | 7,890 | 1105 | 0.2056 | |
| 134 | Belmont Abbey College | 33200 | 37700 | 0.1194 | 1,549 | 1075 | 0.9038 | |
| 135 | University of Indianapolis | 33400 | 59900 | 0.4419 | 3,603 | 1080 | 0.6648 | |
| 135 | Wilkes University | 33400 | 61900 | 0.4597 | 1,956 | 1153 | 0.9146 | |
| 137 | Anderson University | 33600 | 52400 | 0.3588 | 3,405 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 138 | College of Charleston | 33700 | 33700 | 0 | 10,880 | 1255 | 0.6003 | |
| 139 | Auburn University | 34400 | 34400 | 0 | 27,907 | 1324 | 0.4593 | |
| 139 | Charleston Southern University | 34400 | 48400 | 0.2905 | 2,914 | 1070 | 0.7609 | |
| 139 | Morgan State University | 34400 | 37200 | 0.0753 | 9,027 | 965 | 0.8223 | |
| 142 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 143 | University of South Florida | 34700 | 34700 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 144 | University of Nevada-Reno | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 18,895 | 1134 | 0.7371 | |
| 145 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 35700 | 42400 | 0.158 | 31,112 | 1130 | 0.8129 | |
| 146 | Boise State University | 35800 | 48800 | 0.2664 | 24,030 | 1025 | 0.8721 | |
| 147 | Florida International University | 36300 | 36800 | 0.0136 | 44,904 | 1175 | 0.5466 | |
| 148 | Mississippi State University | 36400 | 50500 | 0.2789 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 148 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | 36400 | 38700 | 0.0595 | 1,217 | 1229 | 0.5405 | |
| 150 | University of Michigan-Flint | 36800 | 39400 | 0.066 | 5,011 | 1084 | 0.7047 | |
| 151 | East Carolina University | 37100 | 40100 | 0.0748 | 21,445 | 1120 | 0.8922 | |
| 152 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 37400 | 62000 | 0.3968 | 31,035 | 1366 | 0.5499 | |
| 153 | Washington State University | 38600 | 53900 | 0.2835 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 154 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 39000 | 52900 | 0.2626 | 30,564 | 1298 | 0.416 | |
| 155 | Wayne State University | 39300 | 45500 | 0.1362 | 16,173 | 1174 | 0.7786 | |
| 156 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 39600 | 53800 | 0.264 | 23,920 | 1390 | 0.5973 | |
| 157 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 40300 | 56700 | 0.2893 | 40,754 | 1391 | 0.3915 | |
| 158 | York College of Pennsylvania | 41400 | 41400 | 0 | 3,308 | 1135 | 0.942 | |
| 159 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 41600 | 42500 | 0.0212 | 14,449 | 1195 | 0.7816 | |
| 160 | Hofstra University | 41700 | 74600 | 0.4409 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 161 | Arkansas State University | 41900 | 45900 | 0.0859 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 162 | Quinnipiac University | 42200 | 79200 | 0.4671 | 6,248 | 1209 | 0.77 | |
| 162 | University of Alaska Anchorage | 42200 | 42200 | 0 | 9,965 | 1095 | 0.5958 | |
| 164 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 164 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | 42500 | 54900 | 0.2261 | 20,418 | 1375 | 0.5808 | |
| 166 | University of Maryland-College Park | 42700 | 52900 | 0.1928 | 31,133 | 1456 | 0.448 | |
| 167 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 43200 | 46200 | 0.0665 | 44,170 | 1327 | 0.4979 | |
| 168 | University of Florida | 43500 | 45600 | 0.046 | 36,567 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 169 | Florida Institute of Technology | 43700 | 68800 | 0.3647 | 3,677 | 1224 | 0.577 | |
| 169 | Texas Christian University | 43700 | 81900 | 0.4664 | 11,049 | 1283 | 0.4449 | |
| 171 | Oregon State University | 44900 | 61900 | 0.2742 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 172 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | 45300 | 45300 | 0 | 2,737 | 1195 | 0.9281 | |
| 173 | Duquesne University | 45400 | 70500 | 0.3557 | 5,371 | 1269 | 0.8356 | |
| 174 | Marquette University | 45600 | 75100 | 0.3929 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 175 | University of San Diego | 46100 | 85500 | 0.4608 | 5,851 | 1298 | 0.5238 | |
| 176 | Bryant University | 46300 | 73800 | 0.3727 | 3,200 | 1265 | 0.6546 | |
| 177 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 48400 | 85700 | 0.435 | 5,743 | 1438 | 0.6343 | |
| 178 | University of California-Merced | 48500 | 52300 | 0.0726 | 8,372 | 1070 | 0.9152 | |
| 179 | Binghamton University | 50000 | 52100 | 0.0398 | 14,669 | 1417 | 0.3861 | |
| 180 | University of Kentucky | 51000 | 56000 | 0.0893 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 180 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 51000 | 84200 | 0.3944 | 34,454 | 1435 | 0.1564 | |
| 182 | Drexel University | 51200 | 82600 | 0.38 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 183 | University of Utah | 51600 | 53700 | 0.0386 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 184 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 53400 | 61000 | 0.1257 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 185 | Rowan University | 53600 | 53600 | 0 | 16,199 | 1214 | 0.783 | |
| 186 | University of California-Irvine | 55000 | 64800 | 0.1512 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 187 | Howard University | 58400 | 61600 | 0.052 | 11,519 | 1208 | 0.4134 | |
| 188 | Clemson University | 61600 | 63700 | 0.0326 | 23,401 | 1343 | 0.3834 | |
| 189 | Elon University | 66000 | 67300 | 0.0193 | 6,452 | 1244 | 0.6635 | |
| 190 | University of California-Berkeley | 74600 | 75500 | 0.0119 | 33,469 | 1407 | 0.1104 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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