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 | Wilberforce University | 5500 | 40900 | 0.8663 | 822 | 965 | 0.405 | |
| 2 | Wiley University | 6800 | 20400 | 0.6676 | 712 | 0 | 1 | |
| 3 | Morehead State University | 8100 | 26300 | 0.6915 | 7,941 | 1080 | 0.8328 | |
| 4 | University of Tulsa | 9700 | 63100 | 0.8468 | 2,852 | 1328 | 0.615 | |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 10100 | 41500 | 0.7567 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 10600 | 24800 | 0.5732 | 7,393 | 1125 | 0.8968 | |
| 7 | Eastern Kentucky University | 10900 | 22900 | 0.525 | 13,448 | 1075 | 0.9683 | |
| 8 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 11100 | 32800 | 0.6612 | 46,627 | 1366 | 0.492 | |
| 9 | Fayetteville State University | 11400 | 18200 | 0.3734 | 6,542 | 900 | 0.689 | |
| 10 | Midwestern State University | 11900 | 21600 | 0.4485 | 4,303 | 1055 | 0.9347 | |
| 11 | Fitchburg State University | 12000 | 33800 | 0.6445 | 3,000 | 1090 | 0.8885 | |
| 12 | University of Illinois Chicago | 12200 | 30200 | 0.5969 | 24,260 | 1174 | 0.7576 | |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 12400 | 31100 | 0.6022 | 39,193 | 1418 | 0.4081 | |
| 14 | University of West Florida | 12500 | 50500 | 0.7532 | 9,971 | 1120 | 0.5822 | |
| 15 | Delta State University | 13000 | 23200 | 0.4403 | 1,876 | 1040 | 1 | |
| 15 | University of Arizona | 13000 | 31000 | 0.5803 | 43,294 | 1186 | 0.8351 | |
| 17 | Langston University | 13200 | 21200 | 0.3776 | 1,742 | 902 | 0 | |
| 17 | University of North Florida | 13200 | 30500 | 0.5671 | 14,837 | 1124 | 0.6815 | |
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 13200 | 27400 | 0.519 | 18,667 | 1090 | 0.9711 | |
| 20 | Louisiana Tech University | 13300 | 42900 | 0.6899 | 11,071 | 1189 | 0.9073 | |
| 20 | Northern Illinois University | 13300 | 32100 | 0.5856 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 20 | University of South Florida | 13300 | 22400 | 0.4067 | 39,093 | 1255 | 0.4071 | |
| 23 | Albany State University | 13400 | 33700 | 0.6029 | 6,154 | 865 | 0.7302 | |
| 24 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 13800 | 19000 | 0.2739 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.8651 | |
| 25 | Eastern Michigan University | 14200 | 33900 | 0.5826 | 10,034 | 1055 | 0.7772 | |
| 25 | Salem State University | 14200 | 38300 | 0.6288 | 4,867 | 1075 | 0.9588 | |
| 27 | University of Memphis | 14300 | 29100 | 0.5088 | 15,538 | 1080 | 0.7878 | |
| 28 | Florida Gulf Coast University | 14400 | 20300 | 0.29 | 14,434 | 1125 | 0.6344 | |
| 29 | Miles College | 14600 | 35100 | 0.5839 | 1,180 | 0 | 1 | |
| 29 | Shawnee State University | 14600 | 26400 | 0.4474 | 3,226 | 1085 | 0.8147 | |
| 29 | University of North Alabama | 14600 | 37300 | 0.6087 | 8,078 | 1124 | 0.7054 | |
| 32 | West Virginia University | 14700 | 73100 | 0.7986 | 18,206 | 1120 | 0.8514 | |
| 33 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 14800 | 57100 | 0.7404 | 15,735 | 1069 | 0.8797 | |
| 34 | University of Maine | 15100 | 29300 | 0.4849 | 9,182 | 1195 | 0.9562 | |
| 35 | Central Michigan University | 15400 | 38700 | 0.6019 | 10,238 | 1099 | 0.9104 | |
| 36 | Valley City State University | 15500 | 23800 | 0.3496 | 1,663 | 1045 | 0.9942 | |
| 37 | Montana Technological University | 15600 | 29600 | 0.4723 | 2,310 | 1124 | 0.9799 | |
| 37 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 38800 | 0.5992 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8613 | |
| 39 | Kansas State University | 15900 | 26400 | 0.3957 | 16,555 | 1163 | 0.875 | |
| 39 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 15900 | 24700 | 0.3557 | 8,329 | 1209 | 0.385 | |
| 41 | Nicholls State University | 16000 | 37300 | 0.5716 | 5,518 | 1100 | 0.908 | |
| 42 | Francis Marion University | 16400 | 36100 | 0.5453 | 3,793 | 1015 | 0.9508 | |
| 43 | West Liberty University | 16500 | 53100 | 0.6888 | 1,934 | 1035 | 0.9727 | |
| 44 | Emporia State University | 16600 | 30900 | 0.463 | 2,396 | 1075 | 0.9771 | |
| 44 | Georgia Southern University | 16600 | 49700 | 0.6662 | 25,595 | 1045 | 0.695 | |
| 46 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 16800 | 21300 | 0.2129 | 9,656 | 1205 | 0.7997 | |
| 47 | Bethel University | 17000 | 48700 | 0.6516 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 47 | Sam Houston State University | 17000 | 27100 | 0.3726 | 17,822 | 1035 | 0.9372 | |
| 49 | Middle Tennessee State University | 17200 | 29000 | 0.4071 | 18,042 | 1140 | 0.6909 | |
| 49 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | 17200 | 28900 | 0.4054 | 8,673 | 1095 | 0.9156 | |
| 51 | Western Connecticut State University | 17500 | 40800 | 0.5706 | 3,567 | 1105 | 0.8701 | |
| 52 | Carson-Newman University | 17700 | 51900 | 0.6592 | 1,912 | 1075 | 0.6381 | |
| 52 | Muhlenberg College | 17700 | 122400 | 0.8555 | 1,737 | 1353 | 0.7199 | |
| 54 | Columbus State University | 17800 | 59500 | 0.7003 | 6,147 | 970 | 0.9907 | |
| 54 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 17800 | 52300 | 0.6594 | 6,790 | 965 | 0.9447 | |
| 56 | York College of Pennsylvania | 17900 | 45800 | 0.6097 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 57 | The University of Texas at Austin | 18000 | 28100 | 0.359 | 44,314 | 1356 | 0.2222 | |
| 57 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 18000 | 28500 | 0.3688 | 11,959 | 1260 | 0.8818 | |
| 59 | Bellevue University | 18300 | 41000 | 0.5532 | 11,037 | 0 | 1 | |
| 60 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | 18500 | 30500 | 0.3932 | 6,743 | 1266 | 0.6292 | |
| 61 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 18700 | 48900 | 0.6172 | 5,274 | 1103 | 0.9513 | |
| 62 | Olivet Nazarene University | 18800 | 79300 | 0.7634 | 2,704 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 62 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 18800 | 32000 | 0.4129 | 3,825 | 1175 | 0.7841 | |
| 64 | Western Carolina University | 19000 | 20500 | 0.0733 | 10,268 | 1140 | 0.7076 | |
| 65 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 19300 | 29900 | 0.3563 | 60,710 | 1278 | 0.5732 | |
| 65 | University of Arkansas at Monticello | 19300 | 27600 | 0.3005 | 2,457 | 980 | 1 | |
| 67 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 19500 | 30600 | 0.3626 | 7,425 | 1074 | 0.9147 | |
| 68 | Minot State University | 19800 | 23500 | 0.1569 | 2,499 | 1075 | 0.6462 | |
| 69 | Dalton State College | 19900 | 26500 | 0.2495 | 5,135 | 1020 | 0.4343 | |
| 69 | University of Houston | 19900 | 28400 | 0.2996 | 40,366 | 1224 | 0.7577 | |
| 71 | Regis University | 20100 | 67400 | 0.7017 | 2,505 | 1225 | 0.8461 | |
| 71 | Thomas University | 20100 | 30400 | 0.3386 | 1,022 | 1110 | 0.383 | |
| 73 | Thomas More University | 20300 | 82800 | 0.755 | 2,126 | 1180 | 0.9035 | |
| 74 | Claflin University | 21000 | 50700 | 0.5859 | 1,731 | 940 | 0.6493 | |
| 74 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside | 21000 | 24300 | 0.1383 | 3,207 | 1084 | 0.9751 | |
| 74 | West Texas A & M University | 21000 | 29200 | 0.2806 | 7,110 | 1060 | 0.6681 | |
| 77 | SUNY Old Westbury | 21100 | 38000 | 0.4453 | 4,474 | 1110 | 0.8352 | |
| 78 | University of Northern Iowa | 21200 | 24800 | 0.144 | 7,800 | 1115 | 0.9313 | |
| 79 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 21300 | 41300 | 0.4843 | 3,211 | 1243 | 0.9594 | |
| 79 | Texas Southern University | 21300 | 38900 | 0.4524 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 81 | University of Kansas | 21900 | 37600 | 0.4188 | 22,544 | 1176 | 0.9258 | |
| 82 | University of the Incarnate Word | 22000 | 58000 | 0.6205 | 4,651 | 1010 | 0.9947 | |
| 83 | Florida State University | 22200 | 32100 | 0.3082 | 34,271 | 1369 | 0.2383 | |
| 83 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4671 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 85 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 22300 | 34200 | 0.3483 | 15,273 | 1115 | 0.8089 | |
| 85 | Spring Hill College | 22300 | 41600 | 0.4641 | 630 | 1114 | 0.664 | |
| 87 | Faulkner University | 22500 | 60900 | 0.631 | 1,758 | 1025 | 0.7307 | |
| 87 | Newman University | 22500 | 55800 | 0.5964 | 2,529 | 1069 | 0.7398 | |
| 87 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 22500 | 22500 | 0 | 20,786 | 1225 | 0.8689 | |
| 87 | Park University | 22500 | 31300 | 0.2816 | 4,657 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 91 | The University of Alabama | 22600 | 33400 | 0.3232 | 35,621 | 1238 | 0.7117 | |
| 92 | Augsburg University | 23100 | 56200 | 0.5893 | 2,706 | 1065 | 0.95 | |
| 92 | Millikin University | 23100 | 43700 | 0.4709 | 1,427 | 1065 | 0.765 | |
| 92 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | 23100 | 34900 | 0.3385 | 4,371 | 1084 | 0.865 | |
| 95 | The University of Tennessee Southern | 23200 | 28100 | 0.1731 | 1,012 | 1075 | 0.8671 | |
| 96 | Midland University | 23500 | 64300 | 0.6354 | 1,309 | 1045 | 0.6612 | |
| 97 | Wittenberg University | 23600 | 65400 | 0.639 | 1,012 | 1184 | 0.8046 | |
| 98 | Northern Arizona University | 23900 | 47000 | 0.4927 | 22,203 | 1129 | 0.8961 | |
| 99 | Georgia Gwinnett College | 24000 | 25300 | 0.0514 | 12,245 | 995 | 0.955 | |
| 99 | University of Jamestown | 24000 | 34400 | 0.3013 | 1,097 | 1055 | 0.88 | |
| 101 | Campbellsville University | 24100 | 45100 | 0.4653 | 6,848 | 1075 | 0.7974 | |
| 101 | University of Dayton | 24100 | 64400 | 0.6255 | 7,252 | 1319 | 0.6659 | |
| 103 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 24300 | 53800 | 0.5485 | 2,775 | 1105 | 0.9747 | |
| 104 | Augustana College | 24500 | 72800 | 0.6628 | 2,536 | 1157 | 0.6628 | |
| 105 | Tennessee Technological University | 24600 | 33700 | 0.2693 | 9,187 | 1163 | 0.7613 | |
| 106 | Fort Hays State University | 24700 | 28500 | 0.1355 | 10,172 | 1075 | 0.9026 | |
| 107 | St Catherine University | 25000 | 71900 | 0.6528 | 2,602 | 1148 | 0.9047 | |
| 108 | Rogers State University | 25200 | 49700 | 0.4925 | 3,278 | 1025 | 0.6784 | |
| 108 | Texas Wesleyan University | 25200 | 64700 | 0.6101 | 1,796 | 1060 | 0.6916 | |
| 110 | Le Moyne College | 25300 | 58200 | 0.5656 | 2,494 | 1250 | 0.6782 | |
| 110 | Saint Norbert College | 25300 | 63000 | 0.598 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 112 | Ball State University | 25400 | 25400 | 0 | 15,950 | 1185 | 0.8625 | |
| 113 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 25600 | 82600 | 0.6903 | 871 | 985 | 0.8296 | |
| 114 | Lakeland University | 25700 | 56500 | 0.5455 | 2,411 | 1015 | 0.8652 | |
| 115 | Simpson College | 26300 | 67100 | 0.6084 | 1,235 | 1430 | 0.8622 | |
| 116 | Texas Lutheran University | 26600 | 55400 | 0.5203 | 1,319 | 1140 | 0.9571 | |
| 117 | Oakland University | 26700 | 39600 | 0.3258 | 12,770 | 1039 | 0.8897 | |
| 118 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 27300 | 37900 | 0.2788 | 4,573 | 1165 | 0.853 | |
| 119 | North Dakota State University | 27400 | 30400 | 0.0976 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 120 | Flagler College | 28100 | 61900 | 0.5456 | 2,359 | 1175 | 0.787 | |
| 120 | Wayne State University | 28100 | 46800 | 0.3998 | 16,390 | 1183 | 0.8359 | |
| 122 | Caldwell University | 28200 | 59300 | 0.5245 | 1,619 | 1245 | 0.7134 | |
| 122 | University of Virginia's College at Wise | 28200 | 47800 | 0.4095 | 2,209 | 1080 | 0.3697 | |
| 124 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3223 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 125 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 28400 | 69700 | 0.5922 | 765 | 1020 | 0.6617 | |
| 126 | Catawba College | 29000 | 55200 | 0.4744 | 1,285 | 1115 | 0.7867 | |
| 126 | Michigan Technological University | 29000 | 34700 | 0.1641 | 6,009 | 1247 | 0.8546 | |
| 128 | Utah Tech University | 29300 | 35200 | 0.1677 | 12,993 | 1065 | 1 | |
| 129 | Edgewood University | 29800 | 58200 | 0.4877 | 1,236 | 1125 | 0.7498 | |
| 130 | Mississippi State University | 29900 | 34400 | 0.1326 | 19,093 | 1205 | 0.8363 | |
| 131 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 30100 | 78300 | 0.6157 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 132 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | 30700 | 101400 | 0.6971 | 18,904 | 0 | 0.8516 | |
| 132 | Southern Adventist University | 30700 | 49000 | 0.3746 | 2,946 | 1142 | 0.7163 | |
| 134 | Prairie View A & M University | 30800 | 39600 | 0.2221 | 9,022 | 960 | 0.7836 | |
| 135 | Northern Kentucky University | 31600 | 32100 | 0.0156 | 10,136 | 1110 | 0.9666 | |
| 136 | Hampton University | 31700 | 54800 | 0.4215 | 4,046 | 1005 | 0.6358 | |
| 137 | Central Baptist College | 31800 | 35900 | 0.1132 | 547 | 1035 | 0.6346 | |
| 138 | Villanova University | 32100 | 92900 | 0.6548 | 6,933 | 1466 | 0.2814 | |
| 139 | McKendree University | 32300 | 52900 | 0.39 | 1,757 | 1098 | 0.7172 | |
| 140 | Liberty University | 32500 | 44700 | 0.2729 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 141 | Grand View University | 32700 | 60300 | 0.4575 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 142 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | 33000 | 72600 | 0.5451 | 2,836 | 1283 | 0.6711 | |
| 143 | Baylor University | 33500 | 70400 | 0.5244 | 14,183 | 1302 | 0.5222 | |
| 144 | University of Indianapolis | 33700 | 60700 | 0.4442 | 3,394 | 1080 | 0.728 | |
| 145 | DePaul University | 34100 | 69400 | 0.5083 | 14,338 | 1258 | 0.878 | |
| 145 | Iona University | 34100 | 69900 | 0.5124 | 3,382 | 1214 | 0.8694 | |
| 147 | University of Idaho | 34500 | 48700 | 0.2916 | 9,656 | 1104 | 0.7476 | |
| 148 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 34700 | 46400 | 0.2519 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 149 | Albertus Magnus College | 35300 | 101100 | 0.651 | 1,006 | 955 | 0.5931 | |
| 149 | Mount Mercy University | 35300 | 61200 | 0.4237 | 1,139 | 1110 | 0.8248 | |
| 149 | Southern New Hampshire University | 35300 | 64600 | 0.4536 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 152 | Cedarville University | 35400 | 57000 | 0.3784 | 5,794 | 1232 | 0.6529 | |
| 153 | Texas A&M International University | 35800 | 39400 | 0.0905 | 7,210 | 995 | 0.4437 | |
| 154 | Florida International University | 36500 | 36800 | 0.0081 | 46,249 | 1180 | 0.6085 | |
| 155 | East Carolina University | 36600 | 42700 | 0.1421 | 21,693 | 1065 | 0.9003 | |
| 156 | University of West Georgia | 37100 | 47300 | 0.2155 | 10,075 | 1035 | 0.7995 | |
| 157 | Andrews University | 37200 | 76700 | 0.5148 | 1,384 | 1143 | 0.8185 | |
| 157 | Hardin-Simmons University | 37200 | 49700 | 0.2514 | 1,291 | 1110 | 0.862 | |
| 159 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 37500 | 40100 | 0.064 | 25,054 | 1225 | 0.7762 | |
| 160 | Xavier University | 37600 | 68100 | 0.4481 | 3,744 | 1286 | 0.848 | |
| 161 | University of Central Arkansas | 37700 | 40200 | 0.0637 | 8,238 | 1110 | 0.9157 | |
| 162 | Oakwood University | 38200 | 43300 | 0.117 | 1,184 | 1005 | 0.4563 | |
| 163 | Loyola University Chicago | 38800 | 73100 | 0.469 | 12,640 | 1262 | 0.751 | |
| 164 | Champlain College | 39500 | 105100 | 0.6243 | 1,514 | 1273 | 0.873 | |
| 165 | Drexel University | 39700 | 86400 | 0.5408 | 12,318 | 1354 | 0.699 | |
| 166 | Saint Francis University | 39900 | 67300 | 0.407 | 2,567 | 1150 | 0.7682 | |
| 166 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 39900 | 59200 | 0.3258 | 5,986 | 1110 | 0.8916 | |
| 168 | University of Mississippi | 40100 | 45200 | 0.1128 | 22,939 | 1172 | 0.9738 | |
| 169 | Butler University | 41400 | 68400 | 0.395 | 4,418 | 1269 | 0.8209 | |
| 170 | Rhode Island College | 41600 | 63300 | 0.3427 | 5,695 | 995 | 0.8557 | |
| 170 | Virginia State University | 41600 | 42800 | 0.028 | 5,124 | 955 | 0.8863 | |
| 172 | Fairfield University | 41700 | 84400 | 0.5061 | 5,671 | 1345 | 0.2505 | |
| 173 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 50500 | 0.1624 | 17,504 | 1205 | 0.9135 | |
| 174 | Florida Institute of Technology | 43200 | 68700 | 0.3719 | 4,279 | 1234 | 0.5796 | |
| 175 | Illinois State University | 43500 | 49100 | 0.1134 | 19,513 | 1115 | 0.8555 | |
| 176 | Western Washington University | 43700 | 52400 | 0.1661 | 13,609 | 1199 | 0.9371 | |
| 177 | Oregon State University | 44800 | 61900 | 0.2766 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 178 | Florida Atlantic University | 45300 | 45300 | 0 | 25,626 | 1150 | 0.5497 | |
| 179 | Appalachian State University | 46500 | 46500 | 0 | 19,732 | 1174 | 0.9388 | |
| 180 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 47200 | 57100 | 0.1733 | 32,545 | 1129 | 0.799 | |
| 181 | University of Delaware | 47700 | 62400 | 0.2365 | 19,287 | 1302 | 0.6924 | |
| 182 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 50100 | 85400 | 0.4135 | 5,461 | 1292 | 0.6189 | |
| 183 | Binghamton University | 50300 | 52800 | 0.0486 | 14,559 | 1404 | 0.3731 | |
| 184 | Point Loma Nazarene University | 50500 | 72200 | 0.3002 | 3,340 | 1263 | 0.8278 | |
| 185 | University of Georgia | 52000 | 52100 | 0.0019 | 32,824 | 1348 | 0.3425 | |
| 186 | Dallas Baptist University | 55800 | 84300 | 0.3381 | 2,938 | 1073 | 0.9131 | |
| 187 | Miami University-Oxford | 57400 | 57400 | 0 | 16,405 | 1284 | 0.74 | |
| 188 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 58300 | 63600 | 0.0834 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 189 | Howard University | 60000 | 88500 | 0.3222 | 11,519 | 1208 | 0.4134 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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