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 | University of Tulsa | 9700 | 63100 | 0.8468 | 2,852 | 1328 | 0.615 | |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 10200 | 41500 | 0.7543 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 10700 | 24800 | 0.5691 | 7,393 | 1125 | 0.8968 | |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University | 10900 | 27300 | 0.6018 | 13,448 | 1075 | 0.9683 | |
| 7 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 11100 | 32800 | 0.6612 | 46,627 | 1366 | 0.492 | |
| 8 | Fayetteville State University | 11400 | 18200 | 0.3734 | 6,542 | 900 | 0.689 | |
| 9 | University of West Florida | 12000 | 22200 | 0.459 | 9,971 | 1120 | 0.5822 | |
| 10 | University of Illinois Chicago | 12200 | 30200 | 0.5969 | 24,260 | 1174 | 0.7576 | |
| 11 | Fitchburg State University | 12400 | 33800 | 0.6327 | 3,000 | 1090 | 0.8885 | |
| 11 | Wayne State University | 12400 | 32900 | 0.6228 | 16,390 | 1183 | 0.8359 | |
| 13 | Delta State University | 13000 | 23200 | 0.4403 | 1,876 | 1040 | 1 | |
| 14 | Langston University | 13200 | 21200 | 0.3776 | 1,742 | 902 | 0 | |
| 14 | University of North Florida | 13200 | 30500 | 0.5671 | 14,837 | 1124 | 0.6815 | |
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 13200 | 27400 | 0.519 | 18,667 | 1090 | 0.9711 | |
| 17 | Louisiana Tech University | 13300 | 42900 | 0.6899 | 11,071 | 1189 | 0.9073 | |
| 17 | Northern Illinois University | 13300 | 32100 | 0.5856 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 19 | Albany State University | 13400 | 33700 | 0.6029 | 6,154 | 865 | 0.7302 | |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 13700 | 61700 | 0.7774 | 39,193 | 1418 | 0.4081 | |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 13800 | 22200 | 0.3792 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.8651 | |
| 22 | Eastern Michigan University | 14200 | 33900 | 0.5802 | 10,034 | 1055 | 0.7772 | |
| 22 | Salem State University | 14200 | 38300 | 0.6288 | 4,867 | 1075 | 0.9588 | |
| 24 | University of Memphis | 14400 | 26400 | 0.4554 | 15,538 | 1080 | 0.7878 | |
| 24 | University of Virginia's College at Wise | 14400 | 31100 | 0.539 | 2,209 | 1080 | 0.3697 | |
| 26 | Miles College | 14600 | 35100 | 0.5839 | 1,180 | 0 | 1 | |
| 26 | Shawnee State University | 14600 | 33800 | 0.5688 | 3,226 | 1085 | 0.8147 | |
| 26 | University of North Alabama | 14600 | 37300 | 0.6087 | 8,078 | 1124 | 0.7054 | |
| 29 | West Virginia University | 14700 | 73100 | 0.7986 | 18,206 | 1120 | 0.8514 | |
| 30 | Florida Gulf Coast University | 14900 | 22500 | 0.3374 | 14,434 | 1125 | 0.6344 | |
| 31 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 15000 | 54400 | 0.7248 | 15,735 | 1069 | 0.8797 | |
| 32 | Central Michigan University | 15400 | 38700 | 0.6019 | 10,238 | 1099 | 0.9104 | |
| 32 | University of West Georgia | 15400 | 24600 | 0.3744 | 10,075 | 1035 | 0.7995 | |
| 34 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 38800 | 0.5992 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8613 | |
| 35 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 15900 | 24700 | 0.3557 | 8,329 | 1209 | 0.385 | |
| 36 | Nicholls State University | 16000 | 37300 | 0.5716 | 5,518 | 1100 | 0.908 | |
| 37 | Francis Marion University | 16400 | 36100 | 0.5453 | 3,793 | 1015 | 0.9508 | |
| 37 | West Liberty University | 16400 | 53100 | 0.6907 | 1,934 | 1035 | 0.9727 | |
| 39 | Emporia State University | 16600 | 30900 | 0.463 | 2,396 | 1075 | 0.9771 | |
| 40 | Georgia Southern University | 16800 | 20100 | 0.1638 | 25,595 | 1045 | 0.695 | |
| 40 | Sam Houston State University | 16800 | 30300 | 0.4452 | 17,822 | 1035 | 0.9372 | |
| 42 | Bethel University | 17000 | 48700 | 0.6516 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 43 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | 17200 | 28900 | 0.4054 | 8,673 | 1095 | 0.9156 | |
| 44 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 17400 | 29900 | 0.4171 | 60,710 | 1278 | 0.5732 | |
| 45 | Western Connecticut State University | 17500 | 40800 | 0.5706 | 3,567 | 1105 | 0.8701 | |
| 46 | Carson-Newman University | 17700 | 51900 | 0.6592 | 1,912 | 1075 | 0.6381 | |
| 46 | Muhlenberg College | 17700 | 122400 | 0.8555 | 1,737 | 1353 | 0.7199 | |
| 46 | Prairie View A & M University | 17700 | 25400 | 0.3032 | 9,022 | 960 | 0.7836 | |
| 46 | Virginia State University | 17700 | 34900 | 0.4922 | 5,124 | 955 | 0.8863 | |
| 50 | Columbus State University | 17800 | 59500 | 0.7003 | 6,147 | 970 | 0.9907 | |
| 50 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 17800 | 52300 | 0.6594 | 6,790 | 965 | 0.9447 | |
| 52 | York College of Pennsylvania | 17900 | 45800 | 0.6097 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 53 | The University of Texas at Austin | 18000 | 28100 | 0.359 | 44,314 | 1356 | 0.2222 | |
| 54 | Bellevue University | 18300 | 41000 | 0.5537 | 11,037 | 0 | 1 | |
| 55 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 18700 | 48900 | 0.6172 | 5,274 | 1103 | 0.9513 | |
| 56 | Olivet Nazarene University | 18800 | 79300 | 0.7636 | 2,704 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 57 | Western Carolina University | 19000 | 20500 | 0.0733 | 10,268 | 1140 | 0.7076 | |
| 58 | University of Arkansas at Monticello | 19300 | 27600 | 0.3005 | 2,457 | 980 | 1 | |
| 59 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 19500 | 30600 | 0.3626 | 7,425 | 1074 | 0.9147 | |
| 60 | Dalton State College | 19900 | 26500 | 0.2495 | 5,135 | 1020 | 0.4343 | |
| 60 | University of Houston | 19900 | 28400 | 0.2996 | 40,366 | 1224 | 0.7577 | |
| 62 | Minot State University | 20100 | 23500 | 0.145 | 2,499 | 1075 | 0.6462 | |
| 62 | Regis University | 20100 | 67400 | 0.7017 | 2,505 | 1225 | 0.8461 | |
| 62 | Thomas University | 20100 | 30400 | 0.3386 | 1,022 | 1110 | 0.383 | |
| 65 | Thomas More University | 20300 | 82800 | 0.755 | 2,126 | 1180 | 0.9035 | |
| 66 | Midwestern State University | 20400 | 33600 | 0.3933 | 4,303 | 1055 | 0.9347 | |
| 67 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside | 20700 | 24300 | 0.1474 | 3,207 | 1084 | 0.9751 | |
| 68 | North Dakota State University | 20800 | 25700 | 0.19 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 69 | Claflin University | 21000 | 50700 | 0.5859 | 1,731 | 940 | 0.6493 | |
| 69 | West Texas A & M University | 21000 | 29200 | 0.2806 | 7,110 | 1060 | 0.6681 | |
| 71 | SUNY Old Westbury | 21100 | 38000 | 0.4453 | 4,474 | 1110 | 0.8352 | |
| 72 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 21300 | 27800 | 0.2336 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 73 | Texas Southern University | 21400 | 38900 | 0.4499 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 74 | University of Northern Iowa | 21500 | 24800 | 0.1327 | 7,800 | 1115 | 0.9313 | |
| 75 | University of Kansas | 21900 | 37600 | 0.4193 | 22,544 | 1176 | 0.9258 | |
| 76 | University of the Incarnate Word | 22000 | 58000 | 0.6205 | 4,651 | 1010 | 0.9947 | |
| 77 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4671 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 78 | Spring Hill College | 22300 | 41600 | 0.4641 | 630 | 1114 | 0.664 | |
| 79 | Florida State University | 22400 | 32100 | 0.302 | 34,271 | 1369 | 0.2383 | |
| 80 | Faulkner University | 22500 | 60900 | 0.631 | 1,758 | 1025 | 0.7307 | |
| 80 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 22500 | 22500 | 0 | 20,786 | 1225 | 0.8689 | |
| 80 | Park University | 22500 | 31300 | 0.2816 | 4,657 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 83 | The University of Alabama | 22600 | 33400 | 0.3232 | 35,621 | 1238 | 0.7117 | |
| 84 | Newman University | 22800 | 55800 | 0.5916 | 2,529 | 1069 | 0.7398 | |
| 85 | Augsburg University | 23100 | 56200 | 0.5893 | 2,706 | 1065 | 0.95 | |
| 85 | Millikin University | 23100 | 43700 | 0.4709 | 1,427 | 1065 | 0.765 | |
| 85 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | 23100 | 34900 | 0.3385 | 4,371 | 1084 | 0.865 | |
| 88 | Midland University | 23400 | 64300 | 0.6357 | 1,309 | 1045 | 0.6612 | |
| 89 | The University of Tennessee Southern | 23500 | 28100 | 0.1631 | 1,012 | 1075 | 0.8671 | |
| 90 | Wittenberg University | 23800 | 65400 | 0.6361 | 1,012 | 1184 | 0.8046 | |
| 91 | Northern Arizona University | 23900 | 47000 | 0.4928 | 22,203 | 1129 | 0.8961 | |
| 92 | University of Dayton | 24100 | 64400 | 0.6255 | 7,252 | 1319 | 0.6659 | |
| 93 | Campbellsville University | 24200 | 45100 | 0.4631 | 6,848 | 1075 | 0.7974 | |
| 94 | University of Jamestown | 24300 | 34400 | 0.2932 | 1,097 | 1055 | 0.88 | |
| 94 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 24300 | 53800 | 0.5485 | 2,775 | 1105 | 0.9747 | |
| 96 | Fort Hays State University | 24600 | 28500 | 0.1362 | 10,172 | 1075 | 0.9026 | |
| 97 | Augustana College | 24700 | 72800 | 0.6602 | 2,536 | 1157 | 0.6628 | |
| 97 | University of South Florida | 24700 | 36500 | 0.3229 | 39,093 | 1255 | 0.4071 | |
| 99 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 24900 | 36800 | 0.3235 | 15,273 | 1115 | 0.8089 | |
| 99 | Tennessee Technological University | 24900 | 33700 | 0.261 | 9,187 | 1163 | 0.7613 | |
| 101 | Texas Wesleyan University | 25000 | 64700 | 0.6132 | 1,796 | 1060 | 0.6916 | |
| 102 | St Catherine University | 25100 | 71900 | 0.6503 | 2,602 | 1148 | 0.9047 | |
| 103 | Rogers State University | 25200 | 49700 | 0.4925 | 3,278 | 1025 | 0.6784 | |
| 104 | Le Moyne College | 25300 | 58200 | 0.5656 | 2,494 | 1250 | 0.6782 | |
| 105 | Ball State University | 25400 | 25400 | 0 | 15,950 | 1185 | 0.8625 | |
| 106 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 25600 | 82600 | 0.6903 | 871 | 985 | 0.8296 | |
| 107 | Binghamton University | 25700 | 32700 | 0.2159 | 14,559 | 1404 | 0.3731 | |
| 108 | Lakeland University | 25900 | 56500 | 0.5426 | 2,411 | 1015 | 0.8652 | |
| 109 | Saint Norbert College | 26200 | 63000 | 0.5837 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 110 | Simpson College | 26300 | 67100 | 0.6084 | 1,235 | 1430 | 0.8622 | |
| 110 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 26300 | 43400 | 0.3937 | 11,959 | 1260 | 0.8818 | |
| 112 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 26400 | 40600 | 0.3497 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 113 | Oakland University | 26700 | 39600 | 0.3258 | 12,770 | 1039 | 0.8897 | |
| 114 | Texas Lutheran University | 26800 | 55400 | 0.5175 | 1,319 | 1140 | 0.9571 | |
| 115 | Valley City State University | 27100 | 29300 | 0.0779 | 1,663 | 1045 | 0.9942 | |
| 116 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 27400 | 37900 | 0.278 | 4,573 | 1165 | 0.853 | |
| 117 | Flagler College | 28100 | 61900 | 0.5456 | 2,359 | 1175 | 0.787 | |
| 118 | Caldwell University | 28200 | 59300 | 0.5245 | 1,619 | 1245 | 0.7134 | |
| 119 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3223 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 120 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 28400 | 69700 | 0.5925 | 765 | 1020 | 0.6617 | |
| 121 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 28900 | 31400 | 0.0792 | 9,656 | 1205 | 0.7997 | |
| 122 | Michigan Technological University | 29000 | 34700 | 0.1641 | 6,009 | 1247 | 0.8546 | |
| 123 | Catawba College | 29100 | 55200 | 0.4719 | 1,285 | 1115 | 0.7867 | |
| 124 | Utah Tech University | 29300 | 35200 | 0.1677 | 12,993 | 1065 | 1 | |
| 125 | Edgewood University | 29700 | 58200 | 0.4894 | 1,236 | 1125 | 0.7498 | |
| 125 | Morehead State University | 29700 | 31600 | 0.0601 | 7,941 | 1080 | 0.8328 | |
| 125 | Southern Adventist University | 29700 | 46900 | 0.3666 | 2,946 | 1142 | 0.7163 | |
| 128 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 30400 | 78300 | 0.6118 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 129 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | 30700 | 101400 | 0.6971 | 18,904 | 0 | 0.8516 | |
| 130 | Northern Kentucky University | 31600 | 32100 | 0.0156 | 10,136 | 1110 | 0.9666 | |
| 131 | Hampton University | 31700 | 54800 | 0.4215 | 4,046 | 1005 | 0.6358 | |
| 132 | Central Baptist College | 32100 | 35900 | 0.1054 | 547 | 1035 | 0.6346 | |
| 132 | Villanova University | 32100 | 92900 | 0.6548 | 6,933 | 1466 | 0.2814 | |
| 134 | Grand View University | 32300 | 58100 | 0.4439 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 134 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 32300 | 43900 | 0.2643 | 3,825 | 1175 | 0.7841 | |
| 136 | Liberty University | 32500 | 44700 | 0.2729 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 136 | McKendree University | 32500 | 52900 | 0.3847 | 1,757 | 1098 | 0.7172 | |
| 138 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | 33000 | 72600 | 0.5451 | 2,836 | 1283 | 0.6711 | |
| 139 | Baylor University | 33500 | 70400 | 0.5244 | 14,183 | 1302 | 0.5222 | |
| 140 | University of Indianapolis | 34000 | 60700 | 0.4396 | 3,394 | 1080 | 0.728 | |
| 141 | DePaul University | 34100 | 69400 | 0.5083 | 14,338 | 1258 | 0.878 | |
| 141 | Iona University | 34100 | 69900 | 0.5124 | 3,382 | 1214 | 0.8694 | |
| 143 | University of Idaho | 34800 | 48700 | 0.2854 | 9,656 | 1104 | 0.7476 | |
| 144 | Albertus Magnus College | 35300 | 101100 | 0.651 | 1,006 | 955 | 0.5931 | |
| 144 | Southern New Hampshire University | 35300 | 64600 | 0.4536 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 146 | Mount Mercy University | 35400 | 61200 | 0.4216 | 1,139 | 1110 | 0.8248 | |
| 147 | Cedarville University | 35700 | 57000 | 0.3735 | 5,794 | 1232 | 0.6529 | |
| 148 | Texas A&M International University | 36100 | 39400 | 0.0834 | 7,210 | 995 | 0.4437 | |
| 149 | Florida International University | 36500 | 36800 | 0.0081 | 46,249 | 1180 | 0.6085 | |
| 150 | East Carolina University | 36900 | 42700 | 0.1355 | 21,693 | 1065 | 0.9003 | |
| 151 | Andrews University | 37200 | 76700 | 0.5148 | 1,384 | 1143 | 0.8185 | |
| 151 | Hardin-Simmons University | 37200 | 49700 | 0.2514 | 1,291 | 1110 | 0.862 | |
| 153 | Xavier University | 37600 | 68100 | 0.4481 | 3,744 | 1286 | 0.848 | |
| 154 | Middle Tennessee State University | 37800 | 48300 | 0.2174 | 18,042 | 1140 | 0.6909 | |
| 154 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 37800 | 40100 | 0.057 | 25,054 | 1225 | 0.7762 | |
| 156 | Montana Technological University | 37900 | 51500 | 0.2642 | 2,310 | 1124 | 0.9799 | |
| 157 | University of Central Arkansas | 38000 | 40200 | 0.0568 | 8,238 | 1110 | 0.9157 | |
| 158 | Oakwood University | 38500 | 43300 | 0.1106 | 1,184 | 1005 | 0.4563 | |
| 159 | Loyola University Chicago | 38800 | 73100 | 0.469 | 12,640 | 1262 | 0.751 | |
| 160 | Mississippi State University | 39100 | 53400 | 0.2674 | 19,093 | 1205 | 0.8363 | |
| 161 | Drexel University | 39700 | 86400 | 0.5408 | 12,318 | 1354 | 0.699 | |
| 162 | Champlain College | 39900 | 105100 | 0.6205 | 1,514 | 1273 | 0.873 | |
| 162 | Saint Francis University | 39900 | 67300 | 0.407 | 2,567 | 1150 | 0.7682 | |
| 164 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 40000 | 59200 | 0.3241 | 5,986 | 1110 | 0.8916 | |
| 165 | University of Mississippi | 40100 | 45200 | 0.1128 | 22,939 | 1172 | 0.9738 | |
| 166 | University of Maine | 40300 | 42800 | 0.0585 | 9,182 | 1195 | 0.9562 | |
| 167 | Kansas State University | 40900 | 41900 | 0.0239 | 16,555 | 1163 | 0.875 | |
| 168 | Butler University | 41400 | 68400 | 0.395 | 4,418 | 1269 | 0.8209 | |
| 169 | Rhode Island College | 41600 | 63300 | 0.3427 | 5,695 | 995 | 0.8557 | |
| 170 | Fairfield University | 41800 | 84400 | 0.5049 | 5,671 | 1345 | 0.2505 | |
| 171 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 50500 | 0.1624 | 17,504 | 1205 | 0.9135 | |
| 172 | University of Arizona | 42800 | 48600 | 0.1193 | 43,294 | 1186 | 0.8351 | |
| 173 | Florida Institute of Technology | 43500 | 68700 | 0.3678 | 4,279 | 1234 | 0.5796 | |
| 174 | Georgia Gwinnett College | 43800 | 58100 | 0.2463 | 12,245 | 995 | 0.955 | |
| 174 | Illinois State University | 43800 | 49100 | 0.1077 | 19,513 | 1115 | 0.8555 | |
| 176 | Western Washington University | 43900 | 52400 | 0.1623 | 13,609 | 1199 | 0.9371 | |
| 177 | Oregon State University | 44900 | 61900 | 0.2752 | 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 Alabama in Huntsville | 47500 | 47500 | 0 | 6,743 | 1266 | 0.6292 | |
| 182 | University of Delaware | 47700 | 62400 | 0.2365 | 19,287 | 1302 | 0.6924 | |
| 183 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | 50400 | 85400 | 0.41 | 5,461 | 1292 | 0.6189 | |
| 184 | Point Loma Nazarene University | 50500 | 72200 | 0.3005 | 3,340 | 1263 | 0.8278 | |
| 185 | University of Georgia | 52100 | 52100 | 0 | 32,824 | 1348 | 0.3425 | |
| 186 | Howard University | 55000 | 88500 | 0.3787 | 11,519 | 1208 | 0.4134 | |
| 187 | Dallas Baptist University | 55800 | 84300 | 0.3381 | 2,938 | 1073 | 0.9131 | |
| 188 | Miami University-Oxford | 57400 | 57400 | 0 | 16,405 | 1284 | 0.74 | |
| 189 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 64000 | 64000 | 0 | 3,211 | 1243 | 0.9594 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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