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 | Washington and Lee University | 7600 | 87100 | 0.9129 | 1,886 | 1488 | 0.1397 | |
| 2 | Eastern Kentucky University | 11300 | 22900 | 0.5075 | 12,726 | 1055 | 0.9695 | |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University | 12400 | 29000 | 0.5718 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 4 | Brigham Young University | 12500 | 29000 | 0.5686 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 5 | Eastern Illinois University | 12800 | 24500 | 0.4787 | 6,785 | 1020 | 0.6535 | |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Austin | 13200 | 30700 | 0.5697 | 43,165 | 1335 | 0.2664 | |
| 7 | Northern Kentucky University | 13300 | 25900 | 0.4873 | 10,163 | 1090 | 0.8307 | |
| 8 | Boston University | 13600 | 88800 | 0.8472 | 18,805 | 1475 | 0.1111 | |
| 9 | Mississippi Valley State University | 13900 | 22600 | 0.3849 | 2,005 | 865 | 0.5116 | |
| 10 | Texas Tech University | 14000 | 27000 | 0.4813 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 11 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 12 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14400 | 41100 | 0.6502 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 13 | University of Central Missouri | 14900 | 25400 | 0.4125 | 7,584 | 1055 | 0.638 | |
| 14 | Murray State University | 15100 | 27000 | 0.4415 | 8,281 | 1124 | 0.8568 | |
| 15 | Central Michigan University | 15200 | 40600 | 0.6257 | 10,219 | 1095 | 0.8982 | |
| 16 | University of Florida | 16000 | 22300 | 0.2826 | 36,567 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 17 | Appalachian State University | 16200 | 19500 | 0.169 | 19,560 | 1159 | 0.9014 | |
| 18 | SUNY at Fredonia | 16600 | 27800 | 0.4034 | 2,876 | 1193 | 0.792 | |
| 19 | Ferris State University | 16800 | 31000 | 0.4588 | 8,989 | 1015 | 0.9151 | |
| 20 | University of Georgia | 17300 | 27100 | 0.3596 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 21 | SUNY College at Plattsburgh | 17800 | 32100 | 0.4461 | 3,856 | 1169 | 0.7518 | |
| 22 | Georgia Southern University | 18300 | 23800 | 0.2315 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 22 | Keene State College | 18300 | 31900 | 0.4264 | 2,744 | 1020 | 0.9033 | |
| 24 | State University of New York at Oswego | 18600 | 27500 | 0.3235 | 5,517 | 1174 | 0.8057 | |
| 25 | Texas State University | 18900 | 28900 | 0.3455 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 26 | University of Memphis | 19100 | 26400 | 0.277 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 27 | University of Southern California | 19200 | 76000 | 0.7473 | 21,023 | 1485 | 0.1002 | |
| 28 | Eastern Michigan University | 19300 | 36100 | 0.4651 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 29 | Loras College | 19800 | 56900 | 0.6527 | 1,169 | 1110 | 0.1854 | |
| 30 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 31 | Iowa State University | 20100 | 24200 | 0.1701 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 32 | University of Northern Iowa | 20900 | 24000 | 0.128 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 33 | Olivet Nazarene University | 21100 | 88800 | 0.7623 | 2,704 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 34 | University of Miami | 21500 | 70800 | 0.6967 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 35 | Freed-Hardeman University | 21600 | 35100 | 0.385 | 1,878 | 1180 | 0.9061 | |
| 36 | Cleveland State University | 21700 | 30900 | 0.2974 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 37 | South Dakota State University | 22100 | 25200 | 0.1219 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 38 | Colorado Christian University | 22700 | 63300 | 0.6412 | 6,730 | 1110 | 0.8328 | |
| 38 | Lewis University | 22700 | 57000 | 0.6019 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 40 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 22900 | 22900 | 0 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 40 | Washington State University | 22900 | 36800 | 0.3783 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 42 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 23100 | 56500 | 0.5915 | 1,567 | 980 | 0.9597 | |
| 43 | Saint Ambrose University | 23200 | 54500 | 0.5744 | 1,939 | 1085 | 0.7733 | |
| 44 | Averett University | 23300 | 57200 | 0.593 | 1,180 | 1010 | 0.478 | |
| 44 | Monmouth College | 23300 | 61400 | 0.6211 | 727 | 1150 | 0.866 | |
| 44 | The University of Alabama | 23300 | 29900 | 0.2211 | 34,389 | 1233 | 0.7665 | |
| 47 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 23600 | 25700 | 0.0817 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 47 | Syracuse University | 23600 | 83100 | 0.716 | 15,958 | 1363 | 0.4611 | |
| 49 | Utica University | 23700 | 41100 | 0.423 | 2,333 | 1120 | 0.8679 | |
| 50 | Oral Roberts University | 23800 | 55600 | 0.5718 | 5,017 | 1139 | 0.989 | |
| 51 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 24600 | 26600 | 0.0779 | 3,413 | 1085 | 0.5295 | |
| 52 | Northern Michigan University | 24700 | 32900 | 0.2495 | 6,684 | 1100 | 0.8402 | |
| 53 | Dominican University | 24800 | 55500 | 0.5522 | 2,690 | 1035 | 0.9032 | |
| 54 | Dordt University | 25100 | 52300 | 0.5199 | 1,695 | 1195 | 0.7116 | |
| 54 | Illinois State University | 25100 | 35200 | 0.2877 | 19,107 | 1115 | 0.8815 | |
| 56 | Walla Walla University | 25700 | 51700 | 0.5024 | 1,238 | 1159 | 0.604 | |
| 57 | Otterbein University | 26000 | 66500 | 0.6094 | 2,211 | 1114 | 0.8452 | |
| 58 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | 26100 | 36500 | 0.2846 | 14,783 | 1140 | 0.8096 | |
| 59 | Point Park University | 26300 | 56800 | 0.5374 | 2,337 | 1144 | 0.9691 | |
| 60 | Marquette University | 26600 | 65700 | 0.5948 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 61 | Webster University | 27000 | 54300 | 0.5024 | 2,091 | 1105 | 0.9594 | |
| 62 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 62 | Hood College | 27200 | 71400 | 0.6195 | 1,198 | 1055 | 0.7777 | |
| 64 | Kent State University at Kent | 27400 | 28400 | 0.0352 | 20,841 | 1105 | 0.8634 | |
| 65 | Central Washington University | 27600 | 27800 | 0.0072 | 10,033 | 1060 | 0.9061 | |
| 66 | California State University-Long Beach | 28000 | 38400 | 0.2712 | 35,843 | 1135 | 0.4628 | |
| 67 | American University | 28400 | 82000 | 0.6538 | 7,476 | 1372 | 0.6187 | |
| 68 | Lipscomb University | 28500 | 57600 | 0.5052 | 3,327 | 1214 | 0.6774 | |
| 69 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 31500 | 0.0921 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 70 | Mercy University | 28700 | 44500 | 0.3552 | 6,775 | 1074 | 0.8584 | |
| 71 | Salem State University | 29400 | 38900 | 0.244 | 4,853 | 1100 | 0.9557 | |
| 72 | Westminster College | 29500 | 57500 | 0.4866 | 1,136 | 1190 | 0.9256 | |
| 73 | Huntington University | 29800 | 44300 | 0.3276 | 1,286 | 1095 | 0.7115 | |
| 74 | Southern Adventist University | 29900 | 46900 | 0.3621 | 2,827 | 1125 | 0.6661 | |
| 74 | Southern Methodist University | 29900 | 81700 | 0.6343 | 7,285 | 1423 | 0.6335 | |
| 76 | Mississippi College | 30300 | 45400 | 0.3324 | 2,724 | 1110 | 0.4928 | |
| 76 | San Jose State University | 30300 | 41000 | 0.2608 | 28,008 | 0 | 0.8461 | |
| 78 | Gannon University | 30400 | 45300 | 0.329 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 79 | Columbia College Chicago | 30600 | 60600 | 0.4954 | 5,422 | 0 | 0.7549 | |
| 80 | University of Northwestern-St Paul | 30700 | 54600 | 0.4374 | 3,163 | 1165 | 0.9347 | |
| 81 | University of Houston | 30900 | 35200 | 0.1223 | 39,257 | 1249 | 0.7392 | |
| 82 | University of Rhode Island | 31300 | 46700 | 0.3298 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 83 | Palm Beach Atlantic University | 31400 | 64500 | 0.5138 | 3,094 | 1105 | 0.8832 | |
| 84 | Rider University | 31600 | 64300 | 0.5084 | 3,196 | 1214 | 0.794 | |
| 85 | Rockhurst University | 32000 | 62500 | 0.4871 | 2,304 | 1124 | 0.7089 | |
| 86 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 32500 | 34700 | 0.0633 | 30,564 | 1298 | 0.416 | |
| 87 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 32600 | 38500 | 0.1533 | 7,890 | 1105 | 0.2056 | |
| 88 | Drake University | 32800 | 68500 | 0.521 | 2,585 | 1283 | 0.6385 | |
| 89 | Harding University | 32900 | 47000 | 0.2995 | 3,523 | 1193 | 0.3942 | |
| 90 | University of Oregon | 33200 | 38600 | 0.1391 | 20,622 | 1250 | 0.883 | |
| 91 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 92 | Taylor University | 34100 | 57600 | 0.4074 | 2,503 | 1235 | 0.7353 | |
| 93 | Montana State University Billings | 34200 | 34600 | 0.0115 | 3,881 | 1035 | 0.9991 | |
| 93 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 34200 | 35100 | 0.0256 | 33,572 | 1264 | 0.8529 | |
| 93 | Western Kentucky University | 34200 | 41900 | 0.1839 | 14,151 | 960 | 0.9387 | |
| 96 | Morgan State University | 34400 | 37200 | 0.0753 | 9,027 | 965 | 0.8223 | |
| 97 | Mount Mercy University | 35500 | 61200 | 0.42 | 1,185 | 1075 | 0.7876 | |
| 98 | Baldwin Wallace University | 35700 | 47300 | 0.2452 | 2,862 | 1194 | 0.757 | |
| 99 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | 36400 | 53300 | 0.317 | 1,044 | 1095 | 0.7209 | |
| 100 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 101 | Wayne State University | 39300 | 45500 | 0.1362 | 16,173 | 1174 | 0.7786 | |
| 102 | Seton Hall University | 39700 | 67400 | 0.4108 | 6,146 | 1313 | 0.7326 | |
| 103 | Temple University | 40600 | 56100 | 0.2762 | 21,428 | 1245 | 0.8045 | |
| 104 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | 41400 | 53900 | 0.2319 | 2,401 | 1209 | 0.7819 | |
| 104 | York College of Pennsylvania | 41400 | 41400 | 0 | 3,308 | 1135 | 0.942 | |
| 106 | Hofstra University | 41700 | 74600 | 0.4409 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 107 | Quinnipiac University | 42200 | 79200 | 0.4671 | 6,248 | 1209 | 0.77 | |
| 108 | Susquehanna University | 42400 | 76800 | 0.4481 | 2,185 | 1204 | 0.7871 | |
| 109 | Winthrop University | 44000 | 44000 | 0 | 3,969 | 1130 | 0.7925 | |
| 110 | Rowan University | 53600 | 53600 | 0 | 16,199 | 1214 | 0.783 | |
| 111 | Auburn University | 55400 | 55400 | 0 | 27,907 | 1324 | 0.4593 | |
| 112 | Gonzaga University | 73200 | 73200 | 0 | 5,281 | 1303 | 0.8169 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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