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 | Johns Hopkins University | 2700 | 92000 | 0.9704 | 6,354 | 1554 | 0.0611 | |
| 2 | Emory University | 8400 | 92500 | 0.9091 | 7,320 | 1499 | 0.103 | |
| 3 | Idaho State University | 11500 | 27000 | 0.5733 | 10,834 | 0 | 0.8396 | |
| 4 | Marshall University | 11800 | 36600 | 0.6773 | 9,960 | 1070 | 0.9663 | |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 11800 | 27800 | 0.5751 | 22,007 | 1427 | 0.1672 | |
| 6 | University of Central Florida | 12000 | 25300 | 0.525 | 60,083 | 1289 | 0.428 | |
| 7 | California State University-Northridge | 12100 | 22000 | 0.4503 | 32,846 | 1005 | 0.9176 | |
| 8 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 12500 | 25700 | 0.5136 | 21,138 | 1134 | 0.9039 | |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,421 | 1054 | 0.9444 | |
| 10 | Eastern Illinois University | 12700 | 24300 | 0.4768 | 6,731 | 1020 | 0.7073 | |
| 11 | Boston University | 12900 | 92800 | 0.8612 | 18,289 | 1475 | 0.1283 | |
| 11 | University of Michigan-Flint | 12900 | 34900 | 0.6311 | 5,534 | 1079 | 0.6734 | |
| 13 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 14 | University of Houston | 13700 | 22000 | 0.3766 | 40,366 | 1224 | 0.7577 | |
| 15 | Baptist Health Sciences University | 14100 | 26600 | 0.4691 | 782 | 1020 | 0.8202 | |
| 16 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 17 | Midwestern State University | 14400 | 21600 | 0.3329 | 4,303 | 1055 | 0.9347 | |
| 17 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | 14400 | 37400 | 0.6144 | 7,501 | 1055 | 0.9467 | |
| 19 | Central Michigan University | 14500 | 37800 | 0.6157 | 10,238 | 1099 | 0.9104 | |
| 20 | Northern Kentucky University | 14600 | 25900 | 0.4369 | 10,136 | 1110 | 0.9666 | |
| 20 | Northwestern University | 14600 | 88300 | 0.8348 | 9,060 | 1533 | 0.0769 | |
| 22 | Austin Peay State University | 15100 | 29100 | 0.4815 | 9,593 | 1075 | 0.9691 | |
| 22 | Murray State University | 15100 | 27000 | 0.4423 | 8,217 | 1124 | 0.8413 | |
| 24 | California State University-Chico | 15200 | 23500 | 0.3528 | 13,599 | 1054 | 0.9107 | |
| 25 | Western Carolina University | 15400 | 16500 | 0.0668 | 10,268 | 1140 | 0.7076 | |
| 26 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 38800 | 0.5992 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8613 | |
| 27 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | 15700 | 29300 | 0.4664 | 5,467 | 1035 | 0.7041 | |
| 28 | Sam Houston State University | 15900 | 30300 | 0.4749 | 17,822 | 1035 | 0.9372 | |
| 29 | Oakland University | 16000 | 28200 | 0.4329 | 12,770 | 1039 | 0.8897 | |
| 30 | Morehead State University | 16300 | 28000 | 0.4176 | 7,941 | 1080 | 0.8328 | |
| 31 | Ferris State University | 16500 | 31000 | 0.4685 | 8,980 | 1015 | 0.8237 | |
| 31 | Goshen College | 16500 | 55900 | 0.7053 | 738 | 995 | 0.8342 | |
| 31 | University of Florida | 16500 | 22500 | 0.2666 | 37,283 | 1406 | 0.2033 | |
| 34 | University of St Francis | 17300 | 57200 | 0.6976 | 1,416 | 1030 | 0.6528 | |
| 35 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 17400 | 21300 | 0.182 | 9,656 | 1205 | 0.7997 | |
| 36 | Augusta University | 17500 | 29400 | 0.4049 | 6,102 | 1065 | 0.6276 | |
| 37 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 17600 | 27400 | 0.3575 | 27,963 | 1090 | 0.8395 | |
| 38 | Avila University | 17700 | 64100 | 0.7236 | 1,538 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 38 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,241 | 1408 | 0.1761 | |
| 40 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 17800 | 22200 | 0.1986 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.8651 | |
| 41 | Lewis-Clark State College | 18200 | 23500 | 0.2251 | 4,015 | 990 | 0.9964 | |
| 42 | Texas Tech University | 18300 | 27100 | 0.3253 | 34,021 | 1195 | 0.6906 | |
| 42 | University of Vermont | 18300 | 37800 | 0.5164 | 12,159 | 1372 | 0.7304 | |
| 44 | Holy Family University | 18400 | 56200 | 0.6732 | 2,808 | 975 | 0.7456 | |
| 44 | Towson University | 18400 | 29900 | 0.3842 | 16,361 | 1082 | 0.8057 | |
| 46 | California State University-Fullerton | 18500 | 20600 | 0.1018 | 40,705 | 960 | 0.8811 | |
| 47 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.4281 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 48 | McNeese State University | 18900 | 27400 | 0.3102 | 5,668 | 1060 | 0.7827 | |
| 48 | Quincy University | 18900 | 57900 | 0.6733 | 1,096 | 1115 | 0.551 | |
| 50 | Campbellsville University | 19100 | 43200 | 0.5573 | 6,848 | 1075 | 0.7974 | |
| 50 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 19100 | 68100 | 0.7197 | 711 | 1030 | 0.8214 | |
| 52 | Louisiana Christian University | 19400 | 26000 | 0.254 | 769 | 1065 | 0.7719 | |
| 52 | University of Mississippi | 19400 | 27000 | 0.2814 | 22,939 | 1172 | 0.9738 | |
| 54 | California State University-Los Angeles | 19700 | 38000 | 0.4816 | 22,077 | 965 | 0.9124 | |
| 54 | Pennsylvania Western University | 19700 | 29000 | 0.3212 | 7,586 | 1045 | 0.9433 | |
| 56 | Youngstown State University | 19900 | 34000 | 0.4147 | 9,687 | 1120 | 0.9145 | |
| 57 | San Diego State University | 20100 | 28900 | 0.3046 | 36,196 | 1208 | 0.3741 | |
| 58 | Lasell University | 20200 | 48500 | 0.5831 | 1,347 | 1095 | 0.7457 | |
| 58 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 20200 | 29400 | 0.3124 | 5,196 | 1050 | 0.8422 | |
| 58 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 20200 | 57300 | 0.6479 | 1,567 | 980 | 0.9597 | |
| 61 | Marian University | 20300 | 47200 | 0.5693 | 1,026 | 1020 | 0.75 | |
| 61 | Minot State University | 20300 | 23500 | 0.1369 | 2,499 | 1075 | 0.6462 | |
| 63 | Bowie State University | 20600 | 25600 | 0.1952 | 4,810 | 1044 | 0.824 | |
| 63 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20600 | 23200 | 0.1121 | 20,786 | 1225 | 0.8689 | |
| 63 | University of Montevallo | 20600 | 30300 | 0.3202 | 2,643 | 1124 | 0.5385 | |
| 66 | Indiana University-South Bend | 20800 | 23900 | 0.1293 | 4,206 | 1050 | 0.8146 | |
| 67 | University of Northern Iowa | 20900 | 24000 | 0.1289 | 7,800 | 1115 | 0.9313 | |
| 68 | North Dakota State University | 21000 | 25700 | 0.1826 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 69 | University of Sioux Falls | 21300 | 40100 | 0.4685 | 1,177 | 1075 | 0.8274 | |
| 70 | Henderson State University | 21400 | 30600 | 0.3002 | 1,461 | 1075 | 0.8192 | |
| 71 | Bradley University | 21700 | 49900 | 0.5642 | 3,258 | 1174 | 0.7459 | |
| 71 | La Roche University | 21700 | 72600 | 0.7014 | 1,972 | 990 | 0.6638 | |
| 73 | Culver-Stockton College | 21900 | 50600 | 0.567 | 889 | 1055 | 0.9827 | |
| 74 | Bluefield State University | 22100 | 32100 | 0.312 | 1,117 | 990 | 0.9723 | |
| 75 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 22400 | 43200 | 0.4816 | 3,825 | 1175 | 0.7841 | |
| 76 | San Jose State University | 22900 | 41100 | 0.4429 | 29,890 | 1135 | 0.8039 | |
| 77 | Florida Memorial University | 23100 | 42000 | 0.4495 | 1,206 | 0 | 0.8526 | |
| 77 | Saint Cloud State University | 23100 | 36800 | 0.3722 | 8,209 | 1079 | 0.948 | |
| 79 | Southwest Minnesota State University | 23200 | 25800 | 0.1008 | 7,290 | 1015 | 0.6409 | |
| 80 | East Tennessee State University | 23500 | 30600 | 0.2318 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 80 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23500 | 45800 | 0.4873 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 82 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 23600 | 90700 | 0.7398 | 8,727 | 1055 | 0.9703 | |
| 82 | University of Southern Indiana | 23600 | 27200 | 0.1322 | 5,347 | 1145 | 0.9581 | |
| 84 | Saint Ambrose University | 24100 | 55400 | 0.5646 | 1,884 | 1065 | 0.8006 | |
| 85 | Southwestern Adventist University | 24300 | 43200 | 0.4376 | 758 | 1064 | 0.7836 | |
| 85 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24300 | 55200 | 0.5605 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 87 | Columbia College Chicago | 24400 | 63200 | 0.6143 | 4,346 | 0 | 0.738 | |
| 88 | University of Central Missouri | 24500 | 35800 | 0.317 | 10,397 | 1055 | 0.7439 | |
| 89 | Eastern Kentucky University | 24800 | 38400 | 0.3545 | 13,448 | 1075 | 0.9683 | |
| 89 | Temple University | 24800 | 36100 | 0.3132 | 21,031 | 1172 | 0.8622 | |
| 91 | Lewis University | 25100 | 57700 | 0.5649 | 4,914 | 1127 | 0.6916 | |
| 92 | Point Park University | 25200 | 57000 | 0.5582 | 2,498 | 1144 | 0.984 | |
| 93 | St Catherine University | 25300 | 71900 | 0.6483 | 2,602 | 1148 | 0.9047 | |
| 94 | Mount Marty University | 25400 | 56400 | 0.5496 | 1,053 | 1145 | 0.8603 | |
| 95 | Westminster College | 26000 | 57600 | 0.5486 | 1,110 | 1145 | 0.9167 | |
| 96 | Briar Cliff University | 26100 | 74200 | 0.6481 | 766 | 1075 | 0.5834 | |
| 97 | Mount Aloysius College | 26400 | 49200 | 0.4636 | 3,135 | 1045 | 0.936 | |
| 97 | Northern Arizona University | 26400 | 43200 | 0.3892 | 22,203 | 1129 | 0.8961 | |
| 99 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26800 | 0.0112 | 25,595 | 1045 | 0.695 | |
| 100 | William Paterson University of New Jersey | 26600 | 31100 | 0.1448 | 6,647 | 1153 | 0.9008 | |
| 101 | Troy University | 26800 | 34700 | 0.2277 | 10,130 | 1075 | 0.9535 | |
| 101 | University of La Verne | 26800 | 67300 | 0.6015 | 3,052 | 1109 | 0.7117 | |
| 103 | St. Francis College | 26900 | 39400 | 0.3177 | 1,719 | 1035 | 1 | |
| 103 | Western Kentucky University | 26900 | 41800 | 0.3564 | 13,732 | 1090 | 0.9145 | |
| 105 | Capital University | 27100 | 62400 | 0.5656 | 1,642 | 1045 | 0.6501 | |
| 106 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus | 27500 | 43800 | 0.3725 | 18,028 | 1059 | 0.7996 | |
| 107 | Chicago State University | 27600 | 37800 | 0.2687 | 1,501 | 885 | 0.4326 | |
| 107 | Syracuse University | 27600 | 83100 | 0.6677 | 16,149 | 1374 | 0.4879 | |
| 109 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | 27700 | 34200 | 0.19 | 828 | 1070 | 0.9131 | |
| 110 | Oregon Institute of Technology | 27800 | 36400 | 0.2345 | 5,288 | 1138 | 0.9459 | |
| 111 | Texas State University | 27900 | 28000 | 0.0036 | 39,353 | 1080 | 0.9118 | |
| 112 | Alabama A & M University | 28200 | 37700 | 0.2513 | 6,370 | 915 | 0.5795 | |
| 112 | Weber State University | 28200 | 33900 | 0.168 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 114 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3223 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 114 | Rogers State University | 28300 | 49200 | 0.4248 | 3,278 | 1025 | 0.6784 | |
| 116 | University of North Texas | 28400 | 37400 | 0.2405 | 34,414 | 1094 | 0.7089 | |
| 117 | Roosevelt University | 28600 | 47600 | 0.3999 | 2,868 | 1049 | 0.9716 | |
| 117 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 32300 | 0.1145 | 11,691 | 1074 | 0.7722 | |
| 117 | University of Hartford | 28600 | 70100 | 0.5916 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9579 | |
| 120 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | 28900 | 42400 | 0.3187 | 6,761 | 1105 | 0.8475 | |
| 121 | University of Iowa | 29000 | 31100 | 0.0674 | 23,407 | 1203 | 0.799 | |
| 122 | Cornerstone University | 29200 | 40800 | 0.2843 | 1,354 | 1110 | 0.7777 | |
| 123 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 29400 | 34000 | 0.1352 | 7,402 | 1054 | 0.9684 | |
| 123 | Montclair State University | 29400 | 36300 | 0.1902 | 19,048 | 1005 | 0.894 | |
| 125 | Friends University | 29500 | 53600 | 0.451 | 1,084 | 1020 | 0.5174 | |
| 125 | Huntington University | 29500 | 44300 | 0.3339 | 1,512 | 1065 | 0.7518 | |
| 127 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | 29700 | 43900 | 0.3237 | 9,847 | 1090 | 0.9309 | |
| 128 | University of Northwestern-St Paul | 30700 | 54600 | 0.4377 | 3,120 | 1193 | 0.3992 | |
| 129 | San Francisco State University | 30800 | 47700 | 0.3544 | 19,444 | 1035 | 0.9644 | |
| 130 | California State University-Long Beach | 31000 | 38900 | 0.2032 | 36,056 | 1135 | 0.4543 | |
| 130 | Ithaca College | 31000 | 72500 | 0.5723 | 4,205 | 1328 | 0.7015 | |
| 132 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 31100 | 33200 | 0.0631 | 14,834 | 1149 | 0.7803 | |
| 133 | Manhattanville University | 31200 | 68500 | 0.5443 | 1,465 | 1140 | 0.8688 | |
| 133 | Siena Heights University | 31200 | 46300 | 0.3264 | 1,628 | 980 | 0.689 | |
| 135 | Rider University | 31400 | 60600 | 0.4816 | 3,052 | 1214 | 0.7741 | |
| 136 | Asbury University | 31600 | 50700 | 0.3767 | 2,066 | 1157 | 0.954 | |
| 137 | Missouri Baptist University | 31700 | 53800 | 0.4106 | 5,253 | 910 | 0.7062 | |
| 138 | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | 32300 | 48400 | 0.3328 | 1,094 | 1109 | 0.8917 | |
| 139 | State University of New York at Oswego | 32700 | 40200 | 0.1866 | 5,293 | 1179 | 0.7989 | |
| 140 | Suffolk University | 32900 | 70300 | 0.5319 | 4,247 | 1209 | 0.8228 | |
| 141 | Misericordia University | 33600 | 67700 | 0.504 | 1,721 | 1078 | 0.8871 | |
| 142 | Adrian College | 33700 | 70200 | 0.52 | 1,675 | 1045 | 0.7257 | |
| 143 | Rhode Island College | 33800 | 45100 | 0.2505 | 5,695 | 995 | 0.8557 | |
| 144 | Colorado Mesa University | 33900 | 40000 | 0.1533 | 9,459 | 1050 | 0.8314 | |
| 145 | SUNY at Fredonia | 34100 | 39600 | 0.1391 | 2,771 | 1258 | 0.777 | |
| 146 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 11,981 | 1110 | 0.4247 | |
| 147 | Texas Southern University | 34500 | 42500 | 0.1883 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 148 | Trevecca Nazarene University | 34800 | 50900 | 0.3164 | 1,961 | 1099 | 0.7512 | |
| 149 | Gwynedd Mercy University | 34900 | 65100 | 0.4638 | 1,816 | 1070 | 0.9164 | |
| 150 | Hofstra University | 36400 | 76900 | 0.5266 | 6,599 | 1369 | 0.7267 | |
| 151 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | 37400 | 57000 | 0.3437 | 755 | 1163 | 0.6925 | |
| 151 | Vermont State University | 37400 | 38700 | 0.0336 | 4,087 | 960 | 0.8323 | |
| 153 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 38200 | 65000 | 0.4121 | 1,105 | 1055 | 0.8351 | |
| 153 | Seton Hall University | 38200 | 67400 | 0.433 | 6,178 | 1328 | 0.6915 | |
| 153 | University of Central Arkansas | 38200 | 40200 | 0.0521 | 8,238 | 1110 | 0.9157 | |
| 156 | Washington Adventist University | 38500 | 45600 | 0.1555 | 513 | 995 | 0.4618 | |
| 157 | Clark Atlanta University | 38600 | 73600 | 0.4757 | 3,618 | 990 | 0.6422 | |
| 158 | Long Island University | 38800 | 60000 | 0.3535 | 12,072 | 1229 | 0.8616 | |
| 159 | Manhattan University | 38900 | 74100 | 0.4749 | 2,378 | 1174 | 0.8216 | |
| 160 | University of Charleston | 39200 | 51200 | 0.2342 | 2,348 | 1075 | 0.5975 | |
| 161 | University of South Alabama | 39700 | 39700 | 0 | 9,530 | 1140 | 0.9455 | |
| 162 | California Baptist University | 40100 | 65600 | 0.3887 | 8,707 | 1024 | 0.8139 | |
| 163 | Appalachian State University | 40500 | 40600 | 0.0025 | 19,732 | 1174 | 0.9388 | |
| 163 | Arkansas State University | 40500 | 41000 | 0.0122 | 11,189 | 1080 | 0.7818 | |
| 163 | Wayne State University | 40500 | 46200 | 0.1234 | 16,390 | 1183 | 0.8359 | |
| 166 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 40800 | 53600 | 0.2389 | 46,627 | 1366 | 0.492 | |
| 167 | Champlain College | 41100 | 76000 | 0.4595 | 1,514 | 1273 | 0.873 | |
| 168 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | 41400 | 57000 | 0.2738 | 2,401 | 1209 | 0.7819 | |
| 169 | Bellarmine University | 41700 | 66100 | 0.3692 | 2,365 | 1134 | 0.9371 | |
| 170 | Susquehanna University | 42000 | 76800 | 0.4533 | 2,220 | 1199 | 0.7908 | |
| 171 | Boise State University | 42800 | 50000 | 0.144 | 25,308 | 1025 | 0.8389 | |
| 172 | Providence College | 43500 | 85000 | 0.4884 | 4,680 | 1345 | 0.4994 | |
| 173 | Campbell University | 44200 | 68700 | 0.3578 | 2,699 | 1120 | 0.872 | |
| 174 | Texas Christian University | 44300 | 87400 | 0.4934 | 11,152 | 1268 | 0.4809 | |
| 175 | St. John's University-New York | 44500 | 78000 | 0.4292 | 15,640 | 1249 | 0.8343 | |
| 176 | New England Institute of Technology | 44600 | 68200 | 0.3458 | 1,718 | 1030 | 0.6673 | |
| 177 | Quinnipiac University | 44800 | 79200 | 0.4343 | 6,610 | 1250 | 0.7031 | |
| 178 | Ashland University | 44900 | 56400 | 0.204 | 2,977 | 1125 | 0.764 | |
| 179 | The Master's University and Seminary | 47700 | 53700 | 0.1118 | 1,908 | 1139 | 0.8402 | |
| 180 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 47800 | 77500 | 0.3831 | 3,469 | 1281 | 0.8521 | |
| 181 | Saint Louis University | 48800 | 80900 | 0.3966 | 9,331 | 1250 | 0.7499 | |
| 182 | University of Kentucky | 49200 | 58000 | 0.1526 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 183 | The University of Texas at Austin | 49900 | 59400 | 0.16 | 44,314 | 1356 | 0.2222 | |
| 184 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 52300 | 52800 | 0.0095 | 21,469 | 1167 | 0.9061 | |
| 185 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 53300 | 53300 | 0 | 34,447 | 1273 | 0.8804 | |
| 186 | Rowan University | 53600 | 53600 | 0 | 17,157 | 1204 | 0.7654 | |
| 187 | Elon University | 55300 | 68900 | 0.1975 | 6,191 | 1283 | 0.6326 | |
| 188 | The University of Alabama | 55700 | 58500 | 0.0478 | 35,621 | 1238 | 0.7117 | |
| 189 | Dallas Baptist University | 55800 | 63400 | 0.1199 | 2,938 | 1073 | 0.9131 | |
| 190 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 56600 | 66400 | 0.1476 | 15,552 | 1174 | 0.8298 | |
| 191 | Howard University | 60000 | 66500 | 0.0978 | 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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