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 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 11600 | 27800 | 0.582 | 22,007 | 1427 | 0.1672 | |
| 5 | Eastern Kentucky University | 11800 | 22900 | 0.4856 | 13,448 | 1075 | 0.9683 | |
| 5 | Marshall University | 11800 | 36600 | 0.6773 | 9,960 | 1070 | 0.9663 | |
| 7 | University of Houston | 12000 | 28400 | 0.5781 | 40,366 | 1224 | 0.7577 | |
| 8 | California State University-Northridge | 12100 | 22000 | 0.4498 | 32,846 | 1005 | 0.9176 | |
| 9 | Boston University | 12300 | 92800 | 0.8676 | 18,289 | 1475 | 0.1283 | |
| 10 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,421 | 1054 | 0.9444 | |
| 11 | University of Michigan-Flint | 12900 | 34900 | 0.6311 | 5,534 | 1079 | 0.6734 | |
| 12 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 13 | Baptist Health Sciences University | 14100 | 26600 | 0.4691 | 782 | 1020 | 0.8202 | |
| 14 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 15 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | 14400 | 37400 | 0.6144 | 7,501 | 1055 | 0.9467 | |
| 16 | Central Michigan University | 14500 | 37800 | 0.6157 | 10,238 | 1099 | 0.9104 | |
| 17 | Northern Kentucky University | 14600 | 25900 | 0.4369 | 10,136 | 1110 | 0.9666 | |
| 17 | Northwestern University | 14600 | 88300 | 0.8348 | 9,060 | 1533 | 0.0769 | |
| 19 | Murray State University | 14900 | 27000 | 0.4495 | 8,217 | 1124 | 0.8413 | |
| 20 | Troy University | 15400 | 26700 | 0.4231 | 10,130 | 1075 | 0.9535 | |
| 21 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15600 | 29800 | 0.4782 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8613 | |
| 22 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | 15700 | 29300 | 0.4664 | 5,467 | 1035 | 0.7041 | |
| 22 | University of Central Missouri | 15700 | 26600 | 0.4094 | 10,397 | 1055 | 0.7439 | |
| 24 | Sam Houston State University | 15800 | 30300 | 0.4782 | 17,822 | 1035 | 0.9372 | |
| 24 | University of North Texas | 15800 | 26100 | 0.3953 | 34,414 | 1094 | 0.7089 | |
| 26 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | 16000 | 26900 | 0.4059 | 9,847 | 1090 | 0.9309 | |
| 26 | Weber State University | 16000 | 23600 | 0.3216 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 28 | University of Florida | 16300 | 22500 | 0.2755 | 37,283 | 1406 | 0.2033 | |
| 29 | Ferris State University | 16500 | 31000 | 0.4685 | 8,980 | 1015 | 0.8237 | |
| 29 | Goshen College | 16500 | 55900 | 0.7051 | 738 | 995 | 0.8342 | |
| 29 | Wayne State University | 16500 | 32900 | 0.4982 | 16,390 | 1183 | 0.8359 | |
| 32 | Western Carolina University | 16900 | 19400 | 0.1289 | 10,268 | 1140 | 0.7076 | |
| 33 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | 17000 | 34200 | 0.5028 | 828 | 1070 | 0.9131 | |
| 34 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 17200 | 25700 | 0.3307 | 21,138 | 1134 | 0.9039 | |
| 35 | University of St Francis | 17300 | 57200 | 0.6974 | 1,416 | 1030 | 0.6528 | |
| 36 | Augusta University | 17400 | 47400 | 0.6326 | 6,102 | 1065 | 0.6276 | |
| 37 | Avila University | 17700 | 64100 | 0.7236 | 1,538 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 37 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,241 | 1408 | 0.1761 | |
| 39 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 17800 | 22200 | 0.1986 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.8651 | |
| 40 | State University of New York at Oswego | 18200 | 27700 | 0.3428 | 5,293 | 1179 | 0.7989 | |
| 40 | Towson University | 18200 | 29900 | 0.3909 | 16,361 | 1082 | 0.8057 | |
| 42 | University of Mississippi | 18300 | 45000 | 0.5938 | 22,939 | 1172 | 0.9738 | |
| 43 | Holy Family University | 18400 | 56200 | 0.6732 | 2,808 | 975 | 0.7456 | |
| 43 | Youngstown State University | 18400 | 34000 | 0.4589 | 9,687 | 1120 | 0.9145 | |
| 45 | East Tennessee State University | 18500 | 26100 | 0.2907 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 46 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.4281 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 47 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 18800 | 32000 | 0.4129 | 3,825 | 1175 | 0.7841 | |
| 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 | 19200 | 26000 | 0.2615 | 769 | 1065 | 0.7719 | |
| 52 | University of South Alabama | 19200 | 22400 | 0.1431 | 9,530 | 1140 | 0.9455 | |
| 54 | California State University-Los Angeles | 19700 | 38000 | 0.4816 | 22,077 | 965 | 0.9124 | |
| 55 | Minot State University | 20100 | 23500 | 0.1452 | 2,499 | 1075 | 0.6462 | |
| 56 | Lasell University | 20200 | 48500 | 0.5831 | 1,347 | 1095 | 0.7457 | |
| 56 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 20200 | 29400 | 0.3124 | 5,196 | 1050 | 0.8422 | |
| 56 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 20200 | 57300 | 0.6479 | 1,567 | 980 | 0.9597 | |
| 59 | Marian University | 20300 | 47200 | 0.5693 | 1,026 | 1020 | 0.75 | |
| 60 | Eastern Illinois University | 20400 | 28100 | 0.2733 | 6,731 | 1020 | 0.7073 | |
| 60 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20400 | 23200 | 0.1207 | 20,786 | 1225 | 0.8689 | |
| 62 | University of Montevallo | 20600 | 30300 | 0.3202 | 2,643 | 1124 | 0.5385 | |
| 63 | North Dakota State University | 20800 | 25700 | 0.1902 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 64 | Midwestern State University | 21200 | 28600 | 0.2583 | 4,303 | 1055 | 0.9347 | |
| 64 | University of Sioux Falls | 21200 | 40100 | 0.4712 | 1,177 | 1075 | 0.8274 | |
| 66 | Henderson State University | 21400 | 30600 | 0.3002 | 1,461 | 1075 | 0.8192 | |
| 67 | University of Northern Iowa | 21500 | 24800 | 0.1329 | 7,800 | 1115 | 0.9313 | |
| 68 | Bradley University | 21700 | 49900 | 0.5642 | 3,258 | 1174 | 0.7459 | |
| 68 | La Roche University | 21700 | 72600 | 0.7014 | 1,972 | 990 | 0.6638 | |
| 70 | Austin Peay State University | 21900 | 31600 | 0.3074 | 9,593 | 1075 | 0.9691 | |
| 70 | Culver-Stockton College | 21900 | 50600 | 0.567 | 889 | 1055 | 0.9827 | |
| 72 | Bluefield State University | 22100 | 32100 | 0.312 | 1,117 | 990 | 0.9723 | |
| 73 | California State University-Chico | 22300 | 31000 | 0.2803 | 13,599 | 1054 | 0.9107 | |
| 74 | Saint Cloud State University | 22900 | 36800 | 0.3775 | 8,209 | 1079 | 0.948 | |
| 74 | San Jose State University | 22900 | 41100 | 0.4429 | 29,890 | 1135 | 0.8039 | |
| 76 | Florida Memorial University | 23100 | 42000 | 0.4495 | 1,206 | 0 | 0.8526 | |
| 77 | Southwest Minnesota State University | 23400 | 26700 | 0.1231 | 7,290 | 1015 | 0.6409 | |
| 77 | University of Southern Indiana | 23400 | 27200 | 0.1394 | 5,347 | 1145 | 0.9581 | |
| 77 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23400 | 45800 | 0.4895 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 80 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 23600 | 90700 | 0.7398 | 8,727 | 1055 | 0.9703 | |
| 81 | Saint Ambrose University | 24100 | 55400 | 0.5646 | 1,884 | 1065 | 0.8006 | |
| 82 | Southwestern Adventist University | 24300 | 43200 | 0.4376 | 758 | 1064 | 0.7836 | |
| 83 | Columbia College Chicago | 24400 | 63200 | 0.6143 | 4,346 | 0 | 0.738 | |
| 84 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24700 | 56700 | 0.5642 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 85 | Pennsylvania Western University | 24900 | 34400 | 0.2759 | 7,586 | 1045 | 0.9433 | |
| 86 | Lewis University | 25100 | 57700 | 0.5649 | 4,914 | 1127 | 0.6916 | |
| 86 | St Catherine University | 25100 | 71900 | 0.6503 | 2,602 | 1148 | 0.9047 | |
| 88 | Point Park University | 25200 | 57000 | 0.5582 | 2,498 | 1144 | 0.984 | |
| 89 | Mount Marty University | 25400 | 56400 | 0.5496 | 1,053 | 1145 | 0.8603 | |
| 90 | Indiana University-South Bend | 25500 | 27800 | 0.0824 | 4,206 | 1050 | 0.8146 | |
| 91 | Westminster College | 25800 | 57600 | 0.5521 | 1,110 | 1145 | 0.9167 | |
| 92 | Briar Cliff University | 26100 | 74200 | 0.6481 | 766 | 1075 | 0.5834 | |
| 93 | Mount Aloysius College | 26300 | 49200 | 0.4657 | 3,135 | 1045 | 0.936 | |
| 93 | Northern Arizona University | 26300 | 43200 | 0.3921 | 22,203 | 1129 | 0.8961 | |
| 95 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26800 | 0.0112 | 25,595 | 1045 | 0.695 | |
| 96 | University of La Verne | 26600 | 67300 | 0.6044 | 3,052 | 1109 | 0.7117 | |
| 96 | William Paterson University of New Jersey | 26600 | 31100 | 0.1448 | 6,647 | 1153 | 0.9008 | |
| 98 | Oakland University | 26700 | 39300 | 0.3205 | 12,770 | 1039 | 0.8897 | |
| 98 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 26700 | 31800 | 0.1605 | 27,963 | 1090 | 0.8395 | |
| 100 | Morehead State University | 26800 | 32600 | 0.1778 | 7,941 | 1080 | 0.8328 | |
| 100 | Western Kentucky University | 26800 | 41800 | 0.3588 | 13,732 | 1090 | 0.9145 | |
| 102 | St. Francis College | 26900 | 39400 | 0.3177 | 1,719 | 1035 | 1 | |
| 102 | University of Central Arkansas | 26900 | 31200 | 0.1373 | 8,238 | 1110 | 0.9157 | |
| 104 | Capital University | 27100 | 62400 | 0.5656 | 1,642 | 1045 | 0.6501 | |
| 105 | Chicago State University | 27500 | 37800 | 0.2737 | 1,501 | 885 | 0.4326 | |
| 105 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus | 27500 | 43800 | 0.3725 | 18,028 | 1059 | 0.7996 | |
| 107 | Oregon Institute of Technology | 27700 | 36400 | 0.2399 | 5,288 | 1138 | 0.9459 | |
| 108 | Syracuse University | 27900 | 83100 | 0.6641 | 16,149 | 1374 | 0.4879 | |
| 108 | Texas State University | 27900 | 28000 | 0.0036 | 39,353 | 1080 | 0.9118 | |
| 110 | Alabama A & M University | 28300 | 37700 | 0.251 | 6,370 | 915 | 0.5795 | |
| 110 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3223 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 110 | Rogers State University | 28300 | 40000 | 0.2923 | 3,278 | 1025 | 0.6784 | |
| 113 | Roosevelt University | 28500 | 47600 | 0.4017 | 2,868 | 1049 | 0.9716 | |
| 113 | University of Hartford | 28500 | 70100 | 0.5933 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9579 | |
| 115 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 32300 | 0.1145 | 11,691 | 1074 | 0.7722 | |
| 116 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | 28900 | 42400 | 0.3187 | 6,761 | 1105 | 0.8475 | |
| 116 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 28900 | 31400 | 0.0792 | 9,656 | 1205 | 0.7997 | |
| 118 | Lewis-Clark State College | 29000 | 40000 | 0.275 | 4,015 | 990 | 0.9964 | |
| 119 | Cornerstone University | 29100 | 40800 | 0.2867 | 1,354 | 1110 | 0.7777 | |
| 120 | Huntington University | 29300 | 44300 | 0.3384 | 1,512 | 1065 | 0.7518 | |
| 121 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 29400 | 34000 | 0.1352 | 7,402 | 1054 | 0.9684 | |
| 121 | Montclair State University | 29400 | 36300 | 0.1902 | 19,048 | 1005 | 0.894 | |
| 123 | Friends University | 29500 | 53600 | 0.4508 | 1,084 | 1020 | 0.5174 | |
| 124 | University of Iowa | 29800 | 32100 | 0.0714 | 23,407 | 1203 | 0.799 | |
| 125 | University of Northwestern-St Paul | 30500 | 54600 | 0.4412 | 3,120 | 1193 | 0.3992 | |
| 126 | Ithaca College | 30800 | 72500 | 0.575 | 4,205 | 1328 | 0.7015 | |
| 126 | San Francisco State University | 30800 | 47700 | 0.3544 | 19,444 | 1035 | 0.9644 | |
| 128 | California State University-Long Beach | 30900 | 38900 | 0.2058 | 36,056 | 1135 | 0.4543 | |
| 128 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 30900 | 33200 | 0.069 | 14,834 | 1149 | 0.7803 | |
| 130 | Siena Heights University | 31000 | 46300 | 0.3306 | 1,628 | 980 | 0.689 | |
| 131 | Manhattanville University | 31100 | 68500 | 0.546 | 1,465 | 1140 | 0.8688 | |
| 132 | San Diego State University | 31300 | 36100 | 0.1329 | 36,196 | 1208 | 0.3741 | |
| 133 | Asbury University | 31400 | 50700 | 0.3804 | 2,066 | 1157 | 0.954 | |
| 133 | Rider University | 31400 | 60600 | 0.4816 | 3,052 | 1214 | 0.7741 | |
| 135 | Missouri Baptist University | 31500 | 53800 | 0.4141 | 5,253 | 910 | 0.7062 | |
| 136 | Bowie State University | 32100 | 50200 | 0.3606 | 4,810 | 1044 | 0.824 | |
| 137 | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | 32300 | 48400 | 0.3328 | 1,094 | 1109 | 0.8917 | |
| 138 | Suffolk University | 32900 | 70300 | 0.5319 | 4,247 | 1209 | 0.8228 | |
| 139 | Misericordia University | 33400 | 67700 | 0.5068 | 1,721 | 1078 | 0.8871 | |
| 140 | Adrian College | 33500 | 70200 | 0.5227 | 1,675 | 1045 | 0.7257 | |
| 141 | Rhode Island College | 33800 | 45100 | 0.2505 | 5,695 | 995 | 0.8557 | |
| 142 | Colorado Mesa University | 33900 | 40000 | 0.1533 | 9,459 | 1050 | 0.8314 | |
| 142 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 33900 | 36100 | 0.0609 | 34,447 | 1273 | 0.8804 | |
| 144 | SUNY at Fredonia | 34100 | 39600 | 0.1391 | 2,771 | 1258 | 0.777 | |
| 145 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 11,981 | 1110 | 0.4247 | |
| 146 | Texas Southern University | 34500 | 42500 | 0.1883 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 146 | University of Vermont | 34500 | 66300 | 0.4799 | 12,159 | 1372 | 0.7304 | |
| 148 | Trevecca Nazarene University | 34600 | 50900 | 0.3201 | 1,961 | 1099 | 0.7512 | |
| 149 | Gwynedd Mercy University | 34800 | 65100 | 0.4655 | 1,816 | 1070 | 0.9164 | |
| 150 | Texas Tech University | 35600 | 38900 | 0.0848 | 34,021 | 1195 | 0.6906 | |
| 151 | Temple University | 35900 | 56400 | 0.3636 | 21,031 | 1172 | 0.8622 | |
| 152 | Hofstra University | 36400 | 76900 | 0.5266 | 6,599 | 1369 | 0.7267 | |
| 153 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | 37200 | 57000 | 0.3472 | 755 | 1163 | 0.6925 | |
| 154 | Vermont State University | 37400 | 38700 | 0.0336 | 4,087 | 960 | 0.8323 | |
| 155 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 38100 | 65000 | 0.4136 | 1,105 | 1055 | 0.8351 | |
| 156 | Seton Hall University | 38200 | 67400 | 0.433 | 6,178 | 1328 | 0.6915 | |
| 157 | Washington Adventist University | 38300 | 45600 | 0.1597 | 513 | 995 | 0.4618 | |
| 158 | California State University-Fullerton | 38500 | 41500 | 0.0719 | 40,705 | 960 | 0.8811 | |
| 159 | Clark Atlanta University | 38600 | 61700 | 0.3745 | 3,618 | 990 | 0.6422 | |
| 160 | Long Island University | 38800 | 60000 | 0.3535 | 12,072 | 1229 | 0.8616 | |
| 161 | Manhattan University | 38900 | 74100 | 0.4749 | 2,378 | 1174 | 0.8216 | |
| 162 | University of Charleston | 39200 | 51200 | 0.2342 | 2,348 | 1075 | 0.5975 | |
| 163 | University of Central Florida | 39700 | 39700 | 0 | 60,083 | 1289 | 0.428 | |
| 164 | California Baptist University | 39900 | 65600 | 0.3917 | 8,707 | 1024 | 0.8139 | |
| 165 | Appalachian State University | 40200 | 40600 | 0.0099 | 19,732 | 1174 | 0.9388 | |
| 166 | Arkansas State University | 40500 | 41000 | 0.0122 | 11,189 | 1080 | 0.7818 | |
| 167 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 40800 | 53600 | 0.2389 | 46,627 | 1366 | 0.492 | |
| 168 | Champlain College | 41100 | 76000 | 0.4595 | 1,514 | 1273 | 0.873 | |
| 169 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | 41200 | 57000 | 0.2774 | 2,401 | 1209 | 0.7819 | |
| 170 | Bellarmine University | 41500 | 66100 | 0.3721 | 2,365 | 1134 | 0.9371 | |
| 171 | Susquehanna University | 42000 | 76800 | 0.4533 | 2,220 | 1199 | 0.7908 | |
| 172 | Boise State University | 42800 | 50000 | 0.144 | 25,308 | 1025 | 0.8389 | |
| 173 | Providence College | 43400 | 85000 | 0.4895 | 4,680 | 1345 | 0.4994 | |
| 174 | Campbell University | 44000 | 68700 | 0.3605 | 2,699 | 1120 | 0.872 | |
| 175 | Texas Christian University | 44300 | 87400 | 0.4934 | 11,152 | 1268 | 0.4809 | |
| 176 | St. John's University-New York | 44500 | 78000 | 0.4292 | 15,640 | 1249 | 0.8343 | |
| 177 | New England Institute of Technology | 44600 | 68200 | 0.3458 | 1,718 | 1030 | 0.6673 | |
| 178 | Quinnipiac University | 44800 | 79200 | 0.4343 | 6,610 | 1250 | 0.7031 | |
| 179 | Ashland University | 44900 | 56400 | 0.204 | 2,977 | 1125 | 0.764 | |
| 180 | The Master's University and Seminary | 47700 | 53700 | 0.1118 | 1,908 | 1139 | 0.8402 | |
| 181 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 47800 | 77500 | 0.3831 | 3,469 | 1281 | 0.8521 | |
| 182 | Saint Louis University | 48600 | 80900 | 0.399 | 9,331 | 1250 | 0.7499 | |
| 183 | University of Kentucky | 49000 | 58000 | 0.1552 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 184 | The University of Texas at Austin | 49700 | 59400 | 0.1633 | 44,314 | 1356 | 0.2222 | |
| 185 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 52300 | 52800 | 0.0095 | 21,469 | 1167 | 0.9061 | |
| 186 | Rowan University | 53600 | 53600 | 0 | 17,157 | 1204 | 0.7654 | |
| 187 | Howard University | 55000 | 66500 | 0.173 | 11,519 | 1208 | 0.4134 | |
| 188 | Elon University | 55200 | 68900 | 0.199 | 6,191 | 1283 | 0.6326 | |
| 189 | The University of Alabama | 55700 | 58500 | 0.0478 | 35,621 | 1238 | 0.7117 | |
| 190 | Dallas Baptist University | 55800 | 63400 | 0.1199 | 2,938 | 1073 | 0.9131 | |
| 191 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 56000 | 66400 | 0.1567 | 15,552 | 1174 | 0.8298 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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