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 | 6,356 | 1543 | 0.0644 | |
| 2 | Emory University | 8300 | 92500 | 0.9102 | 7,407 | 1499 | 0.1065 | |
| 3 | Idaho State University | 11500 | 27000 | 0.5733 | 10,834 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Northern Arizona University | 11600 | 27900 | 0.5832 | 22,990 | 1090 | 0.8961 | |
| 5 | Eastern Kentucky University | 11800 | 22900 | 0.4856 | 13,448 | 1110 | 0.7761 | |
| 5 | Marshall University | 11800 | 36600 | 0.6773 | 9,146 | 1065 | 0.9573 | |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 8 | Eastern Illinois University | 12600 | 24300 | 0.4833 | 6,785 | 985 | 0.6535 | |
| 9 | Boston University | 12800 | 92800 | 0.8622 | 18,805 | 1475 | 0.1111 | |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Flint | 13000 | 46300 | 0.719 | 5,011 | 1109 | 0.7046 | |
| 10 | Western Kentucky University | 13000 | 27000 | 0.5169 | 14,151 | 970 | 0.9387 | |
| 12 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 13 | University of Houston | 13700 | 22000 | 0.3766 | 39,257 | 1249 | 0.7392 | |
| 14 | Baptist Health Sciences University | 14100 | 26600 | 0.4691 | 782 | 1020 | 0.8202 | |
| 15 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 11,348 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 16 | Central Michigan University | 14400 | 37800 | 0.6183 | 10,193 | 1095 | 0.8982 | |
| 16 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | 14400 | 37400 | 0.6144 | 7,622 | 1075 | 0.9254 | |
| 18 | Northwestern University | 14600 | 88300 | 0.8348 | 9,399 | 1527 | 0.0769 | |
| 19 | Murray State University | 15000 | 27000 | 0.4436 | 7,851 | 1115 | 0.8568 | |
| 20 | Austin Peay State University | 15100 | 29100 | 0.4815 | 8,926 | 1075 | 0.9641 | |
| 20 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15100 | 37700 | 0.6009 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8609 | |
| 22 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | 15200 | 28700 | 0.4704 | 6,761 | 1105 | 0.8475 | |
| 23 | Western Carolina University | 15300 | 16500 | 0.0729 | 10,112 | 1130 | 0.8183 | |
| 24 | Troy University | 15400 | 26700 | 0.4231 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 25 | University of Southern Indiana | 15500 | 26000 | 0.4052 | 7,600 | 1145 | 0.9581 | |
| 26 | University of Central Missouri | 15700 | 26600 | 0.4094 | 7,584 | 1055 | 0.638 | |
| 27 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | 16000 | 26900 | 0.4059 | 9,847 | 1090 | 0.9309 | |
| 27 | Oakland University | 16000 | 28200 | 0.4329 | 12,587 | 1130 | 0.8784 | |
| 27 | Weber State University | 16000 | 23600 | 0.3216 | 31,672 | 0 | 0 | |
| 30 | Goshen College | 16500 | 55900 | 0.7041 | 780 | 995 | 0.8407 | |
| 30 | University of Florida | 16500 | 22500 | 0.2666 | 36,573 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 30 | Wayne State University | 16500 | 32900 | 0.4982 | 16,012 | 1174 | 0.8116 | |
| 33 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 16800 | 64800 | 0.7415 | 20,885 | 1420 | 0.1534 | |
| 34 | Ferris State University | 17000 | 31000 | 0.4523 | 8,991 | 1015 | 0.9139 | |
| 34 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | 17000 | 34200 | 0.5028 | 794 | 1070 | 0.8974 | |
| 34 | Sam Houston State University | 17000 | 27000 | 0.3705 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 37 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 17200 | 25700 | 0.3307 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 38 | Augusta University | 17400 | 47400 | 0.6326 | 6,049 | 1065 | 0.8641 | |
| 39 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 17600 | 27400 | 0.3575 | 27,132 | 1099 | 0.9617 | |
| 40 | Avila University | 17700 | 64100 | 0.7236 | 1,331 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 40 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 42 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 17800 | 22200 | 0.1986 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.865 | |
| 43 | Lewis-Clark State College | 18200 | 23500 | 0.2251 | 3,793 | 980 | 0.8769 | |
| 44 | Texas Tech University | 18300 | 27100 | 0.3253 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 44 | University of St Francis | 18300 | 57200 | 0.6807 | 1,343 | 1145 | 0.6529 | |
| 44 | University of Vermont | 18300 | 37800 | 0.5164 | 12,276 | 1379 | 0.653 | |
| 47 | Youngstown State University | 18400 | 34000 | 0.4589 | 9,400 | 1115 | 0.8445 | |
| 48 | East Tennessee State University | 18500 | 26100 | 0.2907 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 49 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.428 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 50 | University of Mississippi | 18700 | 45000 | 0.5849 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 51 | Bluefield State University | 18800 | 27600 | 0.3183 | 1,117 | 990 | 0.9723 | |
| 51 | Holy Family University | 18800 | 56200 | 0.666 | 2,643 | 1030 | 0.7104 | |
| 53 | McNeese State University | 18900 | 27400 | 0.3102 | 5,668 | 1060 | 0.7827 | |
| 53 | Quincy University | 18900 | 57900 | 0.6733 | 1,072 | 1115 | 0.5093 | |
| 55 | Campbellsville University | 19100 | 43200 | 0.5573 | 6,848 | 1075 | 0.7974 | |
| 55 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 19100 | 68100 | 0.7197 | 709 | 1030 | 0.8216 | |
| 57 | University of South Alabama | 19300 | 22400 | 0.1387 | 9,241 | 1140 | 0.7096 | |
| 58 | California State University-Los Angeles | 19700 | 38000 | 0.4816 | 19,586 | 965 | 0.9125 | |
| 58 | Lasell University | 19700 | 48500 | 0.5934 | 1,293 | 1095 | 0.8122 | |
| 60 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 20200 | 57300 | 0.6479 | 1,567 | 980 | 0.9597 | |
| 61 | Alabama A & M University | 20300 | 28200 | 0.2798 | 6,370 | 915 | 0.5795 | |
| 61 | Marian University | 20300 | 47200 | 0.5693 | 1,021 | 1020 | 0.7498 | |
| 61 | Minot State University | 20300 | 23500 | 0.1384 | 2,499 | 1075 | 0.6462 | |
| 64 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 20400 | 39900 | 0.489 | 5,255 | 1109 | 0.7295 | |
| 65 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20600 | 23200 | 0.1121 | 20,444 | 1209 | 0.8499 | |
| 66 | University of Northern Iowa | 20900 | 24000 | 0.1303 | 7,711 | 1129 | 0.9274 | |
| 67 | Henderson State University | 21100 | 30600 | 0.31 | 1,461 | 990 | 0.8192 | |
| 67 | Midwestern State University | 21100 | 28600 | 0.2618 | 4,303 | 1010 | 0.9352 | |
| 67 | North Central College | 21100 | 63700 | 0.6692 | 2,454 | 1203 | 0.7733 | |
| 70 | Culver-Stockton College | 21300 | 50600 | 0.5789 | 861 | 1025 | 0.991 | |
| 70 | University of Sioux Falls | 21300 | 40100 | 0.4689 | 1,241 | 1135 | 0.8289 | |
| 72 | La Roche University | 21900 | 72600 | 0.6986 | 1,828 | 1059 | 0.7576 | |
| 73 | California State University-Chico | 22300 | 31000 | 0.2803 | 13,792 | 1075 | 0.9272 | |
| 74 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 22400 | 43200 | 0.4816 | 3,825 | 1175 | 0.7841 | |
| 75 | The University of Alabama | 22600 | 31000 | 0.2708 | 34,389 | 1284 | 0.7665 | |
| 76 | San Jose State University | 23000 | 41100 | 0.4405 | 28,008 | 1124 | 0.8461 | |
| 77 | Saint Cloud State University | 23100 | 36800 | 0.3731 | 8,738 | 1079 | 0.948 | |
| 77 | Southwest Minnesota State University | 23100 | 25800 | 0.1021 | 7,735 | 1015 | 0.6218 | |
| 79 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23500 | 45800 | 0.4873 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 80 | Mount Marty University | 23900 | 56400 | 0.5762 | 1,022 | 1090 | 0.4257 | |
| 81 | Bradley University | 24100 | 49900 | 0.5161 | 3,596 | 1223 | 0.7676 | |
| 82 | Saint Ambrose University | 24200 | 55400 | 0.5628 | 1,939 | 1085 | 0.7733 | |
| 83 | Columbia College Chicago | 24300 | 63200 | 0.6158 | 5,422 | 0 | 0.8946 | |
| 83 | Southwestern Adventist University | 24300 | 43200 | 0.4376 | 758 | 1064 | 0.7836 | |
| 85 | Lewis University | 24700 | 57700 | 0.5718 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7129 | |
| 86 | Indiana University-South Bend | 24900 | 27800 | 0.1036 | 4,083 | 1075 | 0.8384 | |
| 86 | Pennsylvania Western University | 24900 | 34400 | 0.2759 | 7,586 | 1045 | 0.9433 | |
| 88 | St Catherine University | 25200 | 71900 | 0.6488 | 2,498 | 1140 | 0.9185 | |
| 89 | Point Park University | 25300 | 57000 | 0.5564 | 2,337 | 1140 | 0.9691 | |
| 90 | Briar Cliff University | 26000 | 74200 | 0.6494 | 766 | 1050 | 0.5834 | |
| 91 | Westminster College | 26100 | 57600 | 0.5469 | 1,137 | 1149 | 0.9256 | |
| 92 | Mount Aloysius College | 26400 | 49200 | 0.4636 | 2,942 | 1045 | 0.8205 | |
| 93 | Regis College | 26500 | 70700 | 0.6252 | 987 | 965 | 0.6978 | |
| 94 | Georgia Southern University | 26600 | 26800 | 0.0075 | 23,541 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 95 | Rogers State University | 26700 | 40000 | 0.3322 | 3,135 | 930 | 0.8184 | |
| 96 | University of La Verne | 26800 | 67300 | 0.6015 | 3,050 | 1109 | 0.7117 | |
| 97 | California State University-Northridge | 27100 | 36500 | 0.2581 | 32,756 | 1005 | 0.9345 | |
| 97 | University of Central Arkansas | 27100 | 31200 | 0.1322 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 99 | Capital University | 27200 | 62400 | 0.564 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 100 | Rowan University | 27500 | 41300 | 0.3345 | 16,100 | 1219 | 0.7766 | |
| 100 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus | 27500 | 43800 | 0.3725 | 17,450 | 1044 | 0.9518 | |
| 102 | North Dakota State University | 27800 | 30400 | 0.0833 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 102 | St. Francis College | 27800 | 39400 | 0.2948 | 1,719 | 1119 | 0.8427 | |
| 102 | Syracuse University | 27800 | 83100 | 0.6653 | 15,957 | 1363 | 0.4592 | |
| 105 | Morehead State University | 27900 | 32600 | 0.1441 | 8,258 | 1140 | 0.7721 | |
| 106 | Texas State University | 28000 | 28000 | 0 | 36,236 | 1100 | 0.8932 | |
| 107 | Roosevelt University | 28600 | 47600 | 0.4003 | 2,868 | 1049 | 0.9716 | |
| 107 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 32300 | 0.1145 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 107 | University of Hartford | 28600 | 70100 | 0.5919 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9575 | |
| 110 | University of North Texas | 28900 | 37400 | 0.2271 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 111 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 29100 | 31400 | 0.0742 | 9,501 | 1195 | 0.755 | |
| 112 | Cornerstone University | 29200 | 40800 | 0.2852 | 1,354 | 1110 | 0.7777 | |
| 113 | Manhattanville University | 29300 | 68500 | 0.5723 | 1,466 | 1160 | 0.8734 | |
| 114 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 29400 | 34000 | 0.1352 | 6,907 | 1060 | 0.974 | |
| 114 | Huntington University | 29400 | 44300 | 0.3362 | 1,588 | 1055 | 0.7564 | |
| 116 | Northern Kentucky University | 29600 | 32100 | 0.0779 | 10,163 | 1090 | 0.6765 | |
| 117 | University of Northwestern-St Paul | 30700 | 54600 | 0.4384 | 3,163 | 1165 | 0.9347 | |
| 118 | San Francisco State University | 30800 | 47700 | 0.3544 | 19,444 | 1035 | 0.9644 | |
| 119 | Chicago State University | 30900 | 37600 | 0.1801 | 1,501 | 885 | 0.4326 | |
| 120 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 31100 | 33200 | 0.0642 | 14,504 | 1149 | 0.7637 | |
| 120 | Siena Heights University | 31100 | 46300 | 0.3271 | 1,628 | 980 | 0.689 | |
| 122 | Rider University | 31400 | 60600 | 0.4816 | 3,145 | 1233 | 0.7864 | |
| 122 | San Diego State University | 31400 | 36100 | 0.1301 | 35,782 | 1208 | 0.3619 | |
| 124 | Bowie State University | 31600 | 37300 | 0.153 | 5,136 | 946 | 0.7241 | |
| 125 | Missouri Baptist University | 31700 | 53800 | 0.4112 | 4,958 | 843 | 0.686 | |
| 126 | Ithaca College | 32100 | 72500 | 0.5571 | 4,268 | 1314 | 0.6901 | |
| 126 | Misericordia University | 32100 | 65100 | 0.5073 | 1,720 | 1145 | 0.7093 | |
| 128 | Washington Adventist University | 32400 | 37800 | 0.143 | 513 | 995 | 0.4618 | |
| 129 | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | 32600 | 48400 | 0.3266 | 1,009 | 1115 | 0.8854 | |
| 130 | Suffolk University | 32900 | 70300 | 0.5319 | 4,326 | 1209 | 0.8233 | |
| 131 | State University of New York at Oswego | 33000 | 40200 | 0.1792 | 5,517 | 1180 | 0.8055 | |
| 132 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | 33500 | 34400 | 0.0262 | 5,459 | 1055 | 0.8046 | |
| 133 | California Baptist University | 33600 | 65600 | 0.4878 | 8,417 | 1070 | 0.8488 | |
| 134 | Adrian College | 33700 | 70200 | 0.5205 | 1,673 | 1045 | 0.7253 | |
| 135 | Morningside University | 33800 | 60600 | 0.4421 | 1,172 | 922 | 0.7104 | |
| 136 | Colorado Mesa University | 33900 | 40000 | 0.1525 | 9,473 | 1055 | 0.8203 | |
| 136 | Rhode Island College | 33900 | 45100 | 0.2483 | 5,154 | 995 | 0.9182 | |
| 138 | SUNY at Fredonia | 34100 | 39600 | 0.1391 | 2,771 | 1258 | 0.777 | |
| 139 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 10,172 | 1110 | 0.5298 | |
| 140 | Texas Southern University | 34500 | 42500 | 0.1883 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 141 | Trevecca Nazarene University | 34700 | 50900 | 0.3171 | 1,903 | 1085 | 0.6944 | |
| 142 | Gwynedd Mercy University | 34900 | 65100 | 0.4641 | 1,301 | 1110 | 0.8963 | |
| 143 | University of Montevallo | 35400 | 44900 | 0.2118 | 2,642 | 1124 | 0.5385 | |
| 144 | Temple University | 35600 | 56400 | 0.3689 | 21,457 | 1135 | 0.8041 | |
| 145 | Vermont State University | 37400 | 38700 | 0.0336 | 4,108 | 960 | 0.8167 | |
| 146 | Asbury University | 38000 | 49100 | 0.2266 | 1,789 | 1197 | 0.634 | |
| 147 | Hofstra University | 38200 | 76900 | 0.5032 | 6,581 | 1328 | 0.6808 | |
| 147 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 38200 | 65000 | 0.4121 | 1,097 | 1055 | 0.8351 | |
| 149 | Clark Atlanta University | 38600 | 51900 | 0.2561 | 3,618 | 990 | 0.6422 | |
| 150 | Long Island University | 38800 | 60000 | 0.3535 | 12,072 | 1229 | 0.8616 | |
| 151 | University of Charleston | 39200 | 51200 | 0.2342 | 2,348 | 1075 | 0.6152 | |
| 152 | Champlain College | 39300 | 76000 | 0.4831 | 2,778 | 1304 | 0.8292 | |
| 153 | Bellarmine University | 39400 | 66100 | 0.4045 | 2,240 | 1220 | 0.8611 | |
| 153 | California State University-Fullerton | 39400 | 41500 | 0.0513 | 38,760 | 1090 | 0.9052 | |
| 155 | Seton Hall University | 39700 | 67400 | 0.4107 | 6,146 | 1313 | 0.7326 | |
| 155 | University of Central Florida | 39700 | 39700 | 0 | 59,552 | 1280 | 0.4011 | |
| 157 | Arkansas State University | 40500 | 41000 | 0.0122 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.8226 | |
| 158 | Appalachian State University | 40600 | 40600 | 0 | 19,560 | 1190 | 0.9014 | |
| 159 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 40700 | 53600 | 0.2408 | 46,815 | 1378 | 0.6057 | |
| 160 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | 41400 | 57000 | 0.2738 | 2,401 | 1209 | 0.782 | |
| 161 | Campbell University | 41700 | 65100 | 0.36 | 2,699 | 1120 | 0.8718 | |
| 162 | Montclair State University | 42000 | 46600 | 0.0987 | 18,712 | 1058 | 0.8789 | |
| 162 | Susquehanna University | 42000 | 76800 | 0.4533 | 2,246 | 1204 | 0.8143 | |
| 164 | Manhattan University | 43600 | 74100 | 0.4115 | 2,744 | 1274 | 0.7894 | |
| 165 | Texas Christian University | 43800 | 87400 | 0.4991 | 11,049 | 1283 | 0.4449 | |
| 166 | St. John's University-New York | 44500 | 78000 | 0.4292 | 15,640 | 1249 | 0.8343 | |
| 167 | New England Institute of Technology | 44600 | 68200 | 0.3458 | 1,796 | 1030 | 0.6673 | |
| 168 | Quinnipiac University | 44800 | 79200 | 0.4343 | 6,557 | 1245 | 0.7215 | |
| 169 | Ashland University | 44900 | 56400 | 0.204 | 2,977 | 1125 | 0.764 | |
| 170 | Boise State University | 45100 | 50000 | 0.098 | 23,983 | 1135 | 0.8721 | |
| 171 | Towson University | 45500 | 46400 | 0.0194 | 16,264 | 1098 | 0.8197 | |
| 172 | Saint Louis University | 46200 | 80900 | 0.4287 | 10,413 | 1305 | 0.7504 | |
| 173 | The Master's University and Seminary | 47700 | 53700 | 0.1118 | 1,908 | 1139 | 0.8402 | |
| 174 | MCPHS University | 47800 | 77500 | 0.3831 | 3,469 | 1281 | 0.8521 | |
| 175 | University of Kentucky | 49200 | 58000 | 0.1528 | 25,534 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 176 | The University of Texas at Austin | 49800 | 59400 | 0.1617 | 43,165 | 1356 | 0.2664 | |
| 177 | University of Iowa | 51100 | 53200 | 0.04 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 178 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 51600 | 52800 | 0.0227 | 21,210 | 1148 | 0.9262 | |
| 179 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 53300 | 53300 | 0 | 33,033 | 1264 | 0.8529 | |
| 180 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 54700 | 66400 | 0.1762 | 15,552 | 1174 | 0.8298 | |
| 181 | Howard University | 55000 | 66500 | 0.173 | 11,519 | 1208 | 0.4134 | |
| 182 | Dallas Baptist University | 56400 | 63400 | 0.1104 | 2,785 | 1109 | 0.8884 | |
| 182 | Elon University | 56400 | 68900 | 0.1815 | 6,452 | 1215 | 0.6635 | |
| 184 | Oregon Institute of Technology | 58900 | 67000 | 0.1214 | 5,160 | 1131 | 0.9502 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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